Getting to know the Cape

Ok, so we%26#39;re driving up and staying first in Chatham at the Captains House Inn for two nights. Then we have two nights before we have to back in Boston. Got great suggestions as to other inns -- Inn on the Sound is all booked -- am thinking Whale Walk or Fort Hill (but assuming Fort Hill will be booked too).

Just how congested does it get driving towards P town in late July on the weekends? Where are the best modern art galleries, unique shops? Is doing a dune ride with clam bake a decent thing to do?

If everyone didn%26#39;t have these ridiculous stay requirements would probably try an inn a night for the other two but that won%26#39;t fly.

I think I%26#39;ve checked out every possible inn so far -- thanks to everyone who rights reviews.

Getting to know the Cape

Traffic will be heavy in Provincetown in late July. It%26#39;s still peak season. It won%26#39;t be so bad, though that you%26#39;ll wish you hadn%26#39;t done it. It won%26#39;t be stop and go until you get right in to Provincetown, and even then, you won%26#39;t be stopped for very long. Once you get in town, take the first parking spot you see and walk.

Modern art galleries and unique shops are located on or just off of, Commercial St., the main drag in town. To walk from one end to the other nonstop is fifteen minutes. To walk from one end to the other stopping in everywhere could take days.

Don%26#39;t know specifically about the dune ride/clambake, but a walk through the dunes is beautiful and not to be missed.

Provincetown is great!

Getting to know the Cape

Since most of the inns are full during the summer months you will be lucky to find one that will take only 2 nights. I understand that many have 5 night minimums which does seem a bit extreme but, hey, I guess if it%26#39;s that busy then who can blame them. Have stayed many times at Fort Hill and it is our favorite. Sometimes they do not fill up until a week or two before and we have had some luck getting relatively last minute reservations. Good luck...I think you will love it!

Yes a dune ride, with or without a clambake is a fun thing to do. Check out Art%26#39;s Dune Tours in Provincetown for the details. Another fun thing to do is to take the Bay Lady !!, a schooner, for a sunset cruise of Cape Cod Bay.

As for parking...take the Conwell street exit off Rt. 6. Take a right onto Bradford and look for Duart%26#39;s parking lot on the right across from a gas station. You can park there and have only a short walk to the docks and center of town. Keep in mind that Commercial street ( the main drag....excuse the pun) is one way and people usually walk in the middle of the road so it is very slow going. I would not advise you to drive down Commercial Street to look for parking.

Thank you both -- especially for parking insights.

Yellowbird -- we booked Fort Hill for part of our stay -- thanks for your recommendation of that on the other post I did.

Yellowbird is right about trying to drive down Commercial St. It can be a harrowing experience if you%26#39;re not used to it, but the problem is usually pedestrians, not traffic. Traffic in Ptown, except at Conwell and Bradford Sts. is rarely so heavy as to cause a backup. If you are in Truro, consider driving into town on rte. 6A instead of rte. 6. It%26#39;s only a few minutes longer and much more scenic.