A trip to Massachusetts isn’t complete without a stop in Gloucester. After Salem, Ron and I headed to Gloucester for a whale watching tour. We arrived a few hours early so we could enjoy the town, which is everything a coastal town should be. They are tons of boats, due to its rich fishing history which continues today, beautiful homes, rocky coast lines, occasional harbor seal sightings and more. One interesting thing is that they’re very big on wind energy. Huge turbines stick out over the rows of buildings, which creates a striking landscape.
We stopped by Man at the Wheel memorial honoring fisherman who have been lost at sea. Gloucester has lost more than 10,000 men to the Atlantic Ocean over its 350 year history. These men were brothers, fathers, uncles, sons, but that’s their way of life. A father may die at sea and the son will still continue into the profession. Their names are on a cenotaph that’s part of the memorial and also on mural in City Hall. The thing I was most surprised about is the list continues to grow. They aren’t all old names. Some are fairly new. Among them are also those that were featured in the movie, The Perfect Storm.
Near the Man at the Wheel memorial is a separate memorial honoring the fishermen’s wives. These women deserve to be honored as they’re the ones who hold it together at home, raising children, keeping the house running and more.
We also took a moment to stop by the local park, where tons of sea glass can be found, and where the Massachusetts Bay Colony was formed.
After the park, it was time for our whale watching tour. There are a few options to choose from, but we chose the Cape Ann Whale Watching Tour and it was great. I definitely recommend it. Just keep in mind that’s an all day thing so plan accordingly. Plus, iIn addition to seeing whales, which makes you feel a bit like you’re in Moby Dick, the tour also offers great views of lighthouses, the coast and more. We loved it. And, I got to check off seeing a whale on my bucket list.
After the tour, we grabbed some dinner at the Gloucester Harbor and headed back to our hotel.
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Hart of Grace Photography 
This looks like such a fun trip! I was in Maine this past summer, and your post has me itching to go back. My heart lies in the northeastern coastal towns. Anyway, I love that you got some great pictures of that whale (so fun!) and lovely tribute to the men lost at sea. I had no idea there were so many. Beautiful post!
So cool! I’ve always wanted to go whale watching! Gorgeous pictures too!!
Oh how amazing! It’s so sad to think about how many people have been lost at sea. It’s nice to know that these men are remembered!