Where to Go in 2022: Why Provincetown Remains an Iconic LGBTQ+ Destination

This story is part of EDGE's "7 Queer Wonders of the World" series, in which we share our top LGBTQ+ travel picks for 2022.

Infused in the salty sea air of Provincetown, Massachusetts is a sense of queer pride that is, simply put, beguiling. The place is synonymous with the LGBTQ+ community, and to stroll its narrow streets is to both soak up queer culture and contribute to it. There are technically just 3,000 residents, but in a sense, every LGBTQ+ person is part of this queer wonder of the world.

Provincetown occupies the northern tip of Cape Cod and is one of America's oldest communities, first visited by the Mayflower Pilgrims in the late 1600s and settled in 1700. But those early settlers, sailors, and fishermen would be shocked at the artistic freedom that took root by the mid-20th century. Queer artists (both overt or covert) like Tennessee Williams, Marsden Hartley, Emma Goldman, and other bachelors and unmarried women found a safe haven to be free in Ptown. By the 1980s, LGBTQ+ roots had grown deep with the start of the annual Women's Week Provincetown, which marked its 37th year in October 2021.

These days, Ptown remains an enduring LGBTQ+ world capital. Queer travelers visit all year round to be a part of the energy and the legacy of what is, at a glance, a charming Massachusetts harbor town – but, in reality, among the fabulously unique destinations in America.

Provincetown Pride, Any Time of Year

Four seasons of festival fun and theme weeks means there's always something sparkly to explore in Provincetown. December brings Holly Folly, one of the country's only LGBTQ+ holiday festivals. Springtime blooms with CabaretFest, whale-watching outings, and of course June's colorful Provincetown Pride.

Come summer, it's time for Girl Splash, Bear Week, Family Week, and August's annual Carnival and parade. Then autumn gives way to Women's Week, FanFair (the original transgender week dating back to 1975), Halloween costumery, and the newest to-do launched in 2021: the Washashore Music & Arts Festival, billed as a "three-day queer arts festival celebrating the everlasting singularity of Provincetown through performance."

A Taste of Ptown

Ptown's Portuguese heritage meets New England seafood on many local menus, including the legendary Crown & Anchor, Napi's, and The Mayflower. The local, beloved Provincetown Brewing Company is its own star, making a line of craft beers, hosting the weekly morning show Wake Up Provincetown, and donating 15% of all profits to LGBTQ+ causes and others through its "Draftivism" program. For the best flavors across town all in one weekend, look ahead to fall 2022's new annual Provincetown Food & Wine Festival.

Seaside Slumber

Lodging options are abundant in Ptown, and many are queer-owned (and -managed). On the luxurious side, 8 Dyer offers just seven adult-only guest rooms.

The charming, historic Inn at Cook Street is priced well, as is Poor Richard's Landing, where you can stay in a wharf cottage on the bay and channel the vibes of early 20th-century artists and writers who once stayed there.

If you'd rather be by the action, The Bradford is a recently renovated hotel near the Boatslip, home to Ptown's legendary daily tea dance (open seasonally).

The Takeaway
For LGBTQ+ travelers, the wonders of Provincetown are an essential part of the American queer experience. It offers heritage and history unlike any other city large or small, with bold rainbow colors ingrained in the local DNA. But on top of that legacy, Ptown is just plain friendly, fun, and fabulous – a place where queer people are a part of the majority and loving every minute of it.