How to Explore Cape Cod Like a Local

Provincetown

Located at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown revels in its role as a closing statement; the town that turns a coastal vacation into a full-blown performance. It’s where Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower first dropped anchor in 1620, and where artistic renegades, whalers and the LGBTQ+ community found safe harbor generations later. Today, that legacy plays out in full color along Commercial Street, a slender, mile-long theater of galleries, drag shows, cafes and rainbow-flagged storefronts that make no apology for the spectacle. Nor should they. Come summer, the volume turns up. June’s International Film Festival draws indie talent and loyal cinephiles into screening rooms and seaside parties. August’s Carnival is a full-costume metamorphosis that transforms the streets into one long, joyous catwalk. But P-town doesn’t rely on events to hold court. Just beyond the bustle lie the wild contours of the Cape Cod National Seashore: towering dunes, golden beaches like Herring Cove and Race Point, and offshore whale-watching waters where humpbacks regularly breach within eyeshot of the harbor.

Dinner might mean following the locals to Sal’s Place, where the back patio hugs the shoreline and the pasta tastes like someone’s nonna flew in from Naples. The Lobster Pot still earns its neon glow with generous Portuguese-inflected chowders. Alternatively, hit up The Canteen, a counter‑serve beach‑themed nook where lobster rolls, a raw bar featuring local-grown oysters and addictive frozen rosé. For stays, the Brass Key Guesthouse stitches together a cluster of historic buildings into an adults-only retreat with a pool, spa and a vibe that walks the line between buttoned-up and let-loose. Land’s End Inn, perched high above the harbor, trades in cinematic views and dramatic decor, while AWOL Provincetown channels West Coast minimalism with fire pits, coastal tones and a location just far enough from Commercial Street to offer the option of escape.