Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1125082
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 32 JULY 2019 shack without spotting someone taking a selfie. Modern-day visitors tend to concentrate on the charming commercial area defined by Main Street, Dock Square, and Bearskin Neck. And there is plenty to be enjoyed here. "It's an adorable, commercial downtown with every- thing you could need," said Sarah Wilkinson, chair of the town's board of selectmen. Bearskin Neck is lined with local independ- ent shops housed in historic buildings. You can grab a coffee, treat yourself to fudge or strudel, and browse shops selling toys, recycled sail tote bags, fair trade home decor, hand-printed t-shirts, and a lot more. Wander all the way to the end and emerge to sweeping ocean views. Head down Main Street or Mt. Pleasant Street and you will encounter more shops, restaurants, and galleries. Longtime Rockport institutions like Tuck's Candy and the Rock- port Art Association share space with contem- porary offerings such as the stylish housewares at Lula's Pantry and the decadent house-made donuts at Brothers' Brew Coffee Shop. Throughout the year, community events bring together the town's residents and businesses. In the fall, Harvestfest serves up local food and music, while May's Motif #1 Day celebrates the town's artistic heritage. Throughout the summer, a weekly farmers' market has become a community focal point where locals gather to enjoy food, conversation, and live music. North of the town center, up Route 127, of-way that let walkers trace the shoreline all the way to the northernmost tip of Cape Ann, if they're feeling intrepid. At that topmost point—just continue driving up 127 if you're not up for the trek—sits Halibut Point State Park. The heart of the property is a former granite quarry now filled with water. Trails wind around the pit, through the surrounding woods, and down to the rocky shoreline. A self-guided walking tour lets visitors learn more about the history and practices of the granite industry, and a 60-foot World War II fire tower offers views as far as Maine on a clear day. To find the best the town has to offer, Wilkinson suggests hitting a coffee shop and striking up conversation with a local. Just about everyone in the town, she says, is grateful for the chance to be there and eager to share the wonder. "Whether you're coming here for vacation or at the end of a long workday, I think everybody just feels so lucky to live, work, and be here. It's special." FAC E S + P L AC E S PHOTOGRAPHS, TOP TO BOTTOM BY MATT KALINOWSKI, BY JARED CHARNEY, BY SHUTTERSTOCK Top to bottom, Downtown is bustling in the summer, Brother's Brew donuts and pastries, and Halibut Point scenic views and quaint homes quickly replace the tourist bustle. About two miles up the coast, the Atlantic Path starts. The trail is a patchwork of public lands and private rights-