By Larry Olmsted

When we had to vacate my New England home earlier this year due to water damage and repairs, my wife and I and our two golden retrievers packed up and drove to Provincetown, on the northernmost tip of Cape Cod. We chose it because the town is famously dog-friendly, not only the most welcoming on the Cape but according to Dog Fancy magazine, the most dog-friendly town in all America.

But this is just one of the appeals that have kept it one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Northeast for many years, and Provincetown’s touristic specialty has long been a sense of welcoming. This has also made it one of the most popular places in the entire nation for LGBTQ+ travelers. That’s the case all year-round but especially during the annual weeklong mid-August Carnival, one of the nation’s premier such celebrations.

Provincetown is also very family-friendly with its endless beaches and natural attractions, it is one of the top culinary destinations on the Cape, and has a long art tradition, full of galleries and the impressive Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM), much more extensive than you would expect to find in a town this size. The arts and culture extend to a thriving theater, music and cabaret scene as well … continue reading

Award-winning travel journalist Larry Olmsted is the author of “Real Food, Fake Food.” He is a Contributing Editor to US Airways Magazine and Cigar Aficionado Magazine and “The Great Life” columnist for Forbes.com. His newest book is“Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happer, Healthier, and More Understanding.”