Get ready for an awesome self-guided drive along Cape Ann's more secluded road, where adorable villages, stunning beaches, and history dating back hundreds of years come together! On this flexible, app-based tour, you can move at your own pace and stop for photos wherever you’d like! The tour begins just outside Gloucester, with gorgeous views of the harbor. Here, you’ll find the enormous Tablet Rock, which commemorates the 1623 arrival of European settlers. Learn about the challenges faced by these early communities as they established themselves in an unfamiliar environment.
Head into Gloucester and dive into the town’s uniquely New England culture. Learn about the importance of fishing to this community, the dangers of that high-stakes profession, and the tragic story behind the Perfect Storm, which still reverberates through this town to this day.
Check out Gloucester’s harbor to see why locals simply can’t live anywhere but here. Meander along the gorgeous harborwalk, breathe in the salty sea air, and maybe even spot a few whales! You can also explore the cape’s artsy southern point and discover the artist colony of Rocky Neck and the spectacular Niles Beach, perfect for catching some sun. Admire the huge, 56-room mansion of Beauport, then snap some iconic Massachusetts photographs of the Eastern Point Lighthouse.
Finally, angle back toward Gloucester, but not without getting the inside scoop on the so-called Witch House and the devastating shipwrecks that have occurred along this cape over the years. This comprehensive, self-guided driving tour will show you everything there is to see on Cape Ann and fill you in on all the stories you need to hear while you’re at it!
