While autumn has a firm grasp on us now, a few short weeks ago we were still riding our bikes in shorts and t-shirts. Many of the coastal towns of New England have wonderful bike routes along their beaches, boardwalks, and historic pathways. During our last glimpse of summer I grabbed my Montague bike and took a trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts, a vibrant town at the very tip of the Cape Cod peninsula.
The weather was beautiful, so we took the Ferry to Provincetown to avoid the inevitable weekend traffic (if you’re familiar with the route from Boston to the Cape, you already know the struggle). We managed the whole trip with our bikes, not needing a car at all.
Our Cape Cod getaway started in Cambridge. The ride to the Boston Harbor took us along the beautiful Charles River, and after a short breakfast stop in downtown, we continued riding to the wharf where the Ferry was waiting for our arrival.
90 Minutes later, we found ourselves standing in Provincetown. The Harbor is just footsteps away from the city center and so we walked with our bikes for a few minutes to get an overview over the city. Originally a fishing community dating back to the earliest colonial settlements in New England, Provincetown is now a vacation destination full of quaint boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and lots of friendly and interesting people.
We weren’t sure where to ride our bikes first, so we visited a local bike shop whose manager pointed us to a nice route around the town and along the local beaches. Although we didn’t come to him as customers, he spent a considerable amount of time handing us different maps and showing us various trails. Another great example of the helpfulness among the cycling community!
If you are ever thinking of visiting Provincetown, I highly recommend you bring your bike! The area is packed with gorgeous trails and paths right along the beach. With all the sights we didn’t pay much attention to where we were going, which is probably why we found ourselves riding through such diverse areas. We rode hills and flat roads, through wooded areas, and along huge sand dunes. One moment we were riding in the forest and the next we found ourselves right next to the ocean. An absolutely stunning route and a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Whenever we got tired, we just stopped at the next beach, sprawled out on the sand and took a break. Life behind bars is tough…
Finally, after a long day of riding, we went for a stroll in the city and finished our day with some well deserved drinks and delicious food before heading back back home. It was about 7:30pm when we folded our bikes and took the Ferry back to Boston, enjoying a beautiful sunset while we slowly left the coast.
