GLOUCESTER

Gloucester is a city known for its natural beauty, breathtaking beaches and fresh seafood like lobster, scallops and especially tuna, thanks to the show “Wicked Tuna,” which is filmed there.

Travelers can take in the sparkling views of Smith Cove while dining at the Studio, a seafood restaurant in the Rocky Neck neighborhood. In addition to dining by the sea, visitors can also explore the open waters on schooners, cruise ships, charter boats or even go whale watching. Experts say the best time to visit for whale watching is between May and October.

This year also marks a major milestone for Gloucester, as the city brings in its 400th anniversary. Special events will be scheduled throughout the year in anticipation and observation.

“We’re celebrating it as 400-plus years to also acknowledge the Indigenous people who were here before the settlement,” said Tess McColgan, executive director of Discover Gloucester.

Aside from maritime attractions, Gloucester also has many things to do on land, including visiting Halibut Point

State Park; spending time in Rocky Neck, an active art colony with artists using their homes as galleries; or going downtown and shopping on Main Street, where Generous Gardeners, a nonprofit organization, maintains the plants year-round.

“Discover Gloucester also has a “Plan Your Visit” tool, which is an itinerary planner for before you come or while you’re already here,” McColgan said. “The itinerary you create can be shared with your entire group. It also gives trip inspiration, or you can create your own from scratch.”

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Cape Cod

Cape Cod is located at the southernmost point of New England. It has 15 towns, as well as the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and can only be reached by the Sagamore Bridge or Bourne Bridge. The cape is home to 52 harbors and occupies 559 miles of coastline. It is also home to over 130 beaches ranging from family friendly to a surfer’s paradise.

“The views crossing into the cape are breathtaking, and the water has healing powers,” said Patti Lloyd, senior vice president of sales at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. “We’re very conscious of how the water is treated and used to keep it pure.”

Cape Cod is great for escaping the daily woes and just enjoying nature. The attractions are also entertaining for all ages, from toddlers to seniors.

Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich features 42 classic American automobiles, the oldest being an 1899 Winton Motor Carriage. In the gardens, visitors can find several “bee hotels” for solitary bees. The hotels are to keep the bees fed so they can in turn help pollinate the gardens and organically keep unwanted insects away.

For even more flower power, groups can plan their Cape Cod visits to coincide with the Hydrangea Festival July 7–16, where the area’s signature pink, blue and white hydrangeas will be on full display. Private tours of homeowners’ gardens, lectures and workshops can also be expected.

The National Seashore offers more than 43,000 acres of beaches, woods, ponds, and hiking and biking trails, with close to 40 miles of Atlantic shoreline. Groups will also be delighted to see lighthouses, cultural landscapes and wild cranberry bogs along the way.

“Don’t just take a day trip,” Lloyd said enthusiastically. “Spend many days. We like to say Cape Cod is a short trip to far away. There are so many things to do. You can’t fit it all into one day.”

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