Provincetown, Massachusetts: Beautiful! Part 1

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Provincetown, Massachusetts claims to be the first known landing place of the Pilgrims back in 1620. Since that time it has become a romantic getaway destination for thousands. Located at the very tip of Cape Cod, the scenic views back to the curl that is the Cape are magnificent.

Sand dunes abound as you drive the last twenty miles or so to the end of the cape. This is the part of Cape Cod that sticks out into the middle of nowhere and P’town, as the locals call it, is the end of the line.

You and your loved one can visit Provincetown any time of the year. A word of caution however. Cape Cod is a summer destination first and foremost and that is when the town is in full swing. During the fall and the beautiful autumn colors you may find some restaurants and shops already shut down for the winter. Hotel rooms and Bed & Breakfasts are still open and with greatly reduced rates.

Personally, I have been to P’town in the fall and winter. Fall is a great time because there is still the hope of an Indian summer in the air. My first visit was for Christmas and thank goodness our hosts at the B & B we were staying at were on top of things. They knew which restaurant was open for dinner Christmas Eve,  which one would be serving Christmas dinner the following day and they had already made reservations for us before we arrived. That is the kind of reception and warmth you receive from the locals when you come to Provincetown.

The location of the town made it a prime whaling and fishing port back in the day. Portuguese fisherman came to the Cape to make their fortunes and a entire industry grew up around supporting these men and their families. To this day the Portuguese Bakery on Commercial Street serves wonderful soup and baked goods.

During the last century P’town became a haven for writers and artists. The likes of Norman Mailer and Eugene O’Neill escaped to the end of the Cape for inspiration and relaxation. The town abounds with little galleries and bookstores. This is part of the heritage of the place. Provincetown has its own theatre where plays are enacted, usually during high season ie. the summer.

The main street, Commercial Street, is a narrow, one way street that is, in effect, a pedestrian mall without the town having officially declared it as such. The street winds along the coast and cars don’t move much faster that 10 – 15 mph. This is the shopping core of Provincetown.  Restaurants, tiny shops, bars and B & B’s line the street. On a beautiful day Commercial is packed solid with tourists and locals alike taking a romantic stroll, soaking in the sights and sounds of Cape Cod.

If you like seafood this is the place to be. The town still caters to the fishing industry and the seafood is fresh right off the boats nightly. The Lobster Pot located on Commercial Street near MacMillan Wharf is a must for any visitor. These people know how to cook lobster to the point where you barely need the crackers to get to the juicy meat inside the shells.

You’ll find many of the hotels and Bed & Breakfasts along Bradford Street, one block in from Commercial. Bradford is two way street and is best used when traveling from the East End of town to the West End. Little side streets will grant you access to Commercial but remember … there is no parking on Commercial and spots are extremely limited along Bradford. Best suggestion when choosing a place to stay is to make sure they offer free parking for their guests.

The smell of the salt water, the long beaches, the sand dunes, romantic restaurants and Bed & Breakfasts make Provincetown a must visit for your romantic getaway.

Embrace each other!

Tagged with: Autumn Colors • Baked Goods • Cape Cod • Christmas Dinner • Christmas Eve • Eugene O Neill • Fall And Winter • Fishing Port • Full Swing • Getaway Destination • Indian Summer • Magnificent Sand Dunes • Middle Of Nowhere • Norman Mailer • Provincetown Massachusetts • Romantic Getaway • Scenic Views • Summer Destination • Twenty Miles • Whaling • Winter Fall

Filed under: New England Romantic Getaways

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