Destination of the Week: The Inn at Good Harbor Beach

Photos courtesy of The Inn at Good Harbor Beach. Photo credit: Anthony Tieuli

This week’s Destination of the Week takes travelers to Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts, one of New England’s most treasured coastal excursions. The Inn at Good Harbor Beach offers a front-row seat to Cape Ann, where beautiful beaches, maritime history, art, fresh seafood and classic New England charm come together.

Good Harbor Beach has been recognized as one of the best beaches in the United States. What is it about this stretch of coastline that keeps visitors coming back year after year?

The accolades are wonderful, but the real magic of Good Harbor Beach is that it never feels static. It is a beautiful sweep of soft white sand framed by the Atlantic, with family-friendly surf, tidal pools and views that change throughout the day. At low tide, a sandbar emerges and visitors can walk toward Salt Island, turning a simple day at the beach into a small adventure.

People come for the swimming, boogie boarding and long walks, but they return for the feeling of the place. There is something wonderfully timeless about waking up to the sound of the ocean, watching the light move across the water and spending a day without needing an agenda. Many visitors first experienced Good Harbor Beach as children and now return with children or grandchildren of their own. That sense of tradition, combined with the natural beauty of the beach, is what makes it so enduring. Travel + Leisure continues to recognize Good Harbor Beach among the best beaches in the United States.

For international travelers planning a trip to the U.S., where is Cape Ann, and what makes Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts, one of New England's most treasured coastal destinations?

For international visitors, it helps to know that Cape Ann is not Cape Cod. Cape Ann is a rocky coastal peninsula approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston on Massachusetts’ North Shore. It includes the communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea, each with its own character. Good Harbor Beach is located in Gloucester, one of America’s most historic working seaports.

What makes the area so special is that it offers so many of the experiences people associate with New England in one remarkably accessible destination. There are sandy beaches and rugged granite coastline, fishing boats and lighthouses, art colonies, historic architecture and exceptional seafood. A traveler can spend the morning on Good Harbor Beach, go whale watching or sailing in the afternoon, have fresh local seafood that evening and fall asleep within earshot of the Atlantic.

Cape Ann is also surprisingly easy to reach. The Inn is approximately 45 to 60 minutes by car from Boston Logan International Airport, and Gloucester is accessible by commuter rail from Boston’s North Station.

The Inn at Good Harbor Beach has just undergone a transformation while honoring the property's history. How does the Inn capture the authentic New England beach experience, and what can travelers expect from a stay there?

The property has been part of the Good Harbor Beach story since 1910, so we felt a real responsibility to respect that legacy. At the same time, we did not want to create a generic coastal hotel or turn the Inn into a museum of its own past. The goal was to preserve the intimacy, warmth and sense of place that generations of guests remembered while creating an entirely new level of comfort and hospitality.

Following a comprehensive, ground-up transformation, the Inn reopened in July 2026 with 18 guest rooms and suites. The accommodations are bright and refined, with a classic New England coastal sensibility expressed through crisp whites, soft blues, natural textures and maritime details. Many rooms have private balconies or furnished decks, and the two buildings surround a central courtyard designed for gathering and relaxing. Oversized operable windows allow guests to hear the waves and enjoy the salt air.

The experience is meant to feel effortless. Guests can enjoy breakfast or a room-side breakfast basket, beach chairs and towels, cabanas, prepacked coolers, bike rentals and help arranging local experiences. Seasonal programming includes clambakes, barbecues, live music and evenings around the fire pits. You can arrive, park, check in and have your feet in the sand within minutes. That is our idea of authentic coastal luxury.

For travelers looking for a romantic coastal vacation, which room or suite would you recommend, and what little touches make The Inn at Good Harbor Beach such a memorable place to stay?

For a romantic getaway, I would recommend Room 18, the second-floor Oceanfront Premier King with Deck. It has a luxurious king bed, vaulted ceilings, wonderful natural light and a furnished private deck overlooking Good Harbor Beach and Salt Island. The views extend to both the east and west, so couples can experience the changing light over the water throughout the day. Waking up to the sunrise and enjoying morning coffee or breakfast on that deck is difficult to beat.

What makes the stay memorable, however, is not one grand gesture. It is the collection of thoughtful details. Breakfast can be delivered in a basket, the beach chairs and towels are ready, a cooler can be prepared for the day, and the team can assist with restaurant reservations, sailing excursions or other Cape Ann experiences. After a day on the beach, guests can return for seasonal live music, a clambake or s’mores by the fire pits.

The real luxury is that couples do not have to spend their vacation managing logistics. They can slow down, reconnect and let the setting do most of the work. The Atlantic is a very persuasive concierge.

Beyond relaxing on the beach, what are some of the must-do experiences for travelers exploring Cape Ann?

I would build a Cape Ann visit around four things: the sea, the art, the history and the food.

A whale-watching trip to Stellwagen Bank is one of the region’s signature experiences, and sailing aboard the Thomas E. Lannon offers a wonderful perspective on Gloucester’s maritime heritage. On land, visitors should explore the galleries and studios of Rocky Neck, one of the country’s oldest continuously operating art colonies, and visit the Cape Ann Museum to understand how the area’s landscape, fishing industry and creative community have influenced generations of artists.

Hammond Castle Museum is another memorable stop, with its dramatic architecture and oceanfront setting. I also recommend walking the granite Dog Bar Breakwater for views of Eastern Point Lighthouse and Gloucester Harbor.

A short trip to Rockport should include Bearskin Neck and Motif No. 1, while Essex is the place to experience the North Shore tradition of fried clams. For travelers who enjoy the outdoors, Halibut Point State Park and Ravenswood Park offer beautiful walking and hiking opportunities. The best Cape Ann days usually combine one planned experience with plenty of time to wander.