The North Shore is a terrific place to spend the day, or a weekend. With several scenic towns, beaches, whale watches, museums, deep sea fishing expeditions, and more; the north shore offers diverse natural wonders, from salt marshes, to rocky coves. And, it's all a short ride from Boston.

      Salem, MA is worthy of a stop if you are into the whole history of the Salem Witch Trials.

This next section is going to feature the Cape Ann area. Gloucester is a great window shopping destination, but it pales nekt to the artisan shops in Rockport. There's tons of B&B's, inns and hotels to stay at. Look on Tripadvisor.com, to get ratings for places to stay. I spent a lovely weekend at the Cape Ann Campground in West Gloucester. Ask for campground #42, as we were able to look over the cliff at the rising sun, which was magical.

If you follow the directions below, and head around Cape Ann on Rt 127, you will go through some of the villages of Gloucester, and see some great things. When you go around the Cape Ann loop, you'll love the Annisquam Village section. It is mostly homes but they are really lovely. Also in the village, there's a great cafe, the Annisquam Market, which has seating on a pier, and fantastic food, away from the throngs of tourists. There's not space enough to describe all the things you can do up here. Do some web searches, and find out more!

When you follow 127 around, you will go to the Halibut Point State Park, which is worthy of a stop, and stretch. You may see some seals basking. head along further, and you'll keep passing artisan shops, an ice cream shop, and eventually end up in Rockport, which is one of the villages of Gloucester, but a major tourist stop. Really is quaint and pretty spot, and you can eat up a whole day poking through it's shops.

If you keep circling on 127, you'll end up in Gloucester. Gloucester is still a big fishing port, and so is less quaint, and more gritty. There's deep sea fishing jaunts, and whale watching tours from here. Keep on Rt 127, and you'll loop down to Manchester by the Sea, for another pretty ride, through some impressive estates.

Written directions: - Start in Concord, MA. - Go Get onto Rt62 heading east-northeast all the way through Reading, and into Danvers, and finally Beverly, MA (about XX miles total). - Beverly Center is a mess, but it's a good way to go through, and now get on 1A and head down South into Salem, which has all kinds of "witchy things" to do, and hosts a rocking motorcycle heavy Halloween parade. - After checking out Salem, now it's time to get back on the bike and head North on 1A all the way up past Hamilton and just before Ipswich, take a right onto Rt 133 (East). - Rt 133 East towards Gloucester. - Before you get to Gloucester, you'll run into Rt 128. Take a left and on Rt 128 for just 2 miles or so and now you want to look for the turn off to Rt 127 North in Gloucester. - Take this Rt 127 North and this will loop you around Cape Ann, and is absolutely beautiful. - Stay on 127 going around the Cape Ann and 127 will pass through Gloucester and head into Beverly where you were a while back (see above).