Take Me to the Ocean!

It's summer weather in Boston this week...70 degrees today, then 80 degrees on Thursday!? I love it! Time to get a brightly painted pedicure (coral, hot pink or mint green perhaps?) & put on your flip flops! Now get out there & enjoy your day! :)

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Provincetown - Cape Cod's Hip, Cool & Delicious Getaway!

Provincetown is Cape Cod's northern-most town, sitting proudly on the very tip of Massachusetts, jutting out into the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean. P-Town is known for it's bustling gay community, great beaches, shopping, art galleries, history, bars and restaurants...this seaside getaway and is a slice of heaven everyone with an adventurous spirit. In a nutshell, Provincetown is gorgeous, sunny and fun by day...delicious and wild by night! Whatever your speed, whatever your persuasion...P-Town is the ultimate summertime getway for the wild at heart!

Every summer it has been a tradition for my amazing husband Andrew and I to rent a condo in P-Town either with friends or on our own. In summer 2007, we rented a 2-bedroom condo just off of Commercial Street with Jaap and Danielle, our Dutch friends who came over from Amsterdam for their summer holiday! We had the BEST time with them, really bonded and got to know the quirky, welcoming, gourmet and wild side of P-Town first hand. The following summer, we rented a cute & modern 1-bedroom right on Commercial Street across from Lorraine's mexican and tequila restaurant (highly recommended!). We relished in being in our own little place, renting bikes and kayaks, finding cute hideaways, climbing the Pilgrim Monument and meeting locals for drinks and oysters. As a rule, I suggest renting a condo or house rather than getting a hotel room when I travel. You have the freedom of having your own place...to cook, relax and sit on your own private deck. Check out HomeAway.com and VRBO.com for the best in vacation rentals around the world.

Last summer, we stayed in Brewster, MA in Cape Cod (mid-Cape) with my sister Sara and her fiance Dan at Ocean's Edge Village. His aunt has an amazing condo with pool and beach access. It was a gorgeous sunny weekend and we spend the days on the beach, and the nights eating lobster and clams, and singing along to the cover band at local dive bar, The Woodshed in Brewster. We had such a blast with them! On Saturday afternoon we hit Cape Cod hotspot The Wellfleet Beachcomber for much needed raw bar fix - Wellfleet oysters and gigantic shrimp cocktail. Goombay Smash rum drinks and Bud Lite Limes were happily consumed...and we had a blast!

Andrew and I snuck up to P-Town for brunch one day (the lobster eggs benedict at Cafe Edwige is highly recommend!) and did some people watching on our way back (ok, it was backwards) to Boston! We wanted to stay longer but had to drive back home after a wonderful weekend on the Cape.


Getting There:

There are 2 ways to get to P-town, by car its about a 3 hours drive from Boston...or a 90 minute ride by ferry from Boston Harbor ($70 one way).

Getting Around:

The two best ways to see P-Town are on FOOT or by BIKE. I highly recommend renting bikes for your stay. Not only can you ride to the beaches, but you can get a crazy, intense workout the bike paths, and at dusk, take in a leisurely cruise down Commercial Street for the best people watching you will ever see! Drag queens strutting their stuff to promote their shows (Thirsty Burlington is a dead-on Cher) , foreign tourists from Japan, Germany and England, couples holding hands, families with strollers, locals, bikers, freaks of all kinds, good-looking sun-kissed people, and celebrity sightings galore (i.e.: Marc Jacobs, Lily Taylor, John Waters, Jennifer Coolidge aka "Stiffler's Mom," and many, many more) many who are in town for one-man or one-women shows.

Site-seeing:

• Whale Watch/Harbor Tour - we saw a lot of whales!
• Fishing Trip - go catch your dinner :)
• Rent Kayaks - cruise around the harbor
• Rent Bikes - go to the beaches
• Pilgrim Monument - climb up the stairs for great view of town
• Dune Buggy Tour - unique way of seeing P-Town's beaches
• Gallery Walks - many have wine & cheese at night
• People Watching
• Nightlife - Comedy, Dancing, Drag Shows, live bands
• Shopping
  

Dining (and cocktails):

-The outside patio at Bubala's by the Bay is great food, drink and peepin' time. (across from Marc Jacobs). http://www.bubalas.com/ We loved the clam rolls, huge burgers with brie and onions, great bloody mary's and fruity rum drinks too. Awesome peep watching place too.

-Next to Bubala's is Jimmy's Hideaway, down the stairs...amazing! Sit at the little bar and chat up the friendly bartender. It's a cute, upscale haven with amazing martinis, steamed mussels with white wine broth and their Bouillabaisse of Scallops, Shrimp, Mussels, Local Littlenecks, and Fish Over Basamati Rice is to die for. 179 Commercial St. http://jimmyshideaway.com/

-Lorraine's is amazing Mexican...all the way down past Bubala's on Commercial. They have 20 kinds of tequila...we stayed in a condo right across the street last summer! We had the best time...delicous food and great convos with the staff and barthenders. 133 Commercial St. http://www.lorrainesrestaurant.com/

-Café Edwige is a restaurant that is upstairs, really cozy and romantic, great food! Go for brunch on Saturday (Sunday they can't serve booze til noon...the horror! lol) and get the LOBSTER eggs benedict with mustard sauce and home fries...a decadent meal! Friendly friendly staff and lovely decor. 333 Commercial St. http://edwigeatnight.com/

-The restaurant at the Crown & Anchor (Central House Bar & Grill) is really good too...its on the outdoor porch. We really liked sitting on the airy porch and watching people walk by. We had a wonderfully romantic dinner with wine, great salads and apps, yummy fish dishes (Grilled Swordfish and Pistachio Crusted Scallops), did I say Lobster Mac n Cheese?! Check it out. http://www.onlyatthecrown.com/centralhouse/

-Sal's Place - awesome italian food...legendary spot, but quite far down on Commercial towards the very West End...but worth it! You must get a table on the deck and dine on the water. We loved our colorful waiter with tales of his winters living in a village in Indonesia and Thailand and summers in P-Town. Anything you order from Sal's is divine. Get the cheap house chianti and get ready to indulge.. We ordered a variety of pasta dishes including Pasta Fra Diavolo with Shrimp and Scallops, spaghetti with Lemon & garlic, and their traditional lschian pasta dish of raisins, pinenuts, walnuts, anchovies. The Veal Saltimbocca was out of this world. Don't forget dessert! 99 Commercial http://www.salsplaceofprovincetown.com/ (At press time, I'm afraid that Sal's may have closed down! I hope not...I will find out for sure and post.)

Nightlife:

When in P-Town, you must catch one of their world famous drag comedy shows. All the best entertainers and comedians come to P-town for the summer to do a show. We usually check out Ryan Landry's latest musical-spoof-tacular. One summer we saw his hilarous take on Cinderella, another time it was The Wizard of Oz...and better still..."Willy Wanker and the Chocolate Highway" HAHA! How amazing is that!? Our friends Julie and Adam love to head up to Provincetown to catch world famous Drag Diva...Varla Jean Merman. So many drag shows, so little time. :)

If you like to sing, or at least enjoy singingvery badly in public while drunk (lol)...you MUST go to Drag Karaoke with Dana Danzel at the Governor Bradford on Commerical St. I don't know HOW she does it, but the show starts at 9:30 every single night. Andrew and I went 3 nights in a row and sang a different song each time! OK, we had a few tequila shots to get warmed up...but once you get up on stage..all the fear goes away and you just sing your heart out! (He sang a great cover of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash and i belted out "Goldfinger" by Eartha Kitt and an Amy Winehouse tune!) Everyone is welcome and friendly there...and you can be a star for the night! (NOTE: It's especially popular for Bachelorette parties...so beware of the wasted bride-to-be from Somerville in the dime store veil and "kiss the bride" tank top.

Shop til you Drop:

Be sure to hit the Marc Jacobs store -- I love all the fun accessories they have for $5-10 bucks! This is about the only time you will be able to afford a Marc Jacobs original, seeing as his bags run upwards of $500-1000. We usually go in for a cool t-shirt, flipflops, umbrella or some funky jewelry.



Provincia - one of my favorite stores. Owned by Portuguese artist Manuel and his partner John. He designs and imports the most gorgeous ceramics in bright traditional colors. The prices are really reasonable too in the $10-50 range and up. Last year we bought a few of his signature olive dishes and some "good luck" rooster wine toppers for family and friends. http://www.provinciagifts.com/

Toko Indo - I just discovered this cool, Balinese jewelry shop. Beaded necklaces and bracelets with bits of stone, shell or metal in bright colors. I picked up a necklace for myself and braclets for Mom and Sara. :) http://www.shoptokoindo.com

The Army-Navy Store - It has everything under the sun, from nautical-themed housewares and novelties for cheap, to the typical army fatigue pants, sailor shirts and canvas hats.

KEY WEST is THE BEST! :)

After an amazing wedding... it's time to move on to the Honeymoon! My husband and I stayed at Andrew's Inn in Key West for our Honeymoon from Nov 16-24, 2009. The inn was beyond our expectations! Perfectly located off the quieter end of Duval Street, Andrew's Inn is a hidden gem, and the perfect place for a couple to go for a romantic getaway!

ANDREW'S INN, Key West:Tom & Nancy (the owners) and Jorge & Blanche (employees) are wonderful, amazing people who made our stay fantastic. The daily champagne breakfast and open bar happy hour each night are worth their weight in gold! It not only saves money, but time...as you have something to eat then head off to explore the island! By 4pm, we were ready to head back to inn for a cocktail, beer or glass of wine, and a dip in the warm pool. Also, these were great opportunities to chat with the other guests, mostly married couples who were visiting for their 2nd or 3rd+ time to Andrew's Inn! That is always a great sign when ppl come back year after year... We will definitely be back! The first and last nights of our stay, we were in the Main house (in the large Roma room off the side with our own private porch and the Venezia right by the pool). Roosters would wake us every morning, and kitty cats welcomed us throughout the day. (Key West is inhabited with roosters, chickens and cats...which definitely add to the kooky charm of the island). The majority of our stay was in the intimate Mango Hideaway in their other property just across the street in the Eyebrow House. As we were on our honeymoon, we loved the privacy of our own studio complete with huge private deck...and JACUZZI! Nearly every morning and night, we slipped into the hot tub for relaxation...AHHHHH. it was heaven!
Just so you know, we loved Key West and Andrew's Inn SO MUCH...we extended our stay by 3 nights! We were supposed to head up to Miami and West Palm Beach for a few nights and said, No way, we are staying here in the laid back, tropical paradise of Key West! We will see you soon! :)


HOT INSIDER TIPS:
1) Rent the bikes offered at the Inn! It's about $40-50 dollars for the week...and well worth it! We biked every day, all around the main downtown area of the island. We tended not to ride at night as it was more busy with crowds...and well, drinking and biking aren't our thing :)
2) Go to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach: It is the best beach on the island! You can swim, snorkel, eat lunch...full bathrooms and showers too. It is on the Naval base and cruise ship area...and you pay $2.50 pp at the gate. You can also drive or take a taxi...I won't walk it...the road is too long. It is popular with the cruise ship guests too. There is a great snack bar which we had lunch at 3 days...excellent sandwiches for a snack bar. And, best of all, you can rent umbrellas and lounge chairs... it's $30 to rent for the day, but it is totally worth it... you deserve it! You can also rent snorkels and fins. The sand is white, but there is a bit of rocky coral on the way to the water, so bring your swim shoes or tevas to swim. We snorkelled and swam at least 4-5 times each day... there are 2 little sections of rocks with lots of fish to see...and the pelicans happily watch over you to be sure you don't eat their fish!

3) Go out on a Catamaran! We did the sunset cruise with Sebago Water Sports...and got a great deal on the full day Snorkel & Kayak Trip from Tom the best damn salesman in Key West (he's like Jimmy Buffet meets The Dude). It was a total blast, met lots of awesome ppl (like Erin & Christian from Kansas City!), ate fresh food & drinks (sangria, beer, wine, margaritas), snorkelled and kayaked with a guide through the mangroves. Totally unique and cool experience. We even had a "dolphin show" on our way back...about 6 dolphins showed off for about 20 mins...it was great!

4) If you are daring, do the 2 hour KEY WEST JET SKI TOUR around the island! You ride 2 ppl per jet ski (my hubby and me) and go 28 miles around the whole island for 2 hours! It is exhilerating, exciting, wild, and the BEST thing we did on our honeymoon by far! We loved racing around at top speed and splashing through the waves! Our guide Gilbert was awesome...and they sent us over to the bar next door for 2 for one cocktails.

5) You must have Breakfast, Lunch and/or Dinner at BLUE HEAVEN: It is in Bahama Village on Petronia Street, right off Duval St...authentic carribean and local fare, rum cocktails, mimosas, laid back and the best place on the island by far. (we had "Breakfast with the Roosters" one morning - get there early, and dinner later that week...both were excellent.)

6) Have a romantic italian dinner at La Trattoria (Duval St): white table cloths, as elegant as any restaurant in Boston or NYC...delicious food, great service...and then catch the live blues & jazz in the back lounge called VERGILIO's... a great night out!

7) Get drinks, lunch and/or appetizers at SLOPPY JOE'S (Duval St): It's the quintessential Key West bar...an ode to Hemingway. We loved the vibrant atmosphere...great bar food... the Sloppy Joe smothered nachos or fries are to die for! Live music was great. Friendly bartenders too!

8) Eat at Conch Republic Seafood Company (on the marina) - great Spinach & Cheese Baked Oysters, Calamari, Steamed Shrimp, etc...and get drinks & cigars at Schooner Wharf. It's a fun tiki bar right on the marina with live music all day (not the best for food though).

9) Go to the Half Shell Raw Bar (old marina) for great Grouper and Shrimp Po Boys and Mojitos! Nice spot on the harbor looking at all the nice private yachts....and get drinks and go swimming in Dante's gigantic pool! A great mid-afternoon place to go.

10) Visit Hemingway House: It's beautiful, historical and fun. Nice to get away from the hot sun and Duval Street party scene. If you love architecture, history, Hemingway novels, kitty cats and lush gardens... it's a must see! It costs $12 to get in, includes wonderful tour with funny guides... We spent about 2 hours there, just walking around. They encourage ppl to relax, pet the cats and take photos. Nice gift shop too. We bought a watercolor print of the house and stuffed cat for our nephew. :)
SUMMARY:Key West is alive and kicking! If you want to relax by the ocean or a pool...take a romantic sunset cruise or an adventure catamaran trip...chill out... eat some amazing seafood and key lime pie... meet friendly people, tourists and staff... go wild (day or night!) ... and just be in a warm, tropical paradise away from it all... KEY WEST is for you!

I have many more places I can suggest and photos to post...feel free to contact me. But for now...have a blast and explore America's own little tropical paradise... We love Key West!
(NOTE: See my post also on TripAdvisor.com)