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Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping!

Photo gallery for Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping!

Howard's Cottage-by-the-Sea is nestled on the salt marsh with a quiet setting.
Bright & open living room with access to large outside deck overlooking marsh.
New kitchen in 2024.
Dining room open to kitchen and living room.  Sits 6 comfortably.
View from master bedroom of marsh and Good Harbor beach just a short walk away.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8144.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Gloucester, MA
  • Good Harbor Beach
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Long Beach
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Wingaersheek Beach
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Beverly, MA (BVY-Beverly Municipal)
    ‪24 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping!

A quaint 4 bedroom family cottage sits on the edge of the salt marsh and dunes of Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts - the oldest fishing port in the United States. This rare location offers privacy as well as desirable proximity to Gloucester's most famous beach. Listen to the surf, smell the sea and enjoy the breeze!

You can enjoy a quaint front deck, full length covered porch and spacious back deck. The deck allows for comfortable lounging as well as outdoor dining for 6+ (Pictures to follow, currently being painted.)

An outside shower allows for convenient clean up and a large private back yard for children to play. Loads of gardens and bird watching.

Four bedrooms allow for ample sleeping arrangements for up to 8 quests: (2) twins, (2) full and (1) queen. Please note that the bedrooms with the full beds are connected and one room is accessed via the other.

Gloucester offers minutes drive to world class seafood, ice cream just down the street, golf, state parks for hiking, whale watching, sport fishing, live theater, music, art and so much more!

Property manager

Laura Howard
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
Pets are allowed with prior approval.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Parking for a maximum of (3) cars. If additional off-site parking is required, contact owner.
People other than those listed in Rental Agreement may not visit/stay at the property without prior approval.
Loud noise on the deck is restricted between 9:00pm and 9:00am out of respect for the neighbors.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number C0479341070

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Gloucester

Located in Gloucester, this cottage is in the city centre and near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Good Harbor Beach and Cape Ann. Schooner Adventure and Maritime Gloucester are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Gloucester, MA

What's nearby

  • Good Harbor Beach - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Cape Ann - 6 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Long Beach - 7 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Half Moon Beach - 14 min drive - 5.7 km
  • Wingaersheek Beach - 19 min drive - 12.0 km

Getting around

  • Rockport Station - 6 min drive
  • Beverly, MA (BVY-Beverly Municipal) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Holy Cow Ice Cream Café - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Seaport Grille - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Long Beach Dairy Maid - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Surfside Subs - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Good Harbor Beach House - walk to beach, close to restaurants and shopping! located?

Located in the heart of Gloucester, this golf cottage is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Good Harbor Beach and within 3 miles (5 km) of Long Beach and Cape Hedge Beach. Schooner Adventure and Massachusetts Bay are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 188 out of 197 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 197 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 197 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 197 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 197 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Carmen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Property was just as described and pictured in online listing. It is a charming and cozy home with a beautiful view. It is conveniently located near Good Harbor Beach and downtown Gloucester.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daryl T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enchanting Cottage by the Sea

This cottage is exactly as described, charming in every way, featuring a large living room, four bedrooms, a nice kitchen & eating area, and a beautiful deck overlooking the marsh, with a view of the ocean. It's a short walk to Good Harbor Beach. Lots of attention to detail, beautiful artwork adorning the walls, and pretty quilts everywhere. Everything we needed was provided. It was comfortable and cozy, perfect for our family weekend. It seemed we were in a bird estuary, and we recorded a dozen different birds in just a few minutes. The location is convenient to most everything. We would definitely look forward to staying here again, on our next trip to Rockport and Gloucester.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debra Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

holiday visit

This house served as a lovely place for our family to gather for a christmas dinner. The house had good amenities. Everyone loved the location and distance to nearby Good Harbor beach was a plus even in the winter cold. local road needs work, cars all bottomed out on the road. Thank you for hospitality.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend in Gloucester

Great time in Gloucester for the ancient mariner hockey tourney. The owners are so easy to work with and the home is beautiful!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Olivia O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Stay!

House was exactly as described. Super clean, big enough for the entire group and a beautiful view in the back! Close to everything!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very cozy and warm

The house was very warm and welcoming. It was in a great location for my son's wedding at Hammond Castle. It was fully stocked with everything you needed. We loved the deck overlooking the marsh.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

jessica B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend away

Laura is amazing host! The house was perfect it had everything you could if needed. The house has a cozy feeling to it and made you feel at home.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bridget M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Gloucester cottage

We really enjoyed The Howard Cottage! It’s cute as can be and communication with the owner is top notch. It had everything we needed and the town grocery store, Shaws, was just down the road.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding weekend

Well appointed lovely house. We had a great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Regina G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Getaway

Beautiful view! The deck was an amazing place to soak in some Fall sunshine. The home is so clean and beautifully decorated. Perfect family trip to attend a wedding in Gloucester.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gloucester escape

The home was lovely. It had great artwork. There was ample sleeping space. Our view off the back and the deck was all beautiful marsh land teaming with birds. We were going to a family wedding and the location was perfect, an eight minute drive.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lenny F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fihing trip

Property was excellent as advertised we enjoyed it very much
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donald B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good vibes at Good Harbor

The house is a delight; immaculate, very comfortable, and extremely well stocked. You can walk to Good Harbor Beach, but there are no sidewalks on Whitham Street, so we dropped the children and beach chairs off at the resident’s entrance.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful week at Good Harbor

This was our third stay. The beach house is always extremely clean and bright, thoughtfully decorated and generously stocked with essentials, so close to the beach, and very comfortable for our family. Laura is a wonderful, responsive host who obviously takes pride in her property. She recently renovated the kitchen to make it even more functional.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage - Gloucester

Our family had a wonderful stay. Access to the beach was as advertised. Good Harbor Beach was perfect for us and our two grandchildren. The house has everything you need for a great stay including beach chairs and a wagon to take back and forth to the beach. We are already planning next years trip.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location and beautiful cottage

This home is beautifully decorated, comfortable and has everything you need for a wonderful stay near the beach. Although an old cottage it has been beautifully updated, including a new kitchen. Best of all are the outside decks and the view across the marsh to Good Harbor Beach, just a short walk away. Also close to Gloucester and Essex, with great restaurants.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lois S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous and more!

Beautiful home. Lots of cozy space. Beautifully appointed. Easy walk to the beach. Host was very timely and responsive. Ten stars!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sheri B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful spot and adorable home

We had a lovely stay at this adorable home. We had a wedding nearby and loved the walks to the beach, talks on the patio and a full kitchen to feed all.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family wedding weekend

Great location for us. Host was very responsive and easy/pleasant to work with. Highly recommend this beautiful cottage near the beach. Plenty of space to relax at the cottage inside and out.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roger O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Near the Beach

It's a great place for a family vacation, near the beach as well as good restaurants and necessary supplies at reasonable prices in nearby Gloucester.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jean-Baptiste L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet spot, near beach.

Very nice house, recent bath and kitchen fixtures, quiet location, walking distance to beach. Easy and good communication during stay (although we didn't have any issues).
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Evan G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tremendous home

Perfect home for a weekend getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erika

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Walking distance to stunning beach. Beautiful back porch looks out over marsh. Comfortable, cute home was perfect for our New England vacation. Will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patti F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Spring Fling Getaway

Our group of six long time friends booked Laura's cottage for a weekend. The house was comfortable, roomy and decorated so nicely. Our favorite was the deck which overlooked the marsh. We walked to the beach with the beach buggy and beach chairs provided and hung for a bit. Close drive to so many restaurants, activities, etc. The house had so much information about the area. Now for Laura - she is a terrific host and communicating with her was so easy and she was always responsive. I would definitely recommend booking the cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding Stay by the Beach!

We were attending a wedding in Gloucester and stayed for 2 nights. A lovely beach home with a cottage feel! We highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

About the host

Hosted by Laura Howard

Host profile image
Hi! I was born in Gloucester and grew up on Cape Ann! I am thrilled to be able to share my family beach cottage with you. We had been looking for over 10 years to find the perfect beach cottage and found this diamond in the rough and bought this home in 2007. At the time, it was a summer only camp with no heat! We renovated the home to a year around, cozy cottage, with many of today's modern amenities!

Why they chose this property

This home is uniquely situated on the marsh and dune systems of Good Harbor beach. It is one of only 7 homes with this highly desirable proximity to the beach with a large lot and privacy.

It is accessed by a quiet, private road and nestled between the woods and marsh/dunes. I hope you will enjoy my gardens as much as I do!

Sitting on the back deck or side covered porch, it is a pleasure to bird watch! We have numerous books to help you identify the many species. There is also an abundance of rabbits that are adorable to watch, but can be frustrating when the eat all my beautiful flowers :-)

The home still has the feel of a early turn of the century summer cottage with original hardwood floors, fireplace (non-functioning), built in hutch in the dining room and cozy layout. We were careful to not detract from the feel when we updated the home.

What makes this property unique

Privacy and close proximity to Good Harbor beach.
Highly functional layout - cozy, but sleeps 8 comfortably.
Amazing deck with both lounging and dining areas with spectacular views across the salt march to the Atlantic ocean.
Short drive to both downtown Gloucester and Rockport where there are numerous galleries, shops, restaurants and so many things to do!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests