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Commercial Street Review

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Commercial Street

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Category: Neighborhoods/Streets
Location: Provincetown

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 5.0/5

Fodor's Review:

Provincetown's main downtown thoroughfare, Commercial Street, is 3 mi from end to end. In season, driving from one end to the other could take forever, so wear comfortable shoes and get ready to walk (although going on foot will take awhile, too, due to the crowds). You'll see signs for parking lots as you head into town. Take a casual stroll and check out the many architectural styles (Greek revival, Victorian, Second Empire, and Gothic, to name a few) used in the design of the impressive houses for wealthy sea captains and merchants. Be on the lookout for blue plaques fastened to housefronts explaining their historical significance—practically the entire town has been designated part of the Provincetown Historic District. The Historical Society puts out a series of walking-tour pamphlets—available for about $1 each at many shops in town as well as at the chamber of commerce visitor center—with maps and information on the history of many buildings and the (more or less) famous folk who have occupied them. You may also want to pick up a free Provincetown gallery guide.

The center of town is where the crowds and most of the touristy shops are. The quiet East End is mostly residential, with an increasing number of nationally renowned galleries; the similarly quiet West End has a number of small inns with neat lawns and elaborate gardens.

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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by bachslunch from US on 12/16/08
This is the big shopping and restaurant stretch in Provincetown, crowded beyond belief in high season. Lots of small boutique shops and restaurants of varying quality at its center, quieter at its ends with more homes, galleries, and mom-and-pop stores. Definitely a must for people watching and architectural peeping, too.