Introduction to Provincetown

Located at the tip of Cape Cod, P-town, as this Massachusetts beach resort is nicknamed, was first heralded by 17th-century Portuguese fishermen for its fertile waters. Provincetown was discovered 250 years later by artist Charles Webster Hawthorne and the Greenwich Village intelligentsia. This interesting blend of fishing and artistic traditions has made Provincetown a varied destination famous for pushing the cultural envelope. Visitors of all stripes are welcome here, and it's especially popular with gay and lesbian vacationers. An intense love for P-town's natural surroundings and creativity unites them all.

Beaches

Pristine, golden sand, windswept dunes and the mesmerizing roll of the surf are entertainment enough at the Cape Cod National Seashore. Gloriously free of the carnival atmosphere sometimes found in downtown Provincetown, the National Seashore's beaches prove this city's long-standing attraction to travelers. Head to Herring Cove for spectacular sunsets and rocky beaches frequented by same-sex couples; visit Race Point for the occasional whale sighting. Long Point, at the tip of the Cape, is capped by an 1826 lighthouse.

Things to Do

Just a few miles off Provincetown's coast lay the feeding grounds for dozens of whales. Naturalist-led cruises venture through the surf to Stellwagen Bank and the Great South Channel to spot the beloved whales. You have to be pretty far from land before you lose sight of the Pilgrim Monument in the heart of P-town. Climb the granite tower's 116 stairs, and then visit the adjoining Provincetown Museum chronicling the town's history as both fishing port and arts nexus.

Eating and Drinking

A hot mix of chopped veggies, ground beef and chicken fill flaky pasty meat pies, lunchtime favorites displayed at the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery. Buy a selection for a beach picnic or stop at Angel Foods for salami and ham sandwiches, pasta salad and other Italian lunch specialties. The lines are long but the wait worthwhile at the Lobster Pot, where jumbo boiled, broiled or sauced lobsters draw throngs of hungry people to seaside MacMillan Wharf.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Provincetown loves its artistic flair, and nowhere are the arts better represented than at Meetinghouse Theatre and Concert Hall. The acoustically superb hall upstairs houses an equally wonderful 1929 Steinway concert grand piano. Downstairs an intimate theatre hosts everything from classical plays to performances by the Flirtations, a gay a cappella ensemble. The Atlantic House is considered the nation's premier gay bar, while the quieter, mahogany-panelled jazz club Cafe Mews welcomes music lovers of all persuasions.