Hotel, Motel, Condo, Guesthouse, Camp Ground. Take your pick!

More than likely, you will visit Provincetown sometime between May and September when the weather is warm. That’s not to say it isn’t great to visit in the off-season months but the true essence and excitement of the town happens in the warmer weather. Accommodations are plentiful, but make sure you book early since there are event weeks that are more popular than others. The week of July 4^th is probably the busiest of the summer, along with Carnival Week one month later. There are plenty of options depending on your budget. I personally feel that a condo or house rental is the most affordable way to stay in town without breaking the bank. There are also owners that will rent to you for the entire season. This can be pricey but if you go in on it (share) with a few people it can make for a very memorable summer. I know several people who have done this, none of whom say they wouldn’t do it again. Once you have a summer vacationing or residing on Provincetown, you are sure come back. Guesthouses are plentiful and cater to just about every niche you can imagine. There are guesthouses that are predominately women, men, mixed, gay and straight. You name it, it’s there.. Some of the benefits to staying at a guesthouse is you have someone cleaning your room every day, usually breakfast is included and some even have casual drinks for their guests nightly. It’s a great way to socialize without feeling pressured. There are also a handful of guesthouses that allow dogs. You are also supporting a local business. Your patronage is much appreciated in a resort community. There are also many family owned motels and hotels which are a great option, you just don’t get the added touches as you would at a guesthouse and don’t have the “home feel” of renting a condo or house. If you like to get back to nature, there are camping sites as well.

Provincetown, Massachusetts is a resort community that has its roots in the nation’s oldest artist village. It is located in the very most Eastern part of Massachusetts, better known as Cape Cod.  It is predominantly a gay and lesbian community, but opens its doors, so to speak, to all walks of life, and  everyone and anyone has the opportunity to freely march to the beat of their own drummer.

To help you better navigate the town, Provincetown has an East End and a West End locale that bookends the center of town, which is marked by the Pilgrim Monument. This monument was erected in 1910 and designed after the Mangia monument in Italy. It stands 252 feet---350 feet above sea level---and is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. There is exhibit space at the base of the monument packed with artifacts. If you have a chance, climbing the monument is definitely worth doing. It should take you no longer than 10 minutes to make the ascend. At the very top there is an observation deck and on a clear day you can see Boston.

Commercial Street is the hub of Provincetown, featuring a variety of 1-5 star restaurants, art gallery’s, retail shops, night clubs, coffee shops, drag cabarets, street performers, movie theatre, ice cream parlors, bike rentals, dune tours, parasailing, whale watching, deep sea fishing, ghost tours, beaches, tea dances and even more activities that can surely occupy your time and then some!. You can find it all on Commercial Street. One of the best activities to engage in in town is the people watching. It is in such high demand that people literally wait for open seats on the benches at the Town Hall. This is located at about the half way point between East and West on Commercial Street. The best mode of transportation on Commercial is to walk or bike. There are so many people walking on the street during the summer season it is almost impossible to drive on this main drag, and even bicycling can get a tad hairy when the street is overcrowded. If you decide to bike, there are several bike rental stores in Provincetown. There are also some beautiful bike trails that follow the sea shore. Be warned, though---some of these trails are not for the faint of heart, and there are some substantial hills to contend with so bring plenty of water.

Provincetown offers some of the best restaurants on Cape Cod. There are approximately 120 different eateries to choose from. Your dining choice is as diverse as the people who are in Provincetown. My personal three favorite places (in order), which I highly recommend, are Front Street, Ross’s Grill and the Mews. If you are visiting during high season, please make reservations well in advance. I have included a link to a useful restaurant guide in my posting. If you have finished dinner and still long for more activity, there is top notch entertainment offered nightly in-season. There is a menagerie of drag queen performers, comedians and musicians in this town. Make no mistake---these are not honky-tonk productions. Many of these performers have huge followings nationally and internationally. My top three performers are Varla Jean Merman, Dina Martina and Miss Richfield 1981. I recommend you always buy tickets in advance because these shows DO sell out. However, you will get a preview of just about every show in town. Almost every performer is out on the main drag (no pun intended) on Commercial Street promoting their show.

A very popular attraction, tea dance, of course! If you have never heard of a tea dance, think of it as an outdoor nightclub at ‘tea time.” This is a very popular staple in Provincetown, and runs from the hours of 4:00 – 7:00pm daily. The most popular and the best is at The Boat Slip. You will find some of the most attractive and eligible people in town (and everything in between) looking to let their hair down. The high energy music, shirtless bodies (men, of course) and warm Cape Cod air will have you coming back every day. On Thursdays, the “Solid Gold Tea” offers music mixed to the classics of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Simply said, it’s a resurrected Studio 54!

If you like the nightlife and you are looking for the velvet rope, you have come to the right place. Provincetown has impressive dance clubs that rival anything you’ll find in any big city. Provincetown imports the best of the best DJ’s from all over the United States. In this town, you can “party hearty” till 1:00 a.m. Fear not, if you still aren’t ready for bed after the bars and clubs close their doors. There is a nightly gathering at one of the towns most notable landmarks. Spiritis Pizza! It has been standing in its location since 1971. This has to be one of the best places people congregate; no less than hundreds of people at the 1:00AM hour. You will find everyone you just saw at the local bar or dance club and hopefully without beer goggles on. Many people have found what they were looking for at Spiritis (if only temporary).

Another renowned place of gathering of like-minded individuals is Joe Coffee Shop on Commercial Street, located a stone-throw away from the Boat Slip.  Joe serves the best cup of “joe” in town (as well as some tasty pastries and desserts).  People love to congregate in the early summer mornings outside on the available benches, either solo, with their dogs, or friends.  It provides a great atmosphere for socializing, especially for those who might not want to frequent the nightclub scene.  Joe is opened from 6:30AM – 7:00PM during high season.  The staff is friendly and accommodating.  Like the nightclub scene, however, expect long lines during major event weeks filled with caffeine-deprived vacationers needing their morning or afternoon fix!

There are two main beaches in Provincetown---Herring Cove and Race Point.

Fee for parking is $15 daily, but you can buy an annual pass for $45, which is well worth your money if you intend on going to the beach more than three times over the summer. The pass can be used at either beach. Seniors golden age pass is $10.00 Herring Cove is located on Route 6. It has showers, restrooms, lifeguard and parking. Race Point is located on Race Point Road. It has lifeguards, showers, restrooms, parking and you can use the season pass there as well. Dogs are allowed on the beach but they must be leashed. Beach hours are between 6 a.m. and midnight. These beaches do not have any commercial real estate built up on them. These beaches consist of dunes and ocean. You will not find arcades, burger stands or mini-golf, and you will want to bring the must-haves: a good book, sunglasses, binoculars, sunscreen, umbrella and something cool to quench your thirst. If the open ocean is not your idea of a fun time, there is always room at the bay side of Provincetown. There are also several pools to choose from. The Boat Slip and the Crown and Anchor both offer deck pools with access to a full service bar and lunch menu. The Provincetown Inn, located at the very end of Commercial Street in the West End, offers an Olympic-size pool with plenty of seating and has easy access to the beach on the bay. They have a full service bar with lunch menu as well.

Provincetown is more of an island, in my opinion. You are virtually surrounded by water. If you are driving to Provincetown, traveling along Route 6A all the way from Truro to Provincetown is one of the more scenic avenues to take. What is striking about the drive is it seems to take forever. There is a long stretch of sand dunes before you can actually see the town. A few noticeable things before you actually get into town is that the air seems to change and the appearance of rainbow flags start to crop up in all surrounding vicinities.. For lack of a better description, there is a definite energy that will surround you once you get to your final destination.

Some alternative to driving is the ferry service. There are two ferry companies that service Provincetown: Provincetown Fast Ferry and Boston Harbor Cruises, both originating from Boston and operate between the months of May and October. Both companies’ offer high speed transportation. On average it’s a ninety (90) minute journey. The high speed ferry service is the most time-efficient way to get to Provincetown. Make sure you bring your camera, as the views of the Boston skyline are phenomenal along with the Harbor Islands. These high-speed ferrys have comfortable air-conditioned cabins with seating and tables. Food and beverages are available as well. You can also enjoy the open seas in outdoor seating. Bicycles can be brought on board for a nominal charge. Dogs are permitted as long as they are leashed. The biggest perk with the ferry service is it is affordable and a big time saver, while someone else can take the wheel! Also worth mentioning is if you are spending the night in Provincetown or vacationing for an extended amount of time, taxi services that are always waiting at your departure/arrival site, located at MacMillian Wharf.

Another alternative to driving that not only save you time but can compliment your entire experience of visiting Provincetown include traveling by air on Cape Air, which offers continuous flights leaving from Boston and will get you to Provincetown in just under thirty (30) minutes. You can also save a bundle if you are planning to fly round trip in the same day (up to 45% savings). Cape Air is the largest independent regional airline in the United States. They have been in business since 1989. Cape Air has over 50 Cessna 402’s, and carried over 650,000 passengers last year.

In case you haven’t noticed, the overall theme of Provincetown, it’s open to all, including our canine companions.  Dogs are a staple here in this seaside resort. There is no shortage of water bowls or dog fountains found along Commercial Street. There are a variety of dog stores that offer everything from dog collars, doggy decor and delectable doggy treats. You will also find plenty of art galleries that cater to any dog lover. Dogs must be leashed and are welcome on the local beaches. If your pooch is looking to expend a little energy, there is the Pilgrim Bark Park, which is a gated, off-leash dog park, located at the intersection of Rt. 6 and Shank Painter Road.