Getting There
From Salem, follow Route 1A across the bridge to Beverly, pick up Route 127, and take it through Manchester (near, not on, the water) to Gloucester. From Boston, the quickest path is I-93 or Route 1 to Route 128, which runs directly to Gloucester. Route 128 is mostly inland; to take in more scenery, leave Route 128 at Manchester and continue to Gloucester on Route 127. There's street parking (metered and not), and a free lot on the causeway to Rocky Neck.
The commuter rail (tel. 617/222-3200; www.mbta.com) runs from Boston's North Station. The trip takes about an hour; the round-trip fare is $15. The station is across town from downtown, so allow time for getting to the waterfront area. The Cape Ann Transportation Authority, or CATA (tel. 978/283-7916; www.canntran.com), runs buses from town to town on Cape Ann and operates special routes during the summer.
Visitor Information
The Gloucester Tourism Office, City Hall, 9 Dale Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930 (tel. 800/649-6839 or 978/281-8865; www.gloucesterma.com), operates the excellent Visitors Welcoming Center at Stage Fort Park, off Route 127 at Route 133. It's open during the summer daily from 9am to 5pm; closed in winter. The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, 33 Commercial St., Gloucester, MA 01930 (tel. 800/321-0133 or 978/283-1601; www.capeannvacations.com), is open year-round (summer weekdays 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm; winter weekdays 8am-5pm) and has a helpful staff. It also operates a seasonal information booth on Rogers Street at Harbor Loop. Call or write for the chamber's four-color map and brochure.
Special Events
Gloucester holds festivals and street fairs on weekends throughout the summer. Check in advance to find out what's up when you'll be in town. The best-known event is St. Peter's Fiesta, a colorful 4-day celebration at the end of June. The Italian-American fishing colony's festival has more in common with a carnival midway than a religious observation, but it's great fun. There are parades, games, music, food, sporting events, and, on Sunday, the blessing of the fleet. The Schooner Festival, a floating party with plenty of land-based revelry, takes place over Labor Day weekend; the 2009 event is the 25th annual.
