What: Eastern Point lighthouse and Hammond Castle.

Where: Gloucester

Boy, when did I get old enough to become a chaperone? Last week, that’s when, for my daughter’s trip to Cape Ann. We started at the 120-year-old Eastern Point lighthouse sitting at the entrance of Gloucester Harbor.

As you get close, signs on the road will tell you that section of the coastline is open only to residents. In this rare case, don’t always believe what you read. You’re allowed to drive up to the lighthouse, and there’s a parking lot to prove it. You can’t actually get into the structure without a special arrangement with the Coast Guard - thanks, Ms. Jacoby - but it’s still a nice spot to take in the sea and perhaps sketch a rock formation known as “Mother Ann.’’

And from here, it’s a quick drive past the famous Fisherman’s Memorial over to Stage Fort Park, which has picnic tables, bathrooms, and a decent playground complete with a pair of climbable lighthouses. Lila had a sandwich and a chance to blow off steam there before our next stop, the Hammond Castle Museum, built between 1926 and 1929.

We saw the castle in its pre-Halloween state, taking in the secret doors, central courtyard, and narrow stairways. But between Oct. 23 and Nov. 1, Hammond Castle will be transformed into the popular “The Castle of the Damned.’’ (Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children.) It’s touted as PG-13 and our guide warned the children that it wouldn’t be appropriate for second-graders. “There are no people in sheets jumping out and yelling, ‘Boo!’ ’’ boasts the event’s organizer on the Hammond’s website. “We want people to be afraid to go to sleep for the rest of their lives.’’

For now, we were content trying out some of the armor on site, gazing up at the ceiling in the cavernous central room and walking up the long and winding spiral staircase. It ultimately led to a dead end but that didn’t matter. The adventure was all in the climbing.