Provincetown Named Top Coastal Town

If you’re in search of one of the best coastal towns, you’ll likely want to take another look at Cape Cod. Provincetown was just named one of the top coastal small towns in the entire nation.

The ranking is part of the USA Today Readers’ Choice awards for 2023. For this year, Provincetown took the number five spot. 

Often referred to simply as P-town, the website describes Provincetown as a charming spot for vacationers that’s right on the tip of Cape Cod. The small town is home to bars and restaurants, museums, galleries, and has a strong following within the LGBTQ community.

USA Today also makes mention of its shopping, its accommodations, its cabarets, and its opportunities to get out on the water, especially for whale watching. All towns on the list were reportedly nominated by a panel of experts. 

The list was narrowed down by editors, before being presented to readers for a vote. While notably fewer travelers head to Provincetown outside of the summer season, Commercial Street is often buzzing with people during the busier months of the year.

In fact, it’s not uncommon for the year-round population of a few thousand people to swell to around 60,000 people in the summer. Both Race Point Beach and Herring Cove Beach are popular spots for windsurfing and surfing.

In particular, sunny Race Point Beach is a good spot to see whales or seals out in the water. On the bay side, the East End and West End beaches are good for paddle boarding and canoeing.

You will also likely find tide pools to explore. Provincetown additionally serves as home to the Pilgrim Monument, which serves up some fantastic views from the top, plus you can learn more about the region at the Province Lands Visitor Center at The Cape Cod National Seashore.