Some of you may know that two small towns just east of Boston are among our favourite getaways. Rockport and Gloucester have been a part of my family travel history for decades. I’ve even documented them before on this blog. While the focus has always been on summer fun, this past winter holiday break we ventured to these beach towns for a different kind of getaway. The main reason was to spend time at one of our favourite Rockport Massachusetts hotels: Rockport Inn & Suites.

Our family has been frequenting this hotel for at least 9 years and during that time it has seen a major facelift. Both the common areas and rooms have seen some major updates. The lobby just might be my favourite with its nautical charm.

The Rooms

I lovingly refer to the Rockport Inn & Suites as a motel, just because according to my childhood memories, a hotel where you can drive right up to your own room, with your own door is a motel. But there are many room options available including traditional hotel rooms in the main building, 2-floor suites and exterior hotel rooms. When the kids were little we always booked a suite so they could sleep downstairs on the pull out couch and we could have our own space upstairs (with a skylight). Now that they are bigger, and there are 3 of them, we opted for two adjoining rooms. With a fridge and microwave in each room, the kids were able to set up their own little snack bar to make them feel right at home.

The Amenities

One of the main reasons why it’s on our list of Rockport Massachusetts hotels, is because of the indoor pool. No matter the weather, the kids can enjoy swimming, whether it’s cold outside or too hot after a day at the beach. Just outside the pool, there’s a lovely sitting area with a fire pit which is especially nice for an after-dinner swim.

My kids also love the grab-and-go breakfast and the all-day coffee/tea/hot cocoa bar. The hotel has a newly renovated gym and even a laundry room, for those staying for longer periods of time. This comes in especially handy for sandy beach towels.

Pet Friendly Hotel

We brought our pup Twix along for the journey. The hotel is pet-friendly and there is plenty of green space on the property for walks. Note: there is an additional daily fee to bring fido along.

When to Visit

While Rockport is typically known as a summer destination, winter was a lovely time to visit. The kids were happy hanging out at the hotel, in the room and the pool, and having a “slower” holiday. We did visit the infamous Motif 1 in Rockport but most of the shops were closed for the off-season until April. In the nearby town of Gloucester, many of the retailers and restaurants were open so we spent most of our time there. As always, Stage Fort park was a great place to hang out with a dog park, playground and access to a small beach.

I highly recommend a spring visit for a quieter environment but if you’re keen on summer, now is the time to book!

Disclaimer: our recent visit to Rockport Inn and Suites was a gifted experience.