Summer is upon us, and our family has many traditions we rediscover. Of course, it is important to have a beach or swimming hole for when the heat and noise of the city overwhelm. But it has to be the right beach because when everyone else has the same idea, getting there and settling in might prove too much of a hassle for a few hours in the sun.

Rockport, Massachusetts at the tip of Cape Ann has many such beaches and so much more to offer besides. A charming seaport town, it bustles year round with an active fishing industry, artist community, and a picturesque shopping district. The beaches are scattered around and inside the town, and if you go far enough away from the town center, you may even find some free street parking.