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Massachusetts Area Named Best Spot For Boating

Author Jeff Gorra

Approximately 100 million Americans enjoy boating each year. With spring weather upon us and Memorial Day weekend around the corner, its the time of year where boats in the Northeast come out of hibernation. But what is the best place in the state for boating? Boat U.S. named Gloucester the Massachusetts area that is best for boating.

Boating was a 49.3 billion dollar industry, according to SI Yachts 2020 report. They report that there are 18.6 boats per 1,000 people in Massachusetts. In addition, there are approximately 130,000 boats registered in the state.

Gloucester

To compile their list, Boat U.S. looked at the most livable boating towns in the country. Cost of living, median income, and outdoor recreation were a few of the major categories examined to define what classified as the best boating towns, in this case. “For small boats, Essex Bay and the Annisquam River are boatable in virtually any weather. Bigger boats can cruise to Cape Cod’s Provincetown or Maine’s Casco Bay in a summer daylight hop,” Boat U.S. says of Gloucester.

A unique component of the geography of Gloucester is that it is split in half by the Annisquam River. In fact, Gloucester Harbor contains several different coves which includes the Inner Harbor, famous for its fishing fleets. Ipswich Bay lies to the north of Gloucester and Massachusetts Bay is on the south. Therefore, there are plenty of boating locations in the area depending upon what you are looking to do.

There are boat rental options in Gloucester, water tours, and water sports. Furthermore, there are over 20 marinas in the area, including the Eastern Point Yacht Club. This well-known club has a deep racing history thanks in part to having great access to the coastal waterways. Equally important, it overlooks Lighthouse Cove, providing a stunning atmosphere.

The Gloucester Schooner Festival

This summer, the  39th annual Gloucester Schooner Festival will take place from Thursday, August 31 to September 3. “The Gloucester Schooner Festival honors the major role the fishing schooner – invented here in 1713 – has played in the heritage of Gloucester and the eastern seaboard,” Discover Gloucester explains. A Mayor’s race on the closing day is one of the main highlights of this festival that draws visitors from all over the country each year.

Two Of Massachusetts Coastal Towns Ranked in USA's Top 10

North Shore, South Shore, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard. There certainly is no shortage of shoreline in the Bay State. Two Massachusetts towns were selected as a USA Today top 10 coastal town.

10 Best is USA Today‘s travel coverage series highlighting attractions, destinations, and food items around the county. They look for unique charm with homegrown flavors. Furthermore, they were looking for “waterfront charm.” Not only is Massachusetts the home to two of the selections, but it was also the only state in the Northeast to get the nod. According to the final rankings, these two towns are both in the top five!

So what are the towns?

Provincetown and Marblehead are each considered a Massachusetts top coastal town. The tip of Cape Cod and North Shore shipyard landmark. 10Best calls out Provincetown’s spread of galleries and museums as main attractions. In addition, Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary was listed as part of Marblehead’s nature-friendly environment.

Looking at the history of these two summer hot spots, it’s no surprise that their quaint appeal led them to landing on the top 10 coastal town list.

Provincetown is 17.5 miles of unique beachfront and harbor-side living. Often called P-Town, the year-round living population is roughly 3,600 people, while the seasonal population can reach as much as 60,000. Commercial Street is known for its Cabaret establishments, restaurants, and art shops.

Marblehead is about three hours north of Provincetown. You can actually take a boat back and forth. On a map it looks like these two destinations are staring at each other. Marblehead is about 19 square miles with a population of over 20,000. One of the main tourist attractions here are the numerous sailing options out of Marblehead harbor. Finally, it is infamous for its commercial fishing wharfs, thus there are also six yacht clubs spread throughout the area.

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.

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