Welcome to Part Two of our Experience Essex Gal Pal Getaway! If you missed Part One you can read it HERE. Claire, Helen, and I had such an amazing time during our stay and here are the highlights for Part Two.
Shopping Main Street
Gris Goods
Once we were done enjoying a lovely outdoor lunch on The Gris terrace, we wanted to see some of the stores around town. We headed across the street to The Griswold Inn’s Goods & Curiosities Shop.
Once inside, you will find a great selection of coastal inspired goods for your home, books, kitchen wares, and unique gifts. It’s a beautiful shop and one of my go-to items are The Gris candles. The Wine Bar scent is my favorite!
If you are lucky, you might spot this antique Ford outside…
Our next stop was to visit J. Alden Clothiers right down the street. We did a quick change since it was quite hot that day and headed down to introduce my gal pals to one of my favorite shops.
Along the way, it’s hard not to stop along Main Street and admire all the homes. They really are architectural gems and the gardens and lawns are so beautiful.
Dress J. Alden || Bag J. Alden || Earrings J. Alden || Shoes (older)
J. Alden
A short jaunt down the sidewalk from The Gris and you arrive at a gem of a shop right in the heart of Main Street. J. Alden is one stop shopping for gals and gents with a great selection of apparel, gifts, and accessories. Whether you need outfitting for a special event, a souvenir from your Essex trip, or the latest styles to live your life in—you are taken care of here. It’s hard to drop in and not leave with something!
Jim and Amy are the owners and they have done a fabulous job curating and displaying their wares. The interior of the shop is just as beautiful as the items you will find inside. Jim and Amy are pros at helping you find what you need and their service is top notch. They offer tailoring services to ensure a perfect fit. Such great attention to detail. They have a really sweet story too, so stop in and see them when you visit!
I’ll share a post soon with all my shopping stops while in Essex. I have some favorites to share with you!
A good little tip for a little break after some retail therapy is to head across the street from J. Alden’s and relax in the shade at Middle Cove Park.
The Wine Bar at The Gris
What goes hand in hand with a girls getaway and shopping???— WINE! The Griswold has an amazing wine bar and midweek joining them with your gal pal crew for Wine, Women, & Wednesdays is a real treat. The bar interior is stunning and with over 50 wines by the glass or their popular wine flights you can make a night of it.
Staying at The Gris…wine in your room can be arranged too…
Also, that lounge wear is from J. Alden and it is heavenly soft! Perfect for once you get back to your room and want to relax!
We ended our first day in Essex back at The Gris on the terrace around a table enjoying the evening. It was a great way to unwind with a beautiful meal and wonderful company.
Stay tuned for Part Three soon and I’ll share all the fun experiences we had our second day in Essex…
Photography by Julia Dags
Read Part Three Here
A special thank you to our hosts The Griswold Inn & J. Alden for this amazing experience. It was such a wonderful visit!