Provincetown, Cape Cod's P-Town

Provincetown, with its edgy nature and alternative lifestyles, is worth a visit on your summer vacation on Cape Cod.

Provincetown, or P-Town as it is called, is edgy, artsy, sexually charged, and has a humor that is politically liberal with a slight self-deprecating tone. It can be a lot of fun for visitors who enjoy a day of shopping or who want to catch one of the shows, and who are comfortable in areas where alternative lifestyles dominate.

Sexual innuendo is everywhere, from the fishy Christmas tree ornaments for sale in one shop, which look suspiciously like drag queens, to the raunchy greeting cards in another. But there are other types of humor besides relationship humor - there's George Bush humor, Bill Clinton humor, and even pet humor. (Biker hat for your dog, anyone?) Expect to see lots of body art and unusual outfits on the street - on a recent visit I saw "Princess Diana" - and be prepared to be either shocked or entertained. P-Town is known for saying what no one else dares.

There are other sides to P-Town besides its alternative lifestyles. One is its fine arts. Gallery after gallery on Commercial Street offer stunning paintings, prints, and sculptures. Many feature local scenes of Provincetown or other parts of Cape Cod. Artists Robert E. Kennedy, Michele Kennedy, and Frank Larson, are just a few who are featured in galleries in the area. Some people come to Provincetown for the beaches, which have great waves, as well as the occasional topless sunbather, although nude sunbathing is prohibited. The sand dunes in P-Town are among the tallest on the Cape, and the nightlife and shows can be a lot of fun. And of course, if you're going to be on the tip of the Cape, don't leave without sampling some seafood at one of the local restaurants.

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More Info

Provincetown.com
Provincetown Art Association and Museum

Author: C. Danko
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