Lovingly called Ptown by locals, Provincetown on Cape Cod is a picturesque coastal town with a very colorful community. Along with the historic houses and eye-catching art galleries, Ptown is known for its vivacious and fun-loving gay pride, where rainbow flags fly high over bustling Commercial Street, and eccentric shops and equal rights events can be found on every corner. Ptown’s historic charm thrives in this new-age locale, making the very tip of Cape Cod one of the most vibrant and fun-filled coastal escapes!
How to Get There
Beat the typical Cape traffic by taking one of the high-speed ferries down past Stellwagen Bank and through Cape Cod Bay. Ferries leave from Salem and Boston through Boston Harbor Cruises and Bay State Cruise Co., or from Plymouth on the Captain John Boats, each ride taking about 90 minutes. While the ferries don’t accommodate cars, you really don’t need them if you’re only spending a day in Provincetown, which is really all you need to see the pretty town. You can bring bicycles on board if you want to explore some of the scenic beaches off the beaten path of the downtown area. The other plus of taking the ferry is the chance to see whales along the ride! It’s a two for one. While we didn’t see any whales on our trip, we did see some dolphins playing in the wake of our boat!
From Plymouth to Ptown
We took the ferry from Plymouth (my hometown!) which left right at 10:00 AM. Our ride was a bit foggy, but I was able to get some beautiful photos of Plymouth’s Bug Light, more formally called Duxbury Pier Lighthouse. Locals nicknamed “The Bug” because of its red color, the same color of lobsters which were once referred to “sea bugs” by fishermen because of the way their hard shell and bodies resemble insects. There are also lobsters who casually hang out on the rock piles which surround the base of the picturesque lighthouse. You also pass by the beautiful Clark’s Island, a tiny piece of land with just a handful of summer houses along its shores, and the tip of Duxbury beach called the Gurnet. After that, it’s nothing but open ocean ahead, but if you look hard enough, in the distance you can make out the tall structure of the Pilgrim’s Monument on the banks of Provincetown.
Arrival & Lunch
A passing rain shower decided our plans when we stepped off the boat in Ptown: lunch and alcohol (we did take a ferry after all!). We hopped in a cab to avoid the drizzle and asked the driver to bring us to a great restaurant with ocean views. She brought us to a family-friendly place called Fanizzi’s less than a half mile from bustling downtown which locals love for its bay views and delicious menu. The dining room features wide, open windows which make you feel like you’re on a boat out at sea! An expansive cocktail menu made my tastebuds very happy, especially when I spotted the summertime-inspired cranberry mojito! (Fun fact: Plymouth and the surrounding areas are known for their cranberries! Ever heard of Ocean Spray? Yep, their bogs are all around the south coast of MA!) With each sip of my drink, the clouds seemed to part just a little bit more, allowing the rain to disappear across the horizon and the sun to shine high over the glistening waves. I am a seafood connoisseur and HAD to try the lobster roll being on coastal Cape Cod… it was the best lobster roll I have ever had! It was so incredibly sweet and savory with homemade mayo and a nice side of sweet potato fries to complement the melt-in-your-mouth lobster meat!
Commercial Street
There’s nothing better to do around this charming coastal town then to walk up and down along colorful Commercial Street. Historic houses, boutique stores, art galleries, and even a few R-rated shops line each side of the bustling downtown area, their wide open doors calling you in to discover the unique culture of Ptown. One could spend hours perusing the unique storefronts of this vivacious town, but If you find yourself all shopped-out, just look up into the sky to find a monument whose climb will take your breath away.
The Pilgrim Monument
Not many people know that before the Pilgrims came to settle in Plymouth, MA, they actually spent 5 weeks on Cape Cod, but decided to sail on to Plymouth in order to spend more time on ship to draft and sign the Mayflower Compact. The Pilgrim Monument commemorates the Pilgrim’s first landing in Provincetown. All 252 feet of the monument was built between 1907 and 1910, adding ramps inside along with 116 steps for a leisurely walk to 350 feet above sea level and some of the most Instagrammable views of Cape Cod.
We had some time to kill before our 4:00 boarding time and decided to hang out at one of the many seaside bars and restaurants along Commercial Street for one last beachy cocktail to cap off a wonderful day in Ptown. The weather had cleared, the sun was shining, and we were soaking up the quintessential Cape Cod sunshine. Life is good.
