Mill Brook Meadow and Pond Park
Mill Brook Meadow and Mill Pond Park are located near Back Beach near the cemetery in Rockport. This place is great for a relaxing stroll or to sit by the pond.
Details
Distance from The Seafarer Inn: 1.6 miles
Parking: 2-hour metered street
Price: Free
Website: https://www.facebook.com/MillBrookMeadowAndWatershed
Telephone: N/A
Hours: Year-round
Halibut Point State Park
Halibut Point State Park is a great place if you want to fish, visit a historic site, picnic, overlook a scenic area, go cross-country skiing, or just go for a walk.
There are three main attractions at Halibut Point--the Visitors Center, the quarry, and the Sea Rocks. The Visitors Center is built into a WWII fire-control tower. With clear visibility, you can walk up a spiral staircase into the tower, offering views stretching from Crane Beach in Ipswich to Mount Agamenticus in Maine and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. The Visitors Center has a variety of displays, which help tell the story of the World Way II tower. The former Babson Farm granite quarry has a spectacular view and a self-guided tour for those looking for an informative stroll. An adjacent property, Sea Rocks, is owned by the Town of Rockport and open for public use. Here you can explore the park's trails and tidepools, picnic on its rocky ledges, enjoy its sweeping views, and learn about Cape Ann's historic granite industry.
Details
Distance from The Seafarer Inn: 4.3 miles
Parking: $2.00 to park
Price: $2.00
Website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-north/halibut-point-state-park.html
Telephone: 978-546-2997
Hours: The park is open 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day; the parking lot gates will be locked after dark, so be prepared!
Stage Fort Park
Stage Fort Park is the site of the first settler's to Gloucester in 1623. There are so many things to do at this park--explore history, have a barbeque (bring your own grill), throw a Frisbee, go to the beach (Half-moon/Cressey's beach are both located here), walk the dog, take pictures, and much more.
There are couple of lighthouses visible from this park. A few abandoned cannons were left around for historic purposes. Stage Fort Park is also a great place to park if you want to visit Gloucester in general. Pay $10 for the day (weekday/$15 on weekends), spend some time at the park, then explore the rest of Gloucester. It makes for a great day trip.
During the main season, Stage Fort Park has an information center open, restrooms available, a privately owned restaurant open to the public.
Dogs are allowed in the Park but not on the beaches from May 1st to September 15th. Owners must pick up after their dogs.
Details
Distance from The Seafarer Inn: 6.6 miles
Parking: $10 weekdays / $15 weekends during main season
Price: $10 weekdays / $15 weekends during main season
Website: http://gloucester-ma.gov/index.aspx?nid=450
Telephone: 978-281-9785
Hours: Closed during winter, but not gated off--you can still park and walk around.