This Massachusetts State Park Is A Hidden Gem With Trails, Tide Pools, And Coastal Views

Halibut Point State Park isn't the first place you'd think to visit in Massachusetts. Most travelers will head to Boston and poke around the city, walking Freedom Trail and downing a cup of "chowdah." Then they'll take a witchy trip to Salem, or learn about Puritan settlers in Plymouth, the old-school New England town full of history and local charm. In summer, they'll fan out along Cape Cod, riding the ferry to Provincetown or booking a whale-watch excursion in Hyannis. If they really explore the state, summer travelers may watch daredevils "walk the greasy pole" in Gloucester or contemplate life at Walden Pond or hike to the top of Mt. Greylock.

But only a fraction of travelers will think to visit Halibut Point, which is what makes it so special. Located in Rockport, a town in the state's northeast, Halibut Point is a rocky stretch of coast that feels far from civilization. But it's shockingly close to the action: When traffic is forgiving, you can drive here from Boston Logan International Airport in about an hour. You could even take the train from downtown Boston to nearby Gloucester and take a cab the remaining nine miles.

So why would you want to visit? Halibut Point makes for a tranquil pit stop on your road trip across New England. You can also hike its many trails, taking in rugged coastal scenery, or visit scenic towns nearby. This is also a prime spot for bird-watching and fishing, thanks to the little-disturbed ecosystem.

Like Cape Cod, Halibut Point is named after a native fish. This pale flatfish can grow to the size of an end table, and it's a popular catch among saltwater anglers. You'll find flaky white filets of halibut in the seafood section of just about any supermarket. Indeed, people cast reels from the point's rocky edges, usually in hopes of catching one of the large striped bass that swim here. This is also a well-known location for lobstering, an industry you can see firsthand on Captain Jim's lobster boat tour, based in nearby Rockport.

But the main reason people come here is the granite shore. This is the New England many people imagine: slabs of stone, blankets of grass, and waves crashing against stray boulders. For the non-resident price of $20 per vehicle in summer, you can wander the edge of the water from 8AM to sundown. From certain angles, the park looks wholly uninhabited, like newly discovered land, yet Halibut Point is well-appointed with public restrooms, picnic tables, and a visitor center. Attached to this center is an imposing white tower, which the U.S. military used to scan the horizon for enemy ships during World War II.

The 67-acre park is home to 1.7 miles of walking paths, which make for a peaceful amble. Tide pools emerge at different times of day, and strong Atlantic winds can whip up surf and fill the air with briny spray. When skies are blue, you can see across the water to the shores of Maine. Things slow down even more from November to April, when the biting cold is hard to endure, but the grounds remain open and parking is free.

Try to imagine a New England fishing village, and something like Rockport will probably come to mind. This place has all the wood-shingled walls, gabled rooftops, weathered piers, and bobbing boats a traveler could ask for. Nautical decor is everywhere, and the locally-caught seafood is reason enough to visit. The downtown area is packed with boutiques, and though the town has only about 4,800 permanent residents, it has about a dozen inns and hotels. Expect to spend at least $200 per night; staying in the Bay State ain't cheap.

The most famous — and peculiar — attraction in Rockport is Motif No. 1, a fishing shack from the 1840s that still stands on a stone jetty in the middle of town. The building itself is attractive, but also has the bizarre distinction of being "the most painted" structure in the world. To clarify, the building isn't covered in layers of paint, but more fine artists have used it as a landscape subject than any other. Motif No. 1 speaks to the creative energy of Rockport, which is home to a large number of professional artists. You could easily add Rockport to a drive along the beautiful New England coast on this road trip route.