25 June 2015: A visit to Rockport

Bearskin Neck

25 Jun 2015 (Thu):

One of my friends recommended me to visit Rockport when she learnt that I will be travelling to Lynn. Both Lynn and Rockport are serviced by the Commuter Rail so it will be fairly easy to travel to Rockport.

Rockport is a picturesque place. It was once a shipping center for locally cut granite. In the 1920s, Rockport was discovered by artists and it remains an art colony today. This place offers magnificent views of the Atlantic from the breakwater at the end of the Bearskin Neck, a narrow peninsula that juts out beyond the harbour.

Getting to Rockport from Swampscott:
To get there from the Oceanview Bed and Breakfast, I learnt that it was easier to walk to Swampscott Commuter Rail station. The Commuter Rail was affectionately referred to by the locals as the 'purple line'. The walk to Swapscott station from Oceanview Bed and Breakfast took about 10 to 15 minutes.

I had initially wanted to take a bus to the Swampscott station. On the way to check out the bus-stop, I came across a lovely resident who had planted roses. She took very good care of her roses. Her intention was so that the people who were waiting at the bus-stop can enjoy the roses. Small actions like this can touch the hearts of many.

At the Swampscott station, I met a lady who very graciously and kindly shared with me how to buy tickets on the 'purple line'. I could get monthly ticket or I can pay cash from the ticket-master on board the train. I am thankful for kind people like this lady who have helped me to navigate my way about and shared a glimpse of their world with me.

At the Rockport Commuter Station.

At Rockport
When I was at Rockport, I could not see anything much from the railway station. I learnt that one of the best ways to get to know a new place well is to ask and be engaged in conversations with the locals. With the suggestions from the locals, I found my way to what seemed to be the marketplace of Rockport.

Main Street, up ahead.

Interesting works of art. 77 Main Street.

There are many independent art stores in Rockport and it is a lovely place to visit. The air there is very fresh. My experience is that Rockport has a friendly community. Although I had intended to leave Rockport by 5.10 p.m., I had stayed behind for a longer while to savour the beauty of this lovely place. Special thanks to the gentleman at Roy Moore Lobster Company who had reminded me to slow down and savour the beauty in life. More about the Roy Moore Lobster Company in a separate post.

Roy Moore Lobster Co.

There is a nice place for ice-cream at Rockport, which I vaguely recall was at 42 Main Street. The ice-cream from Gifford's famous ice cream was not too sweet and had a texture that was satisfying to savour. I read that Gifford's famous ice cream has won accolades such as the World's Best Chocolate four times over at least.

What I appreciated about Rockport was that the shops and the houses were mostly decorated with beautiful flowers. These flowers brought delight to a traveller in me. In addition, the scenic views and the seemingly simplicity of life at Rockport drew me to love this place. Special thanks to one of my friends, Emz, for the recommendations to visit Rockport. This is a place that is worthwhile to visit for anyone who is interested in checking out some of the interesting independent art stores in Massachusetts while enjoying a refreshing view of the North Atlantic Ocean.