How to Plan a Gay-Friendly Trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts
"P'town," with its beautiful beaches and dunes, serves as a relatively wholesome holiday haven and one of the most diverse gay gatherings in the world.
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Things You'll Need
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Internet Access
- Airline Tickets
- Alternative Lifestyle Travel Services
Instructions
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Plan your trip to Provincetown well in advance. Make a list of the types of transportation, accommodations (men, try the Carpe Diem Guesthouse; women, check out the Gull Walk Inn or Gabriel's) and activities you desire or need.
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Research P'town (and Cape Cod) via travel books or the Internet. Look for hot deals on Web travel or auction sites.
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Consider upgrading your travel and/or hotel arrangements since P'town provides for a remarkably reasonable weekend getaway.
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Schedule your trip between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays, when the weather's warm and the beaches bustle with bronzed bodies.
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Partake in P'town partying along Commercial Street (men, try the Big Room at the Atlantic House Hotel, Sunday Tea Dance at the Boatslip, after-hours at Spiritus for pizza and people watching; women, pop into the Pied Piper, P'town's premier lesbian dance bar). Size up other singles at P'town's Men's Singles Weekend in November.
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Peruse P'town's many art galleries or savor sumptuous seafood at one of P'town's numerous gastronomic hot spots.
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Comb Herring Cove Beach for casual cruising (left side for women; dunes and breakwater for guys) or hop a schooner for a bit of whale watching.
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Tips & Warnings
Some books and Web sites provide information for travelers with HIV or AIDS (necessary vaccines, which foods to eat or avoid, where it's safe to drink the water and so on).
If you're looking for late night barhopping, go to Key West.
If you're heading to the beach, go early. Parking is scarce after 11 a.m. Bike if you can.
Grab a copy of P'town's two gay rags for event information: "Provincetown Magazine" and "P'town Scene."
You'll find great cruising along the paths that wind behind the ridge of dunes.
Carry a photo ID, cash, traveler's checks and several credit cards with you at all times.
Nude sunbathing is illegal in Provincetown. Police strictly enforce this law.
Partake in late night cruising at the Pier at your own risk.
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Comments
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dunesport
Oct 24, 2006
There is a mistake in the Tips for Herring Cove. Coming from the town on foot or by car, Lesbians unite on the right (North) side of the beach, not left, nearest the parking lot at the lifeguard/bath house. Ladies often drag ample gear onto the beach, there. Women are more likely to bring children, too. Men hike further down to the dunes toward the breakwater to be more secluded. The dunes 'in back' are used by men as shielding on windy days, when planning to sunbathe. Always keep a swimsuit handy as the dunes are patrolled by rangers. Also note that the busy beach becomes very dirty after weeks of all sorts of activity. Its wise to avoid setting up a beach spot in what looks like a collection of garbage. Because more Lesbians (who tend to carpool)are taking over the beach nearest the parking lot and parking fees have increased, it is more likely that parking is available except for weekends in the high season in the early afternoon. I never saw the parking lot fill up at Herring Cove this year except on the 4th of July and Carnival Week. Trailers are advised to go to the North Lots and not invade the beach parking lots during the high season. Straight people are advised to go to Race Point Beach or stay near the Herring Cove bath-house, if they must go to Herring Cove. It is also not advised that motor-boaters pull up and linger near the nude beach areas. This is very rude and invasive to all who are spending a day trying to enjoy nature.
