Another
hidden gem in Gloucester is the gorgeous Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House. This stunning piece of architecture was the
summer home of interior designer, Henry Davis Sleeper. It is a 14,200 square foot work of art that
is perched on a lovely piece of property overlooking Gloucester Harbor. He used the house to show off his interior
decorating skills to potential clients, as well as a summer retreat that he
loved to share with friends and family.
This
beautiful home has twelve bedrooms, eight bathrooms and twelve fireplaces (some
worked and some were there for effect).
Here are some of my favorite spots in the house:
Amber glass is displayed in this back-lit area when you walk into the house.
When in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the number one place you MUST visit is Hammond Castle, an actual European castle perched high on a bluff on a stunning New England shoreline. You will feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore the grounds of this magical place. Built by John Hays Hammond, Jr, a scientist, inventor, and art connoisseur, it was completed in 1929 as a wedding gift to his wife. He was one of the most eccentric man I’ve ever heard about and you’ll learn all about him throughout your visit. Let me show you around…
IT ALL STARTS OUTSIDE
Peek through the arches to see Gloucester Harbor and Eastern Point light.
It is such a peaceful spot as you look out at the water.
Who would have guessed that prison could be so romantic? The Liberty Hotel is housed in the exact building of the Charles Street Jail, a national historic landmark. Completed in 1851, this jail once house some of Boston’s most historic inmates, and now you can call it home for the night. It has a nice blend of high-style luxury and hometown warmth. Trust me…you won’t be asking anyone to bail you out!
I woke up early at the Berry Manor Inn, made myself a cup of coffee, and jumped back in bed to enjoy it by the fire. (Hey…when my kiddos are not around, I take every chance at relaxation!)
After a delicious breakfast at the inn, we headed to the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands Wildlife Refuge Gallery. Their mission is to help conserve, protect, and enhance the rich diversity of coastal habitats, seabirds, and other wildlife in Maine.
They have a fantastic map of seabird nesting islands off the coast of Maine. I often forget just how vast the coastline is. In fact, Maine has more coastline than California!
There were beautiful works of art. I loved this wooden piece of clouds with the moon peeking out.
Last spring, I had the opportunity to join several other travel influencers to experience The Heart of Maine’s Art Scene, in Rockland, Maine. We had such a great time traveling to this gorgeous coastal town. We were hosted by the nicest people who all took time out of their busy schedules to share their love for Rockland. Also traveling with us was Cait Bourgault, an amazing photographer, and she captured so many fun moments. (Check out her website: www.caitbourgault.com) It’s not common for me to have an itinerary made for me, and it was so nice to sit back and not have to plan a thing. Here is what we did on our trip. Enjoy!
We started our day at the Maine Lighthouse Museum. I love lighthouses and always stop to take pictures of them, so I was happy this was our first stop. I loved seeing the pennies on the floor showing where the Maine lighthouses were!
Photo credit: Cait Bourgault
The museum had so many fun pieces. This one rotates.
After our drive from Portland, we needed to get some food into us, so we were treated to Clan McLaren for lunch. This hip spot served delicious sandwiches and salads. I had a chicken salad called the Lorelei, and it was so good I’ve tried to replicate it at home.
Photo credit: Cait Bourgault
Our first stop on our art tour of Rockland, Maine was the striking new home of CMCA, designed by architect Toshiko Mori. The building is a work of art itself, with its 11,500 square foot building with 5,500 square feet of exhibition space.
The best way to see a new town is to be shown around by a local, who will give you its history and recommendations of what to do while you’re there. They know the best tourist spots and will even share some hidden gems. This is exactly what you’ll get when you take The Real Portland tour. Derek will make you feel like a long-lost friend that’s taking you around his hometown.
I chose this tour when I was attending the Women in Travel Summit, and although I’d been to Portland a ton of times, I got to see places I had no clue existed. This 90-minute tour was the perfect way for me to see Portland from a new perspective…that of a local.
Derek, a native of Portland, was knowledgeable and I could picture my girls dying laughing at all of his jokes and puns. I can’t wait to bring them next time. He gave us the history of Portland as we passed the busy downtown area, the Arts district, and the Old Port. We went by gorgeous brownstones and Victorian mansions and enjoyed stunning views of the Eastern Prominade. There were beautiful views of the harbor…or “ha-bah” as Derek would say!
My girls have a new obsession…Dear Evan Hanson…so we were thrilled when it came to Boston. As I started looking for a hotel, I knew I wanted to use my Marriott points and the Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf stood out because it is an all-suite hotel. The 167 suite hotel is located right on the St. Charles River and has stunning views of the Boston Harbor.
Summer is quickly running out so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to spend some time at the beautiful Sonesta ES Suites in Burlington, Vermont. Having gone to college in Vermont, it has always been one of my favorite states and I couldn’t wait to share it with my girls! The location of the Sonesta can’t be beat since it’s close to the airport, as well as Stowe, Sugarbush, and Smuggler’s Notch. Since there are 96 spacious suites at the Sonesta, it is a wonderful destination for families looking to get away.
No matter how crazy our summer gets, we always set aside a day to head to Story Land, a tradition we’ve had since the girls were babies. Fast forward a decade later and we are still having fun as a family. Take a peek into our fun day at Storyland:
First stop is always taking a picture with Humpty Dumpty. We take one every year here and love to look back on when they were little.
Now on to the what my kids are here for…the rides! Here are some of our favorites:
Roar-O-Saurus: A fun wooden roller coaster that is the fastest ride in the park.
There’s
nothing more fun than discovering a hidden gem in one of your favorite
cities. While attending the Women in
Travel Summit last spring, I went on The Real Portland Tour and our guide told us
we HAD to get inside of the Victoria Mansion because there was nothing like it
in Portland. I hadn’t been able to take
that building off my mind so while my girls were in camp this summer, I decided
it was finally time to go in and take a peek.
I was lucky to have a private tour with Torie, who was able to bring life
to the history of the house. Let me show you around…
Also known as the Morse-Libby House, Victoria Mansion was built between 1858-1860 for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife Olivia. Can you believe it was their summer home! The outside of the home is stunning and will make you stop in your tracks to look at it.
When you
walk in, you’ll be amazed at this stunning staircase
