Provincetown: Missing the rest of the Cape?
 

Hi All,
My husband and I have decided to stay in Provincetown on our trip to Cape Cod, and I was wondering if this was such a good idea? Will we be missing other great places to go if we just stay in that area, since it is all the way at the end of the cape? Should we have picked another site? We are just looking for a relaxing vacation with some site seeing. I suppose everyone has their own opinions, but I'd like to hear em! Thanks!

It really depends on when you're going. If it's off season there's less road traffic and it's easier to see a good portion of the Cape. If it's during the summer or holidays it's obviously more congested and travel to and from P Town will be time consuming.

One of the prettiest areas of the Cape is Chatham, with nice places to stay, restaurants, beaches, etc. With a more central base around there, you can daytrip to P-town, and othe interesting areas like Woods Hole, Falmouth, Hyannis, Sandwich, and ferry to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.

P-town is certainly colorful, and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants. It has good access to the National Seashore and is within striking distance of Wellfleet and the Atlantic-facing communities all the way to Chatham. The only real disadvantage is that the traffic can be very heavy in and out and impossible in the town. Provincetown is also one of those places where the waterfront was industrial, and it is still not picturesque. It can be harder to find an attractive place to eat on the water than in many other places. But don't worry. You will have fun.

I love P-Town.
Race Point there is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Western world. The Bike trail through woods and ponds in wonderful.
Pepi's Wharf Rstaurant if still open, is a good place to sit ovrlooking the water

P-town was not a place that i'd want to stay. just to busy for me. but, if that's what you've chosen, you can still do one or two day trips away to visit other places. i loved chatten. i did a day trip from falmouth to p-town and didn't feel rush. but, i didn't spend time at any beaches around there.

I think your original concern is valid.

Provincetown is charming, and is certainly worth a visit. We have in the past, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, we were up in the Cape over the Memorial Day holiday. Took a drive up to Provincetown, drove through, came right back out and went back south.

There's a huge amount of hype surrounding Provincetown--I never knew it had "one of the most beautiful beaches in the Western world." If so, we missed it this trip.

P'town is P'town. The rest of the Cape is the Cape -- i.e., P'town is a different experience from almost anywhere else on the Cape. It's lively, funky, etc., whereas the rest of the Cape tends to be quaint and sleepy, with pockets of retailing and restaurants.

You can get around much of the Cape in less than an hour or two, and from P'Town you can certainly check out Welfleet, Truro, Orleans, etc. But if it were me, I think I'd rather stay in one of those towns and venture up to P'town now and again rather than v.v.

The question of time of year is also important. When are you going?

an Italian took some nice photos of race point. Scroll down and click on photos to enlarge.
http://www.robs.it/galleries/20061111.aspx

We stayed in S. Wellfleet for our first trip to Cape Cod in May. We found this to be a good central place to stay for exploring the Nat'l Seashore and a day trip to Chatham. We drove up to P'town twice and traffic was not a problem the third week in May.

WE took a whale watching trip out of P'town with the Dolphin Fleet. It was fantastic. We saw so many whales and leanred a lot!

I love staying Provincetown. It is a fun, quirky town. The bike trails are easily accessible there and are a lot of fun. I once stayed in Chatham and was bored after one day.

IMO, P-town isn't worth the drive. I found it to be a little too commercialized for my taste. There are lots of lovely little towns along the coast, though...Chatham is one of many.

Hey cigale,
Please let them think that P-town is a drive thru and keep the beauty our secret :) Loved the site you posted -
We cycled up to race point via beech and the dune trails yesterday - I'm already mourning.

As for Pepe's, yes it's still there. We kayaked up from Truro a couple days ago - tied the yaks up and had lunch on the upper deck overlooking the water - had a panini and a Corona. Our dog was with us and he was most welcome and served a cup of icewater.

Not sure when you're planning on being there, but it doesn't matter: IMO, in any season, Provincetown is the best place on the Cape. Traffic can be horrific until you learn to take the back street (Bradford) and bypass Commercial, but other than that it's just wonderful.

Stay: We have spent too few, but blessed, weeks at The Watermark Inn in the East End. Right on the water, all-suite accommodations with kitchens and decks. At high tide you can jump into the bay from the deck...heaven!

Food: Chester (best upscale); Ross' Grill (clean, new American); Lobster Pot (needs no introduction); avoid Ciro and Sal's.

Do: Race Point, of course; but DON'T miss a sunset tour with Art's Dune Tours, and bring your camera, plus a bottle of wine, a blanket and a friend.

The quality of light on the Cape changes around Truro - you'll be channeling the south of France and understanding what the fuss is all about.

Have a great trip!!

msm4

There've been so many posts about Cape Cod and Provincetown that I finally opted out of reading them until the final hour - now. We'll be in Boston this coming Saturday (August 4th) for 4 nights, then on to P-Town for an additional 3 nights.

In P-Town, we'll be staying at the Crowne Pointe Inn, which looks very nice. Beyond that, we don't have many plans. We're renting a car in Boston and driving the P-Town, and may use the car to investigate other places on the cape.

With only three nights (and days), does anyone have any ideas for us? Let me add that I normally HATE these generalized questions because they indicate people haven't done any homework. My problem is that I've done so much and have such a lengthy list of ideas, I have no clue what to do.

Cigalechanta - beautiful photos, bring back memories -

that's the thing about Ptown - many only go to the main st, stores, harbor and don't explore the rest - it is a gem to be enjoyed for more than a day - so you can find the gorgeous beaches and quiet spots

I don't know how long you are planning on staying - I think definitely do a reverse trip to visit another spot, if you are driving, pick one to visit on your way down and one on your way out -

To: Bridegirl/SusanCs?

One morning during your stay in Provincetown get up as early as you can and go sit on the harbor beach in the center of town to greet the day. It will be an experience you will never forget.

Drive out to the end of Commercial Street and park on the West End rotary near the Provincrtown Inn. Take a walk on the mile-long rock-jetty to Long Point the very tip of Provincetown where you will be alone with the sky, sea and sand 30+ miles out into the Atlantic.

Commercial Street curves around Provincetown Harbor for about 3 miles, one and a half miles in each direction from the center.

Most tourists who come to Provincetown by car, bus, ferry and cruise ships don't get past the center of town in either direction.

If you are able to walk the East and West ends of Provincetown you will therefore not run into many tourists and you will be rewarded with much Arts,History and Architecture as well as many surprising views, restaurants and inns.

Just got back. I did Art's Dune Tour and loved it. It had never appealed to me before, but decided to try it. The dunes were interesting but the peeks of the dune shacks intrigued me. I bought 3 "dune" books at the bookstore in town. I had the schooner tour booked, but they cancelled due to a storm advisory. You may also me interested in one of the whale watching tours. Eat at Lobster Pot for sure. I ate lobster at every meal (except breakfast). Spend a day at the beach if that interests you. LOTS of shows to choose from. I didn't stop laughing at Miss Richland 1981's Christmas in July show (at the Art House). There were two versions of Naked Men Singing (didn't get to either). Stroll and shop. I fell in love with Steven Katz' Poloraid transfers. Bought one for myself and a couple for gifts. His work is in several galleries - but if you visit his signature gallery tell "Herb" that I said "hi".