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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
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Gloucester, MA
  • Good Harbor Beach
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Long Beach
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Wingaersheek Beach
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Boston, MA (BOS-Logan Intl.)
    ‪52 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!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
If time allows, it is very helpful if you can do a load of towels. The cleaners and next quests really appreciate it. Thank you.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
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 - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Long Beach - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Maritime Gloucester - 4 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Cape Ann - 6 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Wingaersheek Beach - 14 min drive - 12.9 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Seaport Grille - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪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). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

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. 200 out of 209 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 209 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 209 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 209 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 209 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

nancy g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
very sweet cottage, well equipped kitchen. location great, quiet neighborhood .
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
So clean - so comfortable - you feel like you're staying at a friend's home, not a rental property. Our group of 6 adults never felt crowded, especially with the very large deck as bonus space. Well-stocked with everything for a relaxing stay and trips to the beach (so close!). Laura has thought of every detail and is very responsive and helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erinn M.

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

Beautiful Beachhouse!

We absolutely loved our stay! The house was beautiful. We especially loved the main living area, kitchen and porches.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elena A.

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

Great Spot!

The house was great! We never wanted to leave the beautiful porch. Quiet neighborhood, quick walk to the beach and short drive to town.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amit G.

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

Great location, great experience

We had a great time. The house is at a great location and the experience was wonderful.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
As always, everything was just right
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nuvia D.

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

Too hort

It was relaxing and we enjoy the views and the fresh air
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This dreamy beach cottage was a perfect retreat for my family. The views of the marsh and the sky from the deck were stunningly beautiful, particularly at sunrise and sunset. It was an easy walk to our favorite beach. The house had everything needed including fun games that we enjoyed playing. Laura is an excellent and responsive host. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

susan k.

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

Glorious Gloucester

I love the new kitchen!Home is so comfortable and lovely. Beach a stone’s throw away. Deck sits within a beautiful marsh filled with birds. We will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Denise W.

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

Dream Cottage

Gorgeous marsh view with a super short walk to the beach. Perfection.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

michele t., Albany.NY

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

yearly Salem trip

our 2nd year in this beach house, wonderful stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

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

Girls trip

My friends and I stayed here and it is a short walk to the beach which we enjoyed
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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