Swimmers favor the relatively calm (though certainly brisk) waters of Herring Cove Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The long, sandy beach is popular with everyone. Though technically illegal, nude sunbathers head left to the south section of the beach; families usually break out the picnic baskets closer to the parking lot. The entire beach faces west, making it a spectacular place to be at sunset. Parking costs $20 in summer (the National Seashore fee).
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
22.12 MILES
Three miles south of Plymouth center, Plimoth Plantation authentically re-creates the Pilgrims’ settlement in its primary exhibit, entitled 1627 English…
16.39 MILES
Cape Cod National Seashore extends some 40 miles around the curve of the Outer Cape and encompasses the Atlantic shoreline from Orleans all the way to…
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19.06 MILES
The Salt Pond Visitor Center is the place to start exploring the National Seashore – and it has a great view to boot. Here you'll find exhibits and short…
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23.61 MILES
If Plymouth Rock tells us little about the Pilgrims, Mayflower II speaks volumes. Climb aboard this replica of the small ship in which the Pilgrims made…
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23.93 MILES
Claiming to be the oldest continually operating public museum in the country, Pilgrim Hall Museum was founded in 1824. Its exhibits are not reproductions…
Provincetown Art Association & Museum
2.14 MILES
Founded in 1914 to celebrate the town’s thriving art community, this vibrant museum showcases the works of hundreds of artists who have found their…
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
1.58 MILES
Climb to the top of the country's tallest all-granite structure (253ft) for a sweeping view of town, the beaches and the spine of the Lower Cape. The…
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25.32 MILES
Fun for kids and adults alike, the 100-acre Heritage Museums & Gardens sports a superb vintage automobile collection in a Shaker-style round barn, an…
Nearby attractions
1. Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
1.58 MILES
Climb to the top of the country's tallest all-granite structure (253ft) for a sweeping view of town, the beaches and the spine of the Lower Cape. The…
1.8 MILES
The central town wharf is the hub of water-going traffic, like passenger ferries to and from Boston, whale-watching cruises, fishing charters and…
3. Provincetown Public Library
1.82 MILES
Erected in 1860 as a church, this building was turned into a museum a century later, complete with a half-size replica of Provincetown's famed race…
1.87 MILES
The Fine Arts Work Center is one reason this far-flung corner of Massachusetts continues to attract daring and creative minds. The progressive foundation…
2.02 MILES
The high-quality Albert Merola Gallery showcases works by both contemporary and notable past Provincetown artists. It's reliably open during the summer…
6. Province Lands Visitor Center
2.12 MILES
Overlooking Race Point Beach, this Cape Cod National Seashore visitor center has displays on dune ecology and a rooftop observation deck with an eye…
7. Provincetown Art Association & Museum
2.14 MILES
Founded in 1914 to celebrate the town’s thriving art community, this vibrant museum showcases the works of hundreds of artists who have found their…
2.47 MILES
On the wild tip of the Cape, this Cape Cod National Seashore beach is a breathtaking stretch of sand, crashing surf and undulating dunes as far as the eye…