Mary Jane Sheedy has 6 apartments in a house directly on the beach (as in, step off the back porch onto the sand) on a beautiful little cove in the old fishing town of Gloucester MA. Each apartment has a balcony looking out to the harbor with the skyline of Boston in the distance. Everything you need for vacation is furnished--kitchen with cooking and eating utensils, linens and towels, deck chairs and comfortable rockers.

Mary Jane lives right next door, and is friendly and very helpful for renters' needs. We were especially impressed that after we voiced a concern about young children (2 and 3) in a 3rd floor apartment, she installed safety bars on the windows and a mesh on the balcony fence.

It's a great place for relaxing on the beach and exploring the tidal pools, swimming (best from July to mid-August) in the deliciously cool ocean, or walking a block away to the Rocky Neck artist colony. You can enjoy fresh lobster feasts bought directly from the boats down... more