Hull Harbor Illumination and Sea Dog

Sometimes an overcast weekend is just what you need. Leading up to this weekend, plans changed a million times due to some outside factors we couldn’t control. Ultimately we decided we would take a day trip to Portland, one of our favorite New England destinations. That is, until our poor cat Scout started having some issues with her teeth and gums. Plans quickly became a day at the vet. Lots of money, bags of medicine, and an appointment for a full on dental cleaning, anesthesia and all later, I was about to lose my mind ready to relax.

During the week we discovered that Hull was hosting its annual Hull Harbor Illumination to benefit Hull’s Lifesaving Museum. For one night a year, the harbor is illuminated with flares, creating a dramatic, moving scene from land and sea.

From 365 Things South Shore:

The flares help us Honor, Celebrate, and Remember. Some people’s flares honor a beloved parent, others a place of great meaning, and some just shout Yes! to the night, a silent salute to this moment of collective beauty we all create together.

We hope to take the boat, but the fog out at sea told us the car was safer. Our first stop was Tosca in Hingham (post to come) for delicious cocktails and a light dinner. Then we headed onward to Hull’s Sea Dog Brew Pub which boasted some of the best views of the Harbor Illumination.

I can’t help how much I love the Sea Dog. He is too cute. The Sea Dog in Hull is perfectly located on the water adjacent to  large marina and beaches. We decided to have a beer at the bar and checked out the space inside. It’s light, airy, and features floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea. As the bar got crowded, we noticed that the outside patio had a little overhang over it, so we decided to go outside with our beers to enjoy the fresh, briny smell of a rainy night by the sea.

Can you tell we’re kind of obsessed with all things ocean?

The Sea Dog patio is large, and I am sure it is crowded on nice days. We were one of two couples out there waiting for the Harbor Illumination, so it was quiet and peaceful, a great way to relax. You can’t help but be happy when you see the Sea Dog everywhere.

While we relaxed, I sipped on a Sea Dog Apricot which was a delicious, fruity beer with just enough sweetness. We also ordered some un-photographed house made potato chips with onion dip because I have never met a fried potato I didn’t like.

As the rain intensified and darkness fell, I finally got too cold to sit outside, so we moved our car from the Sea Dog parking lot to along the beach where we watched as Hull residents lit flare after flare along the harbor. It was so beautiful. Even in the rain, everyone parked along the water got out of their cars to experience it.

I’m glad we decided to brave the rain to head to Hull for this event. It was truly moving, and it gave us yet another chance to stop in the midst of a busy life to just enjoy the moment.