A day trip to Rockport, MA from Boston is a great experience! This seaside town might be small, but there is a lot to do and see. It's one of the most fun day trips in the United States.
When you are spending 24 hours in the town of Rockport you want to know where to go and how much time to spend there. You can find all information in this itinerary. I give you a guide on the activities in Rockport.
Furthermore, I'll start with some information on how to go to Rockport, how to move around, and where to stay.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Rockport
For this itinerary, I assume you're doing a day trip to Rockport from Boston. Boston is the nearest large city to Rockport and it lies at a distance that a day trip is possible.
There are three options to get to Rockport if you want to reach the town for a day trip. You can travel by public transport, you can drive there yourself, or you can take a taxi.
Public Transport
To get to Rockport by public transport the first option is to go by bus. There are several bus companies that have routes from Boston to Rockport.
The journey by bus takes about 4 hours, which makes this a less suitable option for a day trip. But, if this is your only option, you can go early in the morning and leave the town at the end of the day, to still have time there!
Another journey you can take if you travel by public transport is by first taking the train, and then the bus.
This is a much faster journey than traveling by only the bus. So it's more convenient if you're doing a day trip to Rockport. If you do this, you first travel by train to the town of Manchester. From there you can take the Rockport Line Shuttle bus. This journey takes about 1.5 hours.
The fastest option by public transport is by train. There is a direct train between Boston and Rockport. When you leave the station, it is only a short walk to the center of Rockport.
Drive Yourself
Another option to get to the town of Rockport from Boston is to drive there yourself. This is the fastest option for a day trip. And I recommend this option.
The distance by car is about 40 miles (64 kilometers), which takes about 1 hour.
It's a great drive that partly goes through nature, which is a great experience.
Taxi
The last option for traveling to Rockport is by taxi. This is very expensive, so I wouldn't recommend it. That said, it is a very easy way to do a day trip to Rockport!
How to Move Around During Your Day Trip to Rockport
It is very easy to move around the town of Rockport. That's because the town is very small. You can walk everywhere within the town itself.
But if you are visiting some spots near the town, I recommend doing so by car. This is the quickest way to reach different spots in the area.
Besides that, there are some buses that connect Rockport to various sights near the town. Depending on where you want to go this can be a good way to move around!
Where to Stay When You Are One Day in Rockport
Choosing where to stay in Rockport should completely depend on the accommodation type. That's because the location doesn't matter that much.
Everywhere in the town is central, because the town is very small.
So whether you are staying next to the beach, or along the main street, all places are good for a day trip to Rockport.
Itinerary For one Day in Rockport: What To Do During Your Day Trip to Rockport
Rockport is a small town with some great things to do and see.
When you arrive here from Boston, you don't want to lose any time in deciding where to go. You want to make the best out of your time in Rockport.
That's why you need this itinerary for one day in Rockport.
With this itinerary, you cover all the main sights of the town. You go to all the famous spots in the town that are a must-see for everyone who visits Rockport.
Of course, at the end of the day, there is still more to explore in the town, because you can't cover everything in one day.
But spending one day in the town is the best amount of time to have the best time!
After going to these spots, you can say you know the town very well!
Without further ado, here's the itinerary! Have fun during this day trip to Rockport from Boston.
Start Your Day Trip to Rockport With Breakfast
There are many places in Rockport where you can have breakfast. Downtown Rockport is the place to go if you want to discover a great restaurant for the first meal of the day.
One of the best places for breakfast is Nate’s at Front Beach. You can find this place close to Front Beach and they are open in the morning. You can have here a variety of dishes.
Another great place for having breakfast in Rockport is Bakery Cafe Rockport. They have good toast and other typical breakfast items.
Walk Through Main Street
After breakfast, it's time to explore the town!
The main street is one of the largest streets in Rockport. It's a must-see when you're doing a day trip to Rockport. You find here many of the houses of the town where people live.
That's why it's a great place to get a sense of what living in the town is like. Many of the houses in this street look beautiful. Many have a beautiful pastel color, which is so pretty!
There isn't much to do here besides looking at the houses, so let's go to the next stop of this itinerary!
You can get there when you walk all the way through Main Street until you can't walk any further and you see the sea.
Relax at Front Beach
The next stop of this itinerary is Front Beach. Going here is one of the best things in Rockport for sure!
Front Beach is a beautiful beach with gorgeous golden sand and beautiful water.
The beach is very popular, both with tourists and the locals of the town. It can get quite busy on some days of the year.
Front Beach is a great place for relaxation. You can sit down and relax. Or you can do some beach games.
Another great feature about the beach is that, sometimes, there are lifeguards. During the summer, there are lifeguards on duty, which makes swimming here much safer. Make to sure always check if it's currently safe to swim and if there are lifeguards. You can get this information from local sources.
Besides the golden sand at Front Beach, there are also large rocks. You can sit down there and relax.
But, what's great about this beach is not only the beach itself.
There are lots of shops and restaurants nearby, which is very convenient. This makes it possible to combine shopping and dining with some time at the beach. Also, if you forgot to bring something with you, you can buy it without having to go back home.
Also, the beach is in the center of the town, which makes going there very easy for your day trip to Rockport. After a visit to this beach, it is easy to see some of the other sights in the town.
After you had a great time at the beach, it's time to continue with your day in Rockport.
Go to Rockport Art Association & Museum
After going to the beach this morning, it's time to explore some of the cultural things in the town!
The town of Rockport is well-known for its art. In the past, it was a very popular place with artists from all over New England. Many of them lived in the town, which is why art was always a core aspect of the town for the last 100 years. And that's still true to this day.
Because of that, there is a surprising number of art galleries for such a small town. There are tens of art galleries and hundreds of artists in Rockport. This is a very unique aspect of this charming town.
A group of artists about 100 years ago formed the Rockport Art Association to work together. The association still exists. And you can find it in an old tavern building at 12 Main Street.
The Rockport Art Association has a museum as well. The museum is great to visit at the end of the morning of your day trip to Rockport.
Here you can find paintings, sculptures, and graphical art. These objects together tell the story of the history of Rockport and its surrounding. Also, you can learn here a lot about the art of Rockport.
What's also great is that the Rockport Art Association has many events that are great to attend. Furthermore, there are special exhibitions and educational lectures. When you happen to visit during a certain time, you can attend such an event, exhibition, or lecture!
Have Lunch at Red Skiff Restaurant
Now it's time for lunch during this one day in Rockport. The most convenient location for this is somewhere next to the port.
One of the best places for this is Red Skiff Restaurant. You can get here a very delicious lunch that consists of many different food items.
Red Skiff Restaurant serves sandwiches, flatbread pizza, salads, wraps, poke bowls, and more. Because of that, there is definitely something you will like here. This is also great if you are traveling Rockport in a group where everyone has a different taste.
Also, the food is quite affordable, which is always nice!
Take Photos at Motif Number 1: Beautiful Photos of Your Day Trip to Rockport
After lunch, it's time to go to Motif Number 1. This is a beautiful fishing shack that is almost 200 years old.
A blizzard in 1978 destroyed the original structure. But during the same year, the town of Rockport created an exact replica.
This very pretty red fishing shack appears a lot in paintings. That's because many artists in the past liked the composition and lighting.
The name of the fishing shack comes from the painter Lester Hornby. Motif Number 1 refers to it being the favorite subject of many painters at that time.
Nowadays it is still a very popular building in the town. The town does everything it can to keep the area surrounding the stack clear from other things.
What makes the fishing stack popular these days is not because a lot of people want to make a painting of it.
It's because it is a very popular Instagram spot and people take pictures of it! It is a very photogenic place.
So if you want to take some photos during your day trip to Rockport, you can do so here this afternoon!
Explore the Harbor of Rockport
Now it's time to explore the Harbor of Rockport! Motif Number 1 lies next to it, so you are there within a minute.
You find here many small boats that are great to see. Furthermore, you can of course see the red fishing shack where you went before, but now from a distance!
Strolling around the harbor is a great activity this afternoon to get a better feeling of the town. Also, it is a very relaxing activity to sit down somewhere and look at the sea.
Go to Bearskin Neck and See Some Art Galleries
You cannot visit Rockport without going to Bearskin Neck! That's why you should go here next!
It's one of the most beautiful parts of the town. You find here lots of shops, galleries, and restaurants.
The buildings in which these venues are are very small and charming.
What's great is that you won't find any large brands here. There are only small local shops.
You can buy here clothing, artwork, or a great souvenir that will remind you of your day trip to Rockport.
Also, there are lots of art galleries that you can visit. You should definitely visit a few of these this afternoon. You may find a great artwork you want to buy!
Another great sight to see here is the old Bear Skin Neck sign. There you can see where the name of the Bearskin Neck comes from.
One of the explanations is that the tide caught a bear and killed it. But there are more explanations for the name.
Get Ice Cream at The Ice Cream Store
One of the most charming ice cream shops in the town is The Ice Cream Store. When you are going to Rockport for a day trip, you should definitely go here!
This is a tiny house that serves ice cream that you can find at Bearskin Neck.
The store looks amazing and it is very classical. The logo that appears at the front of the building gives the store a very authentic feeling. This makes the ice cream shop great to capture on a photo too!
Besides the outside of the ice cream shop looking very beautiful, the ice cream is delicious too!
You can choose from many different flavors. These include typical ones like Vanilla, Chocolate, and Pistachio. But there are also lesser-known flavors, such as Cookie Dough, Raspberry, and Walnut.
Also, you can get here frozen yogurt, beverages, shaved ice, and sundae.
The Ice Cream Store is a very popular place for those who live in Rockport, and for those who visit Rockport. Moreover, on a hot day in summer, it can get very busy here.
I recommend getting ice cream here when you're in Rockport for a day trip. After that, let's go to the next stop of this 24-hour itinerary.
Walk Through Mill Brook Meadow Park
It's the last activity before dinner on this day in Rockport!
Now it's time to go to Mill Brook Meadow Park in downtown Rockport. This park is very close to Front Beach, where you went before on this day.
The nature of this park is beautiful, which makes this a great place for a relaxing walk. There are beautiful trees, plants, and flowers.
Also, it's great to sit down in the park and relax a bit after the many activities this day in Rockport!
Furthermore, there are often events in the park, especially for children!
Another great thing you can see here is the Mill Pond. This pond takes in about half the space of the whole Mill Brook Meadow Park.
It is a beautiful place with aquatic plants. Also, there are many animals here, such as birds, ducks, turtles, and fish. This is very interesting to see and definitely great when you are one day in Rockport!
Have Dinner at Feather and Wedge: The End of Your Day Trip to Rockport
Now that you went to all these places in Rockport, you are getting hungry for sure!
So, let's go for dinner! There are many incredible restaurants in Rockport. When you walk through downtown Rockport you stumble upon many places.
I would recommend going to Feather and Wedge. This is a lovely restaurant with all kinds of delicious dishes. You find the restaurant next to Front Beach and close to the harbor
It's a great place to try out the seafood that is famous in Rockport. Furthermore, there are all kinds of other dishes here. A great other dish is the Thai vegetable curry!
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