Provincetown Things to Do Tips by leffe3 Top 5 Page for this destination

Clapperboard

But one of the simple pleasures of Provincetown is walking the streets. Clapperboard abounds, creating an archetypal New England environment. White, grey, blue, brown, green - the buildings are in different hues but nevertheless clapperboad typifies the region for me. It's a delightful little town.

Quayside

A simple pleasure but something that continues to draw people is the checking out of the fishing boats on the quayside. it's not very big in Provincetown, but still forms part of a great shoreline walk, especially at sunrise or sunset,

A town of boats

With it being a working port, boats are everywhere in Provincetown. But it's not just the fishing boats, whale watching cruises and ferries coming from the mainland - a natural harbour results in a pretty safe environment for pleasure boats. Even if you don't take to the water, there's plenty of evidence on the shore of a favourite pastime - and it certainly adds to the charm of the town.

View from the top

So you've made the effort to get to the top of the tallest American granite building (220 feet or so). But is it worth it? A resounding yes - some great 270 degree views (nothing to see behind you sadly :))

Sunsets

Incurably romantic? Or just a lover of sunsets? Herring Cove Beach is the place to head. Cape Cod is famous for spectacular sunsets. Unfortunately, didn't experience anything stunning, but simply head east along Commercial or Bradford Sts. The beginning of the Cape Cod National Sea Shore is at the end of the two streets and, if you don't want to trek across the salt marshes and tidal flats, base yourself somewhere along the stone jetty with other tourists and local fishermen.

But there can also be some wonderful sunsets (and sunrises) in Provincetown itself.

Race Point Beach

Race Point Beach, the northern tip of Cape Cod, is the beginning of unbroken sand-dunes and beaches that sweep south virtually unbroken to Nauset Marsh 30 miles away. Pounding waves are the trademark of Race Point and, in the dunes, 4 wheel drive adventurers. It's pretty straightforward to get to from P'town, and there's a great bushland cycle ride - at the height of summer and the crazy traffic jams, arguably the best way to get there.

Long Point Beach

A long spit of land juts into the ocean from the edge of town. From the town beach, with the lighthouse positioned at its furthest tip, it seems incredibly close. But Long Point Beach out of season is somewhere that requires a very determined walker to reach it!
2 hours would do it (and 2 hours back) via the stone jetty, but the reward would be complete isolation except for the gulls (and the occasion boat passing by as it comes in to dock). During the season its a slightly different story as there are boats plying the bay from Provincetown, taking would be bathers and sun worshippers.

Herring Cove Beach

Provincetown's town beach is pleasant enough to while away the day, but the beaches to the east and north are much more dramatic, fairly isolated - and very easy to get to.
Herring Cove is the closest - and can be reached by car, bicycle or foot (although the latter is quite a trek). The beach could be seen as two different beaches (although it is one long strip) as there are two distinct 'types' of users.
Closest to town involves (and best reached by bicycle as the car park is further north) walking across the salt flats and dunes. It is the unofficial nudist and gay beach because of its isolation.
From the car park north (and during the seaon there is also a kiosk selling drinks and snacks) is families and 4 wheel drive users.

In the photos, the first 2 images are norh facing 'family' beach

Pilgrim's Monument

Apparently the tallest granite building in the US, the Monument dominates the skyline for miles around. Forming part of the (not that interesting) Pilgrim's Museum, the monument requires stamina to walk to the top, but at least the ascent is made easier by a series of ramps rather than steps. The gradient is much gentler as a result (other than the steps at the bottom and very top). Views from the top are great and make the effort totally worthwhile

Whale watching cruise

There are several companies that offer such cruises based in the dock. All are fairly similar in what they offer - 3 hours on the seas, guaranteed sighting or credit for future trip (it's rare that at least one is not spotted) and fairly similiar in price ($17-20). Some offer discounts of $3 for voucher from hotel (ask at reception) or the company that runs the fast ferry from Boston offers $5 discount with a ticket for the ferry (but it is the most expensive at $20). Choice of company as much depends on timetable to suit your needs, tours starting from anything between 930am through, dependent on time of year, to sunset trips. It's worth every cent, although level of sighting varies.