48 Hours in Provincetown
Our sister magazine Bear World Magazine recently ran a feature on 48 Hours in Provincetown and we thought you would enjoy it too!
We fell in love with Provincetown through our visits during the annual Bear Week (now in its 16th year!) and getting to know the people behind that amazing event. But it’s also a beautiful town to visit at other times of the year, and it’s always LGBT friendly. There is so much to do in Provincetown that filling a week can be really easy, but what if you only have time for a short break? Well, here’s our guide to 48 hours in Provincetown.
Getting there
Although Provincetown is located at the very tip of Cape Cod, it is easily accessible by car, bus, ferry, and air. Provincetown is a two and a half hour drive from Providence and Providence’s T.F. Green Airport and a two and a half hour drive from Boston and Boston’s Logan Airport. Air service from Boston is a quick, 20-minute scenic trip with fantastic views of Boston, Provincetown, and Cape Cod. The Ferry from Boston and Plymouth is a very popular way to get there, see more about getting there by sea here.
Assuming you have sorted out your accommodation and once you are all checked in you are going to want to explore. Food is going to be a good part of your trip, and Provincetown has some great places to eat and drink, with lots to offer everyone.
DAY 1
Breakfast at Yolqeria – Yolqeria (formerly Yolk) is a light beachy style place for breakfast or brunch, usually with a line out the door, and it’s worth it! We’re not talking about some puny little breakfast sandwich, we’re talking about one of those “get the day started right” kind of meals. You know the ones that you order with eyes bigger than your stomach! Head here early to avoid disappointment, but boy you will have a great breakfast.
401 1/2 Commercial Street, open 8am – 10pm. Visit yolqueria.com for more information
After your breakfast, why not go and browse some art? There are galleries up and down Commercial Street offering some of the best art available in the USA.
Jo Hay Open Studio – Founded in 2013, The Jo Hay Open Studio Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in Provincetown, MA. Carolyn Kramer, Founder and Gallery Director, with her life partner, painter Jo Hay, have a clear vision and bold new approach to the art scene in Provincetown. The gallery’s mission is to exhibit contemporary painting and conceptual art that challenges the viewers intellect and imagination.
167 Commercial Street Unit 1. Visit johayopenstudio.com for more information.
After the galleries, then its time for some retail therapy! In Provincetown, shopping opportunities are plentiful and include beautiful ceramics, interior design pieces and, of course, clothes. When you are on vacation, a locally designed tee-shirt is a must buy and we love MATE– a relative newcomer to Provincetown (in its 3rd year now) it has some of the quirkiest and unique designs around, have a look in when you are in town.
349 Commercial Street. Visit mateprovincetowninc.com for more information.
After your big breakfast, you are probably only going to need a lobster roll or a picnic snack – we love POP+DUTCH, a sandwich shop and pint-sized specialty grocery who aims to be a quirky corner store where you can pick up essentials for your beach house, grab a cup of coffee and mingle with friends, eat a hearty sandwich, or pick up an amazing lunch box to enjoy on the beach.
147 Commercial Street. Visit popanddutch.com for more information
It’s time to hit the beach! You can access the beaches that are just the other side of Commercial Street, but they are not the best ones in Ptown. You really want to head to the Atlantic Beaches. The Atlantic Ocean coastline of Cape Cod was preserved as a National Park (CCNS) by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The National Seashore Park offers several gateways to some of the most valuable real estate in America which can be accessed for either no cost or a nominal parking fee. For more info on beaches and how to get to them click here.
After an afternoon at the beach, you will probably take a nice nap and be refreshed, ready to head out for Dinner. Strangers & Saintsis a modern interpretation of a portside tavern – blending the history of sea-captain salt, swank and swagger with the deep sense of hospitality, food and drink. The lively tavern atmosphere offers Mediterranean-inspired cooking comprised of small and large sharable plates, handcrafted cocktails, wine and local beer. The focus is on pure, simple ingredients brought together in imaginative and unexpected ways.
404 Commercial Street. Visit strangersandsaints.com for more information
If you have some energy left, you can find a club night or a fun bar to have cocktails in, and there’s no better place than The Crown and Anchor, with shows, bars and clubs all in the same location. You can dance, laugh and enjoy some cocktails without ever having to go too far!
247 Commercial Street. Visit onlyatthecrown.com for more information
DAY 2:
By now, you might be a little tired and want to combine a late breakfast with lunch and opt for the quintessential brunch! There are a number of places to go, but we think you should spoil yourself and head to Spindlers, with its daytime menu served from 11:30am to 3:00pm. Their menu offers diverse fresh brunch and lunch fare, and they have an intimate dining room and cozy pub for all season dining.
386 Commercial Street. Visit www.spindlersptown.com for more information
After brunch, our big recommendation for the day is to just wander up and down Commercial Street to check out all the galleries and shops you missed yesterday! There really is so much to take in and some of the stores are just like Aladdin’s cave, full of wonder and curiosities! Head to Marine Specialityfor quirky items and even some hardware! Also, make sure you stray off Commercial Street and see what else the town has to offer!
Attending the Tea Dance at the Boatslip is an essential part of any Provincetown trip and if you didn’t manage to squeeze this into day one, make time for it on day two. Every afternoon at the stroke of four, the deck of the Boatslip is transformed into Provincetown’s biggest outdoor dance party. Locals, good friends and great dance music make this daily afternoon event a “must-do” for seasoned travelers and first-time visitors alike. More info here.
One of the things that really makes Provincetown different to many towns that are on the cape is the wealth of theatre shows, drag shows and famous actors who bring their cabaret shows to town. So before your last night of dinner and dancing, get over to The Art House. Highlights this season include Jinkx Monsoon, Varla Jean Merman, The Indigo Girls, Well Stung and Bianca Del Rio, to name a few.
Visit provincetownarthouse.com for more information.
48 hours in Provincetown is NOT enough to truly appreciate the whole of what the town has to offer, but I think with our guide you can get a decent flavor. There’s so many more stores, restaurants, and places to see that will keep you coming back for more!
So, that’s our guide, take our advice or go off and do your own thing, it’s totally up to you! But, be sure to explore everything PTown has to offer.
For lots more info and recommendations head to:
