A Weekend At The Hotel Marblehead | Live Lovely Travel

Our stay at the Hotel Marblehead this July came at the perfect time. We were looking for an east coast escape that was close enough for a weekend trip, but far enough away to feel like an adventure, when we were invited to stay at the Hotel Marblehead in Massachusetts for a weekend. We arrived late Friday night, exhausted from a busy work week. We went to bed almost as soon as we arrived so that we could get up early the next morning to explore. 

The first thing we did was enjoy a complimentary breakfast in the eating area of the hotel before exploring the grounds. There are numerous games outside in the back yard by the lovely fountain, including corn hole and badminton, which we played a round or two before taking the complimentary hotel bikes out for a spin!  

Matthew knows me well! He says that “Courtney plus a bike equals a happy wife!” I would say that is an accurate depiction of me every time I see a bicycle. 

Last year, the historic hotel was bought by a new owner and given a refreshing and bright makeover! I’m personally a big fan of the compass designs on the stairwell and in some of the rooms. The entire hotel is a welcoming bright white with warm tones, which gave this old house new life. It is slightly nautical without being cliché. Matthew and I enjoyed exploring all three floors before making our way into town for the day. 

I already found my reading nooks: 

Perhaps the best seats in the house:

I can only imagine how charming this fireplace is in the autumn and winter months. 

A fun fact about the Hotel Marblehead is that is is being (temporarily) painted black for five days for an Adam Sandler film that is being filmed there this summer. It is hard to imagine with how bright and happy the building itself appears. 

After exploring the Hotel Marblehead and making the most out of the cozy amenities, we made it a mile down the road to the historic downtown for lunch. Word to the wise; on the weekends parking in the narrow historic streets can take numerous drive-bys to find a spot. You can take advantage of the local shuttle bus that goes through town or even walk from the Hotel Marblehead to save yourself the hassle. The Hotel Marblehead is situated a comfortable walking distance from all the best places in Marblehead. 

For an affordable seaside meal with a view, we went to The Barnacle. The Barnacle has a lot of fried seafood on the menu, but I wouldn’t recommend it as the sea food lover’s place. However, It is a great casual spot for a BLT or fish and chips. 

There were two kind older gentlemen at the table next to us that shared some of Marblehead’s history with us. Besides having a harbor that accepts up to 1,500 boats at a time, Marblehead is also the birthplace of the Continental Navy. During the Revolutionary War, a local ship owner and merchant decided to create a regiment with local fisherman to go up against British control. These are the men that helped General George Washington cross the Delaware River in 1776! 

Historic Marblehead is also home to the largest number of surviving Colonial homes in the country; almost three hundred of them. 

You can buy lobster right on the side of the street. One of the perks of being a coastal village. 

Down the road from The Barnacle is another seafood restaurant called The Landing, which also has a view. 

Your eyes are not deceiving you; this shed pictured below really is crooked. 

One of the best kept secrets of Marblehead is without a doubt, the views from Crocker Park! While making our way to Marblehead and planning our trip we did research on all of the best places to go and we did not see Crocker Park on any list even once. It was only because we were spontaneously walking around that we happened to find this park nestled behind a historic neighborhood. The Old Burial Hill Cemetery on the other side of town is often quoted as having the best view, but it held no comparison to Crocker Park. If you are in town for a visit, you will want to stop by the old cemetery to pay your respects to the many revolutionary war heroes that are buried there. But if it is a park with a view that you are looking for, Crocker Park is the best park in Marblehead. 

Just up the hill and around the corner we came upon this incredible view. 

Complete with a gazebo, the best view in town, and swinging benches, this is the perfect Marblehead destination. It would make an extraordinary picnic spot. 

I could sit here all day taking in the view. In fact, we spent over an hour here just taking in the sights. Boats for days. 

Day Two was spent much the same way, having a relaxing morning at the Hotel Marblehead then heading out to town for more exploring. 

I did tell you that I would find every possible reading spot. 

When the lobby became busy with guests checking out for the end of the weekend, I wandered up to this quiet nook on the third floor for some time to myself. My inner introvert was especially happy here to have a moment with one of my favorite wellbeing magazines. 

About a half mile behind the hotel, there is a wonderful beach for relaxing and family fun called Devereaux beach. This is why the Hotel Marblehead is such a perfect summer getaway. A quarter mile past the beach is a beautiful neighborhood where you will find Chandler Hovey Park, the home of the Marblehead Lighthouse. Not the most beautiful lighthouse, but it shines as a beacon for the thousands of boats that pass through the harbor and has been doing so since 1895. 

Before making our way home, we stopped in town one more time to check out the cute little shops and the historic district. Nice and quiet on a Sunday morning, it gets busy pretty quickly by noon. No trip to Marblehead is complete without a walk by all of the historic homes. 

Only two miles from downtown Salem, Marblehead is often overlooked for the larger cities and towns. If you’re looking for a beautiful coastal getaway, Marblehead should be on your summer wish list. Jeff, the wonderful concierge at the Hotel Marblehead, told us of some amazing day trips that can also be taken from Marblehead. He highly recommended a day trip drive up the coast on Route One for a scenic view. From Marblehead, Rockport is only about a half hour north. Marblehead is the perfect quiet and historic destination that is close to numerous adventurous places to visit, while also being quite the destination itself. 

Thank you to the lovely Hotel Marblehead for inviting us to stay!