Things to Do

The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway winds its way along the coast through fourteen North Shore communities in Essex County, Massachusetts. Situated within the Essex National Heritage Area and covering 90 miles from Lynn, MA to Salisbury, MA, the Byway passes many notable historical sites, cultural districts, recreation areas, and spectacular coastal scenery. The map below highlights […]

Every year, Atlantic Vacation Homes has the wonderful experience of getting to know our first-time guests and welcoming back our returning guests. Part of the joy of the travel season is getting to experience the wonders of Cape Ann through their eyes. Sharing our love for the area is part of what makes our job special! To that […]

Rivers provide a perfect backdrop to summer and offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Boating, kayaking, swimming, fishing, or just dangling your feet off a dock and watching the tide are perks of river life. Cape Ann is unique in that we are on the ocean but we also offer riverfront vacations! The tidal […]

Here’s the scoop: The towns of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, and Manchester-by-the-Sea offer a wide variety of summer activities and entertainments. For our go-to list of the best things to do on Cape Ann when you visit, read on.  10. See the Lighthouses. You can drive or boat around Cape Ann to take in views of the Twin […]

The rugged coastal landscape of Cape Ann has always held a strong magnetic attraction for artists. The challenge of capturing with paint and brush the magical light, the crashing of waves on rocks, majestic boats under sail, or the workday lives of fishing folk is too compelling for some to resist. Cape Ann has a long […]

If you are thinking about a vacation to Boston’s North Shore, consider planning your visit to coincide with one of the many local summer festivals. These widely celebrated North Shore events provide things to do for all ages as well as give a peek into local culture, art, music and more. North Shore Events in […]

Did you know that Cape Ann is a bird watching paradise, especially in the off-season? Even the middle of winter is a wonderful time to catch sight of the wide variety of migrating waterfowl and coastline birds that visit our rugged shores each year. What Birds You Might See In addition to a variety of gulls, […]

The dream of owning a vacation rental is being able to sit back and just watch the money roll in, with little effort. The reality is that managing and maintaining a rental home is quite a bit of work! Online marketplaces such as Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and FlipKey have made it easier in the last decade for […]

As you explore the North Shore this summer, don’t forget that there are many wonderful things to do in Cape Ann that do not require you to spend any money at all. You can enjoy a money-free day or weekend and still take part in everything that makes Cape Ann and the rest of the […]