Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Massachusetts
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 06-27-2011, 09:09 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,332 times
Reputation: 10

Advertisements

Hi, I'm looking to find a vacation destination in MA that is near the water but not necessarily a beach. Not a lake or a river. More like possibly near cliffs or rocks.. can anyone give me some suggestions on areas that may have this? Does it even exist? I've been searching but without being familiar with the area, I don't know all the town names to narrow my search. I'm open to other states if anyone knows of this area, but trying to keep it within a 7 hour drive from my house (near Harrisburg PA). Just looking for a relaxing area to spend some quality time with my family (husband and dogs).

Thanks for any help!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 06-28-2011, 08:24 AM
 
Location: Back in the gym...Yo Adrian!
10,172 posts, read 20,778,598 times
Reputation: 19869
In Mass try Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island. If you like craggy coastlines check out Maine.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-28-2011, 08:35 AM
 
Location: near bears but at least no snakes
26,656 posts, read 28,670,889 times
Reputation: 50525
For rocks and cliffs, Maine or New Hampshire are the only places I can think of.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-28-2011, 12:48 PM
 
Location: Providence, RI
12,842 posts, read 22,014,769 times
Reputation: 14129
Martha's Vineyard has some cliffs out near Gay Head (sorry, "Aquinnah") that are absolutely gorgeous. The dunes (reaching 100 feet in places) form cliffs along the Cape Cod National Seashore. Race Point beach up in Provincetown is the only place I've ever seen a whale from the shore on the East Coast. In fact, I would say that with the exception of maybe Acadia NP and Newport RI, you can't find nearly as dramatic drops to the ocean in New England as you can in Aquinnah and the National Seashore.

Acoaxet in Westport, MA has a very rocky shoreline. Just across the border in Rhode Island, so does Little Compton, Middletown and Newport (One of Newport's biggest attractions is the "Cliff Walk"). Newport isn't cheap and it's a little less relaxing. However Middletown isn't bad, and Little Compton and Westport (both fantastic) are off of most people's radar. If you end up in Westport or Little Compton, make sure you get something to eat at Stone House (you could even stay there). One of my favorite places in New England.

The North Shore of Massachusetts tends to be a bit rockier. Rockport, Gloucester (just about all of Cape Ann) are strikingly beautiful. Rye Beach in NH is gorgeous too. The Maine coast is king for rocky shoreline in the Northeast. Southern Maine (York, Kennebunk, Wells, Kittery, Ogunquit, Biddeford Pool, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth) are nice. It gets truly quiet as you go from the Midcoast out toward Acadia. Stonington, ME is an authentic, gorgeous little fishing village and totally worth staying in (it's not a huge tourist hot spot yet).
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-28-2011, 04:28 PM
 
Location: New England
1,054 posts, read 1,414,821 times
Reputation: 1831
I second the idea of Rockport. There are some small beaches, and there's a quaint little harbor (you must be tolerant of overdone artistic scenes to fully enjoy this) and you'd be near some rocky headlands and coves. The only trouble is, it's prime residential real estate and a lot of the coastline is in private hands. But there are places that you can get to the shore.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-28-2011, 07:32 PM
 
Location: New York City/San Diego, CA
686 posts, read 1,137,962 times
Reputation: 1107
Gloucester and Rockport are incredibly beautiful. I find them to be much more relaxing than the Cape and Islands. A lot less pretentious too.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-28-2011, 08:17 PM
 
2,202 posts, read 5,356,930 times
Reputation: 2042
I love Manchester by the Sea on the North Shore. Newport RI would be another great choice.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-29-2011, 06:34 PM
 
190 posts, read 202,213 times
Reputation: 348
Rockport and Gloucester--otherwise known as Cape Ann--are diverse seashore towns with great town centers and gardens. Halibut state park in Rockport is truly a hidden gem; it has some abandoned rock quarries and great slabs of rocks that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby Annisquam is picture perfect. Very nice places without the bustle of Cape Cod, and rocky shores for sure.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-29-2011, 08:04 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,332 times
Reputation: 10
Thanks everyone- I booked a place in Gloucester! It's not on the rocky cliff like I was looking for, but I waited to long and everything was pretty much booked- but it is right on the water

Now, here's my next question- Anything in particular that we need to see on our weekend trip? We were thinking of going to Salem for a little to check out all the witch stuff and the wax museum. And we want to do a whale watching tour too and I believe there is quite a few in Gloucester that we can choose from. We might also check out some of the state parks mentioned since we should be able to take the dogs with us there.

And of course can anyone tell me where to eat??? My husband LOVES clams- and from what someone told me apparently NE has something called a Quahog (spelling?) that he needs to try.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!!!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-30-2011, 12:14 AM
 
Location: New England
1,054 posts, read 1,414,821 times
Reputation: 1831
While in Salem, miss not the House of the Seven Gables.

You might give Dogtown Common a try. It's in the inland area of Cape Ann, behind Gloucester and Rockport. It was written up in the Boston Globe recently:

Hiking into the history of Gloucester’s early settlers - The Boston Globe

Do take insect repellent.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Massachusetts
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:30 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top