PinkAgenda

Community Calendar and Travel Information

Gay in Provincetown, MA.

Carlos T. Mock, MD and William R. Rattan

Updated August 2006

Airports | Climate | Currency | Dining | Getting Around | Internet | Lodging | References | Scene | Shopping | Things to See | Tipping

A Small Place with Endless Possibilities

Provincetown is located at the very tip of Cape Cod, a 70 mile peninsula off the south coast of Boston, Massachusetts in the north eastern United States.

No matter how long you come for, its a guarantee that you won't be bored in Provincetown. Between its dense layers of history, its vibrant arts and entertainment scenes, and the natural glory of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Provincetown really does have something for everyone. Rent a bike and roll through the winding bike trails in the Province Lands dunes, go on a whale watch in the only national marine sanctuary in the northeast, sun yourself next to the magnificent Atlantic Ocean, take in a show at one of Provincetown's numerous venues - the possibilities are endless in this seemingly small town. Unfortunately, the straights have discovered Provincetown and now you also have o deal with overcrowding and a sea of drunk teenagers.

Time Zone

Provincetown is on Eastern Standard Time zone. They adopt Eastern Daylight Savings time on the first Sunday in April and revert to Standard Time on the last Sunday in October.

Language

The language spoken throughout America is, of course, predominantly English. However, a large number of people in Provincetown speak many other languages. They come from Eastern europe and stay the summer.

Currency

US Dollar - USD = 100 cents

Weather

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High 36° 36° 44° 52° 62° 72° 78° 77° 70° 60° 50° 41°
Avg. Low 22° 22° 28° 37° 46° 55° 62° 61° 54° 45° 37° 27°
Mean 28° 28° 37° 45° 55° 64° 71° 70° 64° 54° 44° 35°
Avg. Precip. 3.9 in 3.6 in 3.8 in 3.6 in 3.4 in 3.3 in 2.6 in 3.4 in 3.4 in 3.8 in 4.6 in 4.1 in

Airport

General travel strategy is to get to Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) or Bruce Sundlun Terminal Building at T.F. Green International Airport, Providence, RI - they're equidistant from Provincetown--about 120 miles. Then drive. Try to rent the smallest automobile possible that will fit you and your belongings. The streets at Provincetown are very narrow, you must navigate tons of tourists and parking is hell.

Word of caution about car rental companies

Most of them carry absolutely no insurance for their cars while you rent them, thus making your personal car insurance the primary insurer. If you use your credit card to cover your insurance deductible, all credit cards except for Diners Club will be secondary insurers. Yes, we were surprised to learn that even American Express Platinum has gone the secondary route. That means that the accident, whether or not it was your fault will get into your car insurance report. We find Hertz car company the worse offender because they charge for loss of use and add administrative costs to the handling of the accident. (not covered by any insurance we know of). On the cards side, we find Aadvantage Master card Platinum the worst offender. Takes forever to pay and will harass you with millions of forms just to see if you give on them and pay your deductible.

Our recommendation:

We drove from Boston - Watch out! Plenty of construction and most signs are not up yet. Ask directions to go to take the I-93 S ramp from the Ted William's Tunnel. (You will actually exit under the tunnel; this exit is really easy to miss--follow the signs closely). Merge onto MA-3 S (52.2 miles). Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit onto US-6 E / MID-CAPE HWY (36.3 miles). Enter next roundabout and take 2nd exit onto US-6 E / STATE HWY. (0.1 miles). Stay STRAIGHT to go onto US-6 E / STATE HWY. Continue to follow US-6 E. (25.4 miles). Turn LEFT onto CONWELL ST. to Provincetown.

Tipping

Holidays

2007 Federal Legal Holidays

Getting around

You'll arrive by car, south on Route Six, the major north-south expressway on the Cape. Commerce road, the main thoroughfare runs one way South so depending on where you are staying, ge6t off as soon as you can just north of the address. Brad ford is the other major North South road, and it runs two-way. YOu can use this if you undershoot your destination on Commerce.

Once you have parked your car at your destination, you will either walk or take the trolley. You may also wish to use the car to go to the beaches or to do grocery shopping. There is parking at the beach for a reasonable rate for the day ($5/day)

Essentials

Things to see

Beaches

The Travel Channel has rated Provincetown’s beaches the sixth best in the country! Provincetown offers a wide variety of beaches, from Race Point’s dramatic sweep of tall dunes on the Atlantic Ocean to narrow Herring Cove, where ocean meets the bay. Don’t miss the beaches on Long Point—if you want a bit more seclusion from the summer hordes, trek across the breakwater and find a spot far removed from the crowds. It’s one of the most dramatic and beautiful walks you will ever take, crossing Provincetown Harbor on the gigantic rocks that prevent the fragile marshlands from being swallowed by the ocean. If you’re looking for a more spirited, community experience, Herring Cove is one of the most famous gay beaches in the world. Here there’s a place for everybody. Just turn left when you enter the Herring Cove parking lot and head up to the beach. The women tend to gather first, then the guys, then the—ahem, naturalists. (Just make sure you watch out for the rangers, as bathing suits are officially required.) Stay at least once until dusk: this is the only place on the East where the sun sets over the ocean. Despite what you’ve heard, the water is warm enough to swim in all summer. Sure, it’s a bit bracing in June or early July when you first take the plunge, but once you’re in, it’s magnificent!

Our only comment is that there are no accessible facilities (food or restrooms). We are too old for such inconveniences. Coming from Puerto Rico, I can think of at least 10 beaches there and another twenty in the US. Virgin Islands (lets not count the ones in Hawaii). I guess the Travel Channel was only counting the continental USA when they made their claim.

Dining

Caution. We found the food way overpriced and barely decent. We ended up cooking quite a bit. Refer to GayProvincetown.com for a complete list.

The Scene

The rule used to be that once the fast and slow ferries docked from Boston, the straight people would turn left (east end) and the gay and lesbian people would turn right (west end). We did not see that rule at anytime we were there. Whether you like it or not, it's just a fact of life that Provincetown has much more straight tourists than it used to. It reminded us of Bourbon Street in New Orleans--and how the complete Street is filled with breeders.

We recommend that you go to GayProvincetown.com for the latest in the gay scene.

Tea Dance

Gay life starts every day at 4pm with Tea Dance. Most places have some form of it but the really big and famous one is at the the BOATSLIP RESORT 161 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 02657, Voice: 508-487-1669, Toll Free: 800-547-3892. Don't miss their famous Tea Dance every day from 4pm to 7pm. From here people go to dinner or take a disco dance. Bars get busy at 11pm.the other one is THE PIED 193A Commercial St, on the waterfront, Provincetown, MA 02657, Voice: 508-487-1527 Email Home of the world famous Original AfterTea T-Dance and the #1 place to be from 6:30-10PM when the huge waterfront dance floor and deck explode with tanned hard hotties.

Spiritus

Shopping

For a complete list of shops and galleries we suggest you look at GayProvincetown.com

Associations & News Magazines

References

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