We%26#39;re taking our 12 year old daughter to the Cape for a week. We%26#39;re debating Provincetown vs Wellfleet. For swimming, biking and 12 year old fun, what do you think? We%26#39;ll have either a condo in the East end or small house a mile from Wellfleet harbor.
Betsy
Provicetow, or Wellfleet?
My choice would be Wellfleet....a much more ';family'; friendly place to bring a 12 year old. A day trip to Provincetown for shopping would be fun and the Visitor%26#39;s center at Provincelands, Art%26#39;s Dune tours www.artsdunetours.com and of course a whalewatch would be fun family activities. The beaches in Wellfleet are wonderful, both on the bay and ocean side and you can square dance on the pier on Wednesday night, Go to the drive-in theater, walk the Wellfleet Wildlife Sanctuary massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/…index.php and perhaps check out the programs offered by the National Seashore. www.nps.gov There is also children%26#39;s theater at the WHAT www.what.org and eating seafood at Mac%26#39;s Seafood on the pier.
Provicetow, or Wellfleet?Wellfleet for all the reasons above. I went to Wellfleet every year as a little girl and loved it. When you get there ask a local about the fresh water ponds (most are part of the National Seashore) because it really is the best swimming on the Cape. Of course the ocean beaches are stunning - ask at the local fire house and they%26#39;ll set you up of a permit to have a fire in the evening (hot dogs on a stick never tasted so good).
I love the harbor too. There is a boat rental at the pier and the harbor really is a great place for beginners to mess around. Jeremy Point is the perfect place to cruise out to with a picnic lunch - it%26#39;s isolated location makes it a shell seekers paradise. Don%26#39;t forget a radio and wear a pair of swim sandals or old sneakers as oyster shells (this is where those famous oysters come from) are as sharp as razors.
Next to the South Wellfleet General store along rt.6 there is a bike rental. Because the bike trails out there are famously beautiful I%26#39;d want to reserve your bikes ahead of time. I can%26#39;t remember the name of that rental place but if you call the chamber of commerce I%26#39;m sure they can get a name and number for you.
P-town is fun for a day trip or two. For sure take a Whale Watch (the Dolphin Feet is by far the best). I%26#39;ve always found the gay community out there to be welcoming to families. There are lots of photos of me as a smiling little girl standing next to a man dressed up like Cher - but overall I think Wellfleet is a much better place for you.
Have fun!
P town has a lot of ';adult'; entertainment, t-shirt slogans, etc. etc. etc. very visible at all hours. I%26#39;d be uncomfortable bringing a 12-year-old girl into the mix.
For a 12 year old girl, especially if she likes outdoor things, Wellfleet is probably best, but if you have a place in the East End of Provincetown, it would be relatively quiet and there would be a lot more to do in the evening so that is something to consider too. Most East End rentals are on the water or within a block of the water so if the beach is important that may favor Ptown. The water in that part of the harbor is very shallow. You can swim at high tide, but at low tide you can walk hundreds of feet from shore with the water just around your ankles. (Our tides average 10-12 feet by the way.) If your daughter is 12, there is nothing in Ptown she hasn%26#39;t already seen, except maybe drag queens who are just a lot of fun, so don%26#39;t let that deter you if choose Ptown over Wellfleet. Even though I recommended Wellfleet for a 12 year old, consider what you want from a vacation too. Wellfleet is very nice and very quiet.
I have to vote for Provincetown. It%26#39;s a vibrant, interesting town...Wellfleet is lovely but almost ghost town like. The day we were there everything was closed and we didn;t see a single person. There%26#39;s much more to Provincetown then adult entertainment and tee-shirt shops. My son was 13 when we were there and he loved it.
Have a great trip!
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