Are you looking for a new place to travel to? If you like seafood, historical sites, beautiful beaches, and fine art, then Gloucester could be your next travel destination. 

Gloucester  is a small fishing city off of the coast of Cape Ann known for its fishing and maritime history. Many may recognize the city from the Man at the Wheel statue located at Stacy Boulevard, commemorating the lives that were lost at sea. The statue depicts a fisherman wearing oilskins (picture the Gorton fisherman’s clothes) standing at the wheel of his ship rugged from the dangers of the sea. Not far from it along the boulevard is the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial picturing a family waiting for their loved ones to return home. If you are planning to see these statues along Stacy Boulevard be sure to enjoy the many more statues lining the path along with its elegant gardens in the spring.

If you are visiting on a weekend, the historical Hammond Castle Museum should be on the top of your travel list. Built by John Hays Hammond Jr., the father of radio control, in the late 1920s. Made out of purchased artifacts and architectural facets from the Old World, this European castle was born. Many parts of the castle were made to resemble medieval buildings or even towns with many pieces coming from Abbey’s constructed during that period. Be sure to hop on their website to check out some of the many events hosted at the castle or catch a tour for eighteen dollars. They are open Friday through Sunday.

One of Gloucester’s more hidden gems is the Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House. After entering through the gatehouse doors, visitors will be greeted by a lush garden housing a variety of flowers all overlooking the sea. Beauport house’s most breathtaking features are not its architecture or location, but the interior. Each room has a different theme whether it be color, numbers, or history. The house’s signatures are monochromatic glass mosaics featured throughout the house and the handpainted wallpaper lining the walls.  If you take a tour, you will get to know more about Henry Davis Sleeper as being the first professional interior decorator and his scandalous life. His story is an important one to tell as it is one of few historic sites that recognize the LGBTQ+ figures of American History and have been doing so since 2008. The museum hopes to bring visibility to the community and shed light upon different experiences queer people faced throughout history. To learn more about the house or Sleeper’s life, tours begin at eight dollars for students and twenty for adults. Tours leave every half hour between 10 am-3 pm, Wednesday through Saturday.

A great way to wind down a visit is a walk through Rocky Neck, one of the oldest art colonies in the U.S. If art isn’t your thing then maybe some of their famous seafood will do the trick. Seaport Grille on 6 Rowe Sq has an amazing waterfront view with many options for those with special diets. Pricing is in the mid-range, but with many reviewers stating that the value is worth it. The restaurant has a rating of 4.5 with hundreds of reviews. It has an optimal location as it is right off of Main St. so you can hop in to grab a bite after you have finished all of your shopping and tours.

Gloucester is a vibrant city with so much more to offer. I hope that it has been added to your list of places to visit. Safe Travels!