I may be a city girl, but the ocean has my heart. I like to think that in another lifetime, I’d be living in a cottage by the sea, probably with a dog and a belly full of lobster rolls, oysters, and local homemade ice cream. Ok, back to reality… but a girl can dream!
Earlier this summer I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Boston for the first time since graduation. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I was back! While I would’ve loved to hit all my favorite spots in town, I only had two days and wanted to make sure I got to spend some quality time with friends that I haven’t seen in a while. On Saturday, we took a trip to Rockport for some fun in the sun, and it was the perfect weekend escape. Rockport is a short one-hour drive from Boston yet it feels like a world away. This charming little coastal town stole my heart and I can’t wait to go back again someday.
We started our day downtown, wandering through the farmers market and exploring all the cute shops along the streets. The smell of saltwater taffy and the gentle sea breeze brought an instant smile to my face. There’s just something so special about this simple kind of lifestyle and small town feel. Rockport is perhaps best known for Motif No. 1, a little red fishing shack by the water. I loved the colorful buoys hanging on the wall and people watching from the wharf!
To go along with the nautical theme for the day, I wore this Loft dress that I bought from the outlet a few months back. I love the crisp feel of the dress and the light, breathable fabric, which is perfect for a seaside stroll. I had tried on an extremely similar version of this dress before by Kate Spade, but it was way too pricey ($100+ at TJ Maxx, $300 retail), and the cut was a bit weird for my petite frame. Luckily, I scored this Loft dress in petite sizing AND for only $30! Talk about a steal!
The best part about this look is that it’s so easy to recreate. All you need is a white tank and a pinstripe skirt, and maybe even throw in a black belt if you feel like it. Pair it with heels for a more polished look or white sneakers for a casual vibe. These Sperry slip on sneakers have been my go-to this summer because they go with just about everything!
For lunch, we headed to Roy Moore’s Fish Shack for some fresh seafood. The restaurant was kind enough to give us a table facing the waterfront! I swear, I could eat seafood all the time and not get sick of it. Another sign that I should just move closer to ocean already, ha! And of course, no day trip would be complete without some dessert! The ice cream at Sundays is fabulous — with so many flavors to choose from, how can you ever decide? I went with moose tracks, which is slowly becoming one of my favorite flavors.
To burn off all those calories, in the afternoon we drove over to Halibut Point State Park for a quick hike and some relaxation by the ocean. The park is on the tip of Cape Ann and has the most incredible view of the Atlantic. The best part though was seeing this adorable baby seal just as we were about to leave. Look at his sweet face! I just want to give him a hug. I’ve been watching this video on repeat and can’t stop smiling at this cuteness.
I’ve been on the road a lot recently for work so coming to Boston and Rockport was just the mini vacation I needed. I can’t believe August is almost over! Where did the summer go? Tell me about your fun summer adventures in the comments below!
