Happy New Year! As we push through another chilly New England winter, cabin fever is sure to set in—eventually. The best cure? A little weekend away. While travel is still difficult right now, set your sights close to home; plan a weekend away in Gloucester, MA. The Beauport Hotel in Gloucester is ready to welcome you with its ocean views and plush accommodations. Keep reading to learn all about why you should plan a little escape to the North Shore this winter.
Where To Stay – Beauport Hotel in Gloucester, MA
Gloucester is a classic New England fishing village. Still an important commercial fishing port, expect lots of lobster traps, fishing boats and buoys all around you. However, at only 45 minutes north of Boston, it is a convenient spot to get away from it all. And the Beauport’s perch on the Atlantic makes for a weekend filled with fresh air and crashing waves.
The hotel’s modern take on classic New England coastal style involves a stylish mix of anchors, buoys, and seagull motifs. And the fresh color palette uplifts you as soon as you step foot in the hotel.
The water view rooms with balconies are certainly the way to go! Waking up to the sound of the ocean is one of the most relaxing things there is. Whenever I can hear the sound of the ocean, I know we came to the right place.
Where to Eat in Gloucester
Start with breakfast at the Beauport Hotel. The hotel’s lobby level restaurant, 1606 Restaurant & Bar serves up some belly warming dishes to start your day right. Expect fresh coffee and hefty servings waiting for you when you come down from your room. You’ll be fueled up for a day of exploring for sure!
Explore the coffee shops and bakeries downtown when lunchtime rolls around. The Lone Gull Café, Caffe Sicilia, and Virgilio’s Italian Bakery are all great choices! These locally run spots are doing an amazing job considering all the restrictions currently in place. Plan on ordering a craft latte and a few homemade goods to go.
And for dinner, you have to try Rossetti Restaurant at the nearby North Shore Crossing in Beverly. This family-run restaurant serves Southern Italian cuisine in a brand-new space. Their welcoming restaurant follows all current guidelines, while still making guests feel at home and they have both indoor and outdoor seating available. Outdoor seating is available under their covered and heated patio. Be sure not to skip the Octopus, Rossetti Meatballs, the Pappardelle Bolognese, or the Atlantic Cod dishes.
Cocktails at at Rossetti Octopus at Rossetti Meatballs at Rossetti
What to Do in Gloucester
Leave plenty of time for exploring downtown as it is all just a 5-minute walk from the Beauport Hotel. And watch for low tide so you can take a stroll along the beach too! It’s a little different taking a walk on the beach in the winter than in the summer but trust me it is just as therapeutic.
And speaking of therapeutic activities, the Beauport has an amazing private spa suite where you can book spa treatments for yourself or as a couple. We had an amazing couples’ deep tissue massage, and the therapists were amazing! The stress just melted right away. It was the perfect start to the weekend and honestly the best massage we have had in a while!
When we visited in December, we were also able to visit the famous Hammond Castle, which is only a few minutes’ drive down the coast from downtown Gloucester. While they are currently closed for the winter, they will reopen in April. Hammond Castle was built by an eccentric Millionaire in the 1920s named John Hays Hammond, Jr.. He took great inspiration from Medieval Europe and even incorporated some authentic 15th-century facades into the property. It’s a gorgeous seaside mansion, definitely worth a visit when they reopen in the Spring.
For more local travel ideas from Boston be sure to check out our blog on visiting the Berkshires and a weekend at the Inn at Hastings Park.