Spur of the moment trip to Ptown

Question

My husband and I decided early last week to head to Ptown on Sunday to spend the night.

We left home at approximately 9:30 that morning, made a brief stop at the Plymoth service plaza, and crossed the Sagamore bridge without even tapping the brakes.lots of things in Rte 6 after Orleans were closed for the season, as exoected.

We stopped at Atlantic Spice in Truro and got some goodies.

Next stop our hotel. We chose the Breakwater on 6A because of the location and great rate. We stayed there once over 30 years ago. It was fine then and we exoected it to be fine now. Well … it was MUCH MORE than fine.

Well it changed hands 5 years ago and was totally renovated. The staff super friendly and if we were willing to wait 10-15 minutes for the cleaning staff to finish, we could get into our room although it was not near check in time. We settled into Adirondack Chairs overlooking the Harbor and rhen got into our room.

Next we headed into town. It was busier than expected, but getting free parking was not difficult. Did a bit of retail therapy but I am not much of a shopper so we just hit our favorites: Go Fish (Women’s Clothes), the Penny Patch, Cuffy’s, and Marine Specialties.

We drive through the Provincelands, stopping at Race Point Beach to enjoy the view. We saw a rather large fox in the parking lot.

After a brief stop back at the hotel to freshen up, we went to Jimmy’s Hideaway for dinner. Amazing service and food.

Next day (Veterans’s day) we were expecting rain. Boy were we wrong. Woke up to clouds and by the time we got ready to leave … sun and climbing temps!!!

We had a light breakfast at East End Market. Back to Provincelands. We stopped at Herring Cove beach, got out our chaairs and soaked up the sun for about an hour and a half. We joked that we should have brought swimsuits … then saw a couple in bathing suits enter the water!!!

We headed over to the Beech Forest afterwards. The sun on the bare birch and beech trees was so oretty.

We went back into town. It was not as busy as Sunday. We had lunch at the Lobster Pot on their final day of the season. We got frozen clam chowder and lobster bisque to take home.

By now it was after 2pm so we started a leisurely ride home.

We stopped at Msrconi beach but there is no beach access. The stairs are gone! Not sure of the fell or were removed. Tbey were there in August. We also visited the Telegraph site. Amazing views from there. A quick stop at the visitors center in Eastham and then home to reality…

Answer

It sounds like your spur-of-the-moment trip to Provincetown was a delightful mix of nostalgia, exploration, and relaxation. Here’s a detailed overview of how your weekend unfolded and some tips for future quick trips:

You left home around 9:30 AM and made a brief stop at the Plymouth Service Plaza before crossing the Sagamore Bridge, noticing that the traffic was light and Route 6 past Orleans was mostly closed for the season — as expected in November.

Your first stop for a bit of local flavor was Atlantic Spice in Truro, where you picked up some goodies to enjoy later. Then you arrived at the Breakwater on 6A. Choosing this hotel for its location and rate was a great call, and you were pleasantly surprised to find that the property had been fully renovated in the past five years. The staff was friendly, and despite a short wait for your room, you enjoyed some downtime in Adirondack chairs overlooking the harbor.

Later, you headed into Provincetown proper. The town was busier than anticipated, but finding free parking wasn’t an issue. You opted to hit favorite spots rather than shop extensively:

Go Fish (women’s clothing)
The Penny Patch
Cuffy’s
Marine Specialties

Next, you explored the Provincelands area and stopped at Race Point Beach, where you enjoyed the views and even spotted a large fox. After freshening up at the hotel, you had dinner at Jimmy’s Hideaway, which offered amazing service and food — a highlight for your evening.

On Veterans Day, the weather turned out to be sunnier than expected. You had a light breakfast at East End Market and returned to the Provincelands, stopping at Herring Cove Beach to soak up the sun for an hour and a half. You even joked about missing swimsuits but witnessed a couple taking a dip anyway. Afterward, you explored the Beech Forest, enjoying the sunlit bare birch and beech trees.

Returning to town, which was quieter than Sunday, you had lunch at the Lobster Pot on their last day of the season and purchased frozen clam chowder and lobster bisque to take home. By 2 PM, you started a leisurely drive back, stopping along the way:

Marconi Beach — noted that the stairs to the beach were gone
Telegraph Hill site — enjoyed amazing views
Visitor Center in Eastham — a quick stop before heading home

Overall, your trip combined scenic coastal drives, light hiking, wildlife spotting, shopping, good food, and relaxing time at the beach and forest. It’s a perfect example of how a short, spontaneous trip can provide a mix of active exploration and downtime.

For future spur-of-the-moment trips to Ptown in the off-season, consider:

Booking hotels that have been recently renovated for comfort and reliability.
Visiting outdoor locations early in the day to avoid crowds and make the most of daylight.
Checking which seasonal attractions or restaurants may be closing for the season.
Exploring the Provincelands and nearby beaches for natural beauty and wildlife viewing.
Purchasing take-home treats like clam chowder or lobster bisque from local favorites before they close for the season.

Even with a short overnight trip, your itinerary balanced both relaxation and activity, showing that Provincetown and the surrounding Cape Cod area can be thoroughly enjoyed in a brief visit.