Provincetown MUST do's...

This is the second year I've gotten a share in Provincetown, Mass. with friends and every time I visit I'm struck by how beautiful it is.  The town, the dunes, the harbor and beaches.. Provincetown has got it all. 

While my absolute favorite thing to do is hang with pals - many of whom I see frequently and some I see only on occasion - there's also a ton to do whether you're hyper-active (like me!) or uber-sedentary.  The connection to nature in P-town is unbelievable and it's one of the things I enjoy most about my visits.

Here's a quick list of must-do's (well, at least they're must-do's for moi...):

• Kayaking to Long Point.  This ranks way up there on my list of the exceptional P-town experiences.  Kayaking out to Long Point - a narrow peninsula at the very edge of P-town harbor - takes about 45 minutes.  And while you'll move much faster if you're fit, anyone can enjoy this because it's not terribly strenuous; and the views of the town and the Long Point light house are not to be missed.  I like to cut right through the yachts and sailboats anchored off-shore as many of them are beautiful and so large that they're best appreciated up close.  Be sure to pack a lunch, plenty of sunscreen and a beach towel because lying on the sand at Long Point feels so good after making the trip.  Visit Venture Athletics Kayak Kayak Shop on Commercial Street to rent a kayak for $25.  As you paddle out and encounter various wildlife - from birds of all kinds to harbor seals and turtles - you'll know it was $25 well spent!

• Walking down Commercial Street.  As the primary commercial "drag" in town, Commercial Street buzzes with activity day and night.  At high season - from late June through Labor Day - thousands of pedestrians swarm up and down Commercial Street everyday to shop, browse the galleries, people-watch and eat.  Expect to see plenty of strapping, shirtless guys, circuit boys, boys that look like girls, girls that look like boys... You get the idea  You'll also compete for street-space with dogs of every size and breed, fancy new cars, old cars, mopeds and bicycles.  In short, it's very busy and very fabulous). I love to get up early, grab a large iced soy latte at Joe's Coffee and Espresso Bar and stroll until my heart's content.  Click here for a great directory of P-town businesses, many of which are located on Commercial Street.  My favorite haunts:

Caribbean Corner Cafe (amazing vegan options!)

Marine Specialties (a warehouse army/navy store with the coolest/cheapest stuff)

Tim's Used Bookstore (perfect for beach reads plus some vintage first editions!)

Shui Spa at Crowne Point (okay, I've never been, but I really want to!)

• Climbing the Pilgrim Monument.  The Pilgrim Monument was founded in 1892 as the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association and the giant granite monument commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrim's first landing in the New World in Provincetown in 1620.  They stayed for about five weeks exploring the tip of Cape Cod and then famously (allegedly?) decamped, as the legend goes, in Plymouth.  Climbing the 116 steps of the narrow 252-foot monument takes about ten minutes at a leisurely pace and affords truly striking views of the town, the harbor and ocean.  My friend Jer and I used to climb up on Sundays because it was free.  But alas, as nothing is free anymore, you've gotta pony up some cash (it's just a few bucks but I couldn't find the exact price on the Web site).

• Yoga!  Yes, as everyone knows, I'm a yoga freak.  I practice nearly every morning and nothing gets me going like a brisk Vinyasa flow.  It's a very important part of my life and I treasure that quiet time in the morning before my day begins.  P-town offers a wealth of yoga options for both experienced and novice yogis.  While most of the time I practice on the floor of our rented hovel (the house has a certain charm that we love but, alas, it's more than a little Dickensian...) I sometimes take classes at Mussel Beach Fitness Club. This past Saturday my friend Ron joined me for a vigorous and very challenging class with Iyengar superstar Greg Anton at the Provincetown Community Center.  With several other studios located throughout P-town and Truro, there are a number of options available.  I find that an hour of yoga leaves me refreshed, open and ready for anything the day might bring.  And that's a great mindset to be in when staying in such a beautiful place. 

• Biking through the dunes.  P-town boasts miles and miles of paved bike trails that twist through the town, the dunes and protected marshes and coastline.  Biking these trails is an excellent way to see all of P-town's natural beauty and character. Check out P-town Bikes if you need to rent a bike for the day.  Bring plenty of sunscreen and water as it gets VERY hot (seriously - it's desert-like), but the experience is not to be missed.

• The Beaches.  I've saved the best for last.  I absolutely love laying on the beach - under my umbrella and slathered in SPF-35 of course!  Racepoint and Herring Cove beaches are both beautiful and if you're staying the weekend I'd suggest spending a day at each.  While the water is famously cold, by July/August it's absolutely swimmable (albeit brisk) and given how how it gets even the biggest cold-water-phobes will want to take a dip. Parking can be a pain so do like the locals and bike or walk instead!