Where to savor the last seconds of Summer.
No. 56 Plus, a new edition of The Sunday Six!
Good morning!
As soon as we returned from our brief, but bountiful Labor Day day trip, I knew I wanted to write about it today to share with all of you. It was nothing out of the ordinary nor something unavailable the rest of the year, but our three-hour trip to Rockport, MA was extremely satisfying, fun, and a great way to toast the summer that’s almost done for the year.
Yes, we decided on a whim last Monday to head north to Rockport which isn’t far from our house and let the day unfold from there. The weather was perfect (as it is currently as well!) and while I admire the heck out of people who plan proper vacations, our current style of “Yes, let’s go!” on a moment’s notice to nearby beautiful locations is serving us well. To each their own!
We zipped up the highway, Pepper sleeping happily in the backseat, and all of a sudden we were facing the ocean and inhaling fresh, coastal New England air. Ahh! Superb. Five minutes later, we got a parking ticket. #facts
Lest you think all towns offer free parking on holidays, that is not the case in Rockport (it is true in the majority of others around here). They enforce their parking meters through mid-November so please keep that in mind if you head that way after reading this review. $1 per hour is far more reasonable than the price of our ticket. ;) And remember, we were only there for three hours and the max time allowed at the meters further up Main Street is four hours. Lesson learned!
We brushed off our frustration, finished our iced coffees with Pepper sprinting down the sidewalk - her nap time complete - and soon enough we were (once again) staring at the ocean and taking in that glorious ocean air. Ahh! Delightful.
Rockport is so cute and walk-able and overflowing with shops that just scream, “it’s still Summer!” “Come inside and buy all of the tchotchkes!” “Maybe you will pretend today that you can afford this amazing painting!”
If you didn’t already know, I love a cute summer store - a local business if you will - so I was not leaving this town without a souvenir (or two) of our brief adventure. But before we could get to the actual shopping, we had to scurry all over with Pepper who actually hates shopping, barked her head off when I popped into an art gallery, and has fully decided that she is afraid of the ocean. Cool!
Yes, our goldendoodle is quite nervous around water and was downright petrified of the tiniest wave that nipped at her toe. Yikes! She jumped backward several feet any time the water went anywhere near her. I don’t know if this is a Pepper issue or perhaps a fact of the breed that not many people talk about, but she is just not a water dog. I would never force her into anything, but my dreams of seeing her paddle along at the water’s edge have pretty much been scrapped. Rats!
I love the ocean, but I suppose my interest in swimming in it isn’t exactly a priority either so I shouldn’t blame Pepper for her fear. Do we know anyone with a large sailboat? Maybe she could be a boat dog. That would be adorable. Sunset sailing (with Pepper) is a goal for next year.
One note on the water: Pepper did love running down the rocks and tried to eat a few tiny ones. As long as the ocean is only part of the view, but not the actual activity, she’s quite happy. Same?
Moving right along, we stopped trying to make Pepper the Water Pup happen and attempted some browsing in all of those cute shops. All of a sudden, Rockport was inundated with other people who were also out enjoying the beautiful day, also trying to savor the glorious late-summer day (I don’t think they got parking tickets). It wasn’t even 11:30AM and the lines for lunch at the famous lobster spots were incredibly long. Oh my.
Since Pepper seemed somewhat calmer, she and Seth sat on a nearby bench facing the good view (thank you, Seth!) while I dashed into a store that is now my new favorite in the area: Lula’s Pantry. Oh this place is overflowing with excellent kitchen goodies, home decor, cookbooks, gourmet snacks, all sorts of fun napkins, and my personal favorite, acrylic trays - perfect for use on our new patio!
I live for a summer souvenir (as I said already) so I purchased a few to bring home as this was our last stop before heading out. Pepper’s patience was waning and we were all hungry. Year after year, I almost always buy a tray (or two) of some design as a reminder of the season. They’re useful all year round and the designs are a fun way to incorporate my favorite time of year into our home.
Yes, this is how our house decor definitely angles toward a summer vibe most of the time. Not nautical, but “is it summer yet?” is the theme for most of the rooms. Ha!
Hovering around noon, it was lunch time! We scurried back to the car, summer souvenirs in (my) hand, and decided it was best to head out of Rockport. We came, we saw the view, we bought something new, and it was all in a few (hours). It was so fun and relaxing, I could barely remember the frustration of that parking ticket upon our arrival. Oh wait, it was still on our windshield. Don’t worry, it has since been paid.
Our final stop of the day was another summer classic that’s a must-visit for my fellow fried-seafood-loving, celiac-safe-required foodies: J.T. Farnham’s! Located in Essex, this side-of-the-road restaurant with picnic tables facing another awesome view is a staple in the community and a superb option if you’re gluten free (and love fried seafood). Here’s a friendly reminder: it is cash only. Don’t forget!
Pepper was a perfect pup for our lunch and sat watching the water - and seagulls - while we dined on fried clams, fried oysters, and GF onion rings (omg amazing). I was thrilled she was occupied and well-behaved for this part of the adventure since her behavior in Rockport wasn’t quite as stellar. I suppose having her be perfect during an outdoor meal is far more important. Everyone that walked by thought she was so calm and cute! Yes, she is very cute. No, she is not often that calm.
Again, Farnham’s has all of the awesome fried seafood, a beautiful view, and a great set of picnic tables on which to enjoy your feast. It gets extremely busy so keep that in mind if you arrive extra hungry. The food is cooked to order and it seems that the GF orders take a bit longer. Fine by me — I love that this a safe, scrumptious option for when my fried clam cravings take over and I have cash in my pocket (a not-that-often occurrence).
Sure, Woodman’s is down the street and we do love to go there, but Farham’s is quieter, sometimes calmer, and the view is better (water views tend to win IMO). And the fact that they always offer those GF onion rings makes them a must in my book. Woodman’s and Farnham’s are two, terrific seafood spots in Essex that we frequent, but on this particular Labor Day our car went direct to Farnham’s and the (GF) seafood feast was scrumptious and splendid. They are open until November so…see you there?
Three hours in Rockport and one stop for fried seafood on the way home was just what we needed as a salute to summer 2024 and a great reminder that you don’t need a lot of time (or to go a long distance) to have an excellent adventure.
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