While we are in Boston I wanted to do a daytrip to Salem. Our plan was to take the ferry to Salem then use the trolly that stops at the ferry dock to get around Salem. Now I am rethinking that and wondering if we should take a ferry to Provincetown instead. Can anyone tell me more about privincetown. How long is the ferry? What about transportation once we arrive in Provincetown?

Provincetown is very walkable area.

The ferry lets you off in the center of town from where you can walk East or West to shops, galleries, restaurants and attractions.

Provincetown also provides trolley tours, Dune Tours, taxi services and whale watch tours.

I asked a similar question recently. I'm going to Boston in August and also wanted a daytrip somewhere. Of Rockport, Salem and Provincetown I've decided to go to P-town unless the weather is really bad, then I'll take a train to one of the others.

From my research, there are 2 ferry services to P-town. They cost the same ($71 return - not cheap), take the same time (1.5 hrs each way), but leave from different locations at different times. On the weekends, one company offers a much cheaper, but slower ferry (3 hrs each way). Trips can be pre-booked, although fellow Fodorites have suggested waiting to see what the weather is like.

http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/ptown_main.html

http://www.boston-ptown.com/

Art's Dune Tours are frequently recommended. There is also the Whydah Pirate Museum with treasures from a ship sunk not far from P-town. There is a trolley around P-town, but most suggest it is quite walkable with lots of small shops, art galleries and eateries.

http://www.artsdunetours.com/

http://www.provincetowntrolley.com/

http://whydah.com/

http://www.paam.org/

http://www.provincetown.com/

If cost is an issue, you can take the train to Rockport instead for $7.25 / 1 hour 10 mins each way or to Salem $5.25 / 30 mins each way.

http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/r...route=NBRYROCK

Unless we did something very wrong or missed the good places to go I cannot say that a visit to Salem is worth it. There didn't seem like anything was going on when we were there, we walked around a very small almost deserted downtown area, had an ice cream and decided to head out for Rockport where we had an enjoyable 2 night stay.

Salem has a downtown pedestrian mall with interesting shops and 6 or 8 museums, ranging from hokey witch stuff to historic houses to the fantastic Peabody Essex Museum.

PARROTHEAD.. y ou missed in Salem a jewel of a museum. Beautifully re-designed..exhiits from an old chinese home, sailing and nautical artificacts to the latest exhbits which may include an incedible selection of antique tea pots or American Indian items.. As a Bostonian I can tell y ou its worth the visit.. compared to teh stuffy museums in Boston.

I love that museum but for a visitor to Boston, I'd guess the P'town daytrip would be far more enjoyable than Salem.

I am an advocate of waiting to book the ferry to Ptown, but would like to add some words of caution. The saturday AM ferry to Ptown and the Sunday return ferries often fill early with vacationing travelers. Friday after work can be busy as well. in addition, the 4th of July and Thursday Aug 14 (2008) which is the annual carnival parade bring over 20,000 additional people to the already filled small Summer town. Lot's of fun but very crowded on those days!

Hi,

I represent Hay Creek Management and we own and operate 4 upscale small hotels in NY and in the Bershires.

Our Exeter NH property we just purchased last July and are in the completion stations of a 4 million dollar renovation and seen your article on short trips from Boston.

We are one hour north a very easy drive and would like to submit a story if you have interest.

Also I wanted to find out how I would submit a press release on our new restaurant Epoch restaurant and bar.

Thanks in advance for your assistance

Tom O'Gorman
Director of Sales and Marketing
Hay Creek Management
603-772-5901 ext 401
www.theexeterinn.com

Don't go to Salem. Go to Plimouth Plantation instead. You'll love it. You'll also get to see the Mayflower (replica).

Hi Seafox, just highjacking the thread briefly..

My friend and I will be in Boston for 2.7 days (from Australia) including 13 & 14 August. I was going to P-town on one of those days, but advised don't book til I know the weather. Now you've mentioned the carnival parade, would you recommend we go on the 14th and that we book now for it? If so, would you take the 4pm ferry back to Boston or the 8.30pm ferry?

Seafox, I just started checking out Carnival info on the web and it states Carnival Week is 17-23 August, with the parade on 21 August, not 14th. Knew the timing must have been too good to be true!

Having said that, is the week before Carnival likely to be busy enough to require pre-booking of the ferry?

Tomo:
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kathy:
regarding your choices: hard to say -
depends on what you like

If you want to see beaches/sand dunes/ a taste of the Cape and a lovely spot - go to Provincetown and make sure to do Arts dune tours - walk the streets, shops and galleries, enjoy a nice meal - being on the water, docks, etc - you'll feel like you went to the beach and a seaside town for the day

Salem , to me, is less of that and more of museums (and the Peabody Essex is an unbelievable gem) - and Turner-Ingersoll mansion (house of 7 gables) and "witch" theme and a spot with stores, ets (but latter part not different than in many other cities)

If the weather is inclement, you would likely stay in Boston anyway, and use that day to do a Boston museum or inside attraction -

Hi,
Thanks to all of you for all of your suggestions. I still haven't decided. Provincetown sounds really nice, but Escargot you are absolutely right. If the weather is inclement a day at the beach in Provincetown wouldn't be very enjoyable.

The main reason I wanted to go to Salem was to see the Peabody Essex. I have heard and read wonderful things about that museum.

My husband, being a history buff, wants to go to Plymouth and see the Plymouth Rock Replica. My daughter loves art museums and shopping so her pick is Provincetown. As our trip gets closer I will check weather.com and make a decision based on that.

Everyone on this forum has been such a great help, and I want to thank each and every one of you.

All - The Provincetown Carnival parade is Thursday August 14 this year. The dates Speckles is looking at are last years. I'd be curious to know which web site you are looking at. I'l try to track down the web master and get it updated. By this point in the season it certainly should be. The parade is a lot of fun sort of a cross between a small home town parade, Mardis Gras and a gay pride parade. If you want to attend and are going by ferry, book now. The parde always starts late and runs for a few hours. I'd take the *:30 ferry back to Boston. The theme this year is Wild Wild West..... dress appropriately!

I meant to say 8:30 ferry. I just did some searching and half the web sites say one set of dates and half say the other. I know dozens of folks planning on the earlier dates. I'll check with the Camber of Commerce and post a definitive date once I find out.

Kathy: if he is a history buff, there is so much for him in Boston and Cambridge - personally, I hate to see anyone drive to Plymouth to see "the rock" - most find it incredibly disappointing (esp now knowing the history around the timing of the Plymouth landing, etc) - but the rock itself is just that, a small, insignificant size rock inside a fenced railing - you stare at it for about two seconds and it is over -

maybe the replica of the Mayflower or Plimoth Plantation visit would be more exciting - or if you do go down add those to the day -

or the Jenny Grist Mill - he might like to see that -
it is the oldest in the U.S.

www.jennygristmill.org

Maybe you had a post on history spots for him, but if you don't have on your list for him I would add the Boston Public Library and the Sargent Murals inside amont other things (and entry is free) - Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, (assuming you have freedom trail and all that) - and two sites he should check out are:

www.masshist.org
www.bostonhistory.org
and similar for cambridge -

As far as shopping, there are some cute shops in Plymouth - what is she looking for?? Because (again personally) Provincetown isn't a shopping destination to me - some great things, but not after the places available to her in Boston, Cambridge, etc -

what is she looking for? age? lots of funky places she can get to on the T and find cool things and some at great prices - if you want to give me her age and taste I will give you some ideas -

Hi Seafox. Re the Carnival, this is the site I checked:

http://www.ptown.org/happenings/carnival/

If you get some clarity, please advise as I will definitely book a ferry if it is the 14th.

Hi,
Thanks for your help Escargot. Yes, since my husband is a history buff we are walking the freedom trail, going to the public library, the museum of natural history, and several other museums. We are also going to the JFK library. Based on what you and others have said I don't think we will be going to Plymouth. It doesn't sound like it is worth the effort. Now I need to decide between Provincetown and Salem. Like I mentioned earlier I think I will wait and see what the weather is like while we are there.

As far as shopping is concerned my daughter is your average 19 year old college student. She is looking for new clothes and usually shops at stores like American Eagle and Abercrombie. We like in a small midwestern town, so she is excited to go shopping in a big city. Letting me know which stores have great prices would be greatly appreciated. Also while in Boston we will not have a car and use the T for transportation.

Thanks so much!!