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Relish
7 reviews
Provincetown, MA
Category: Bakeries
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Herring Cove Beach
15 reviewsProvincetown, MA
Category: Beaches
Race Point Beach
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18 reviews for Race Point Beach
This beach gave me a view of the Atlantic I'd never had other places on the east coast. It's really amazing. Remember it's the Atlantic and you're in Massachusetts - it's going to be chilly water! But it feels good on a really hot day.
We saw seals swimming a distance from shore, and the beach was not crowded at all considering it was 92 degrees (an anomaly for this part of the cape).
And it's easy to get to. You can drive, but it's really easy to bike to it from Provincetown (or elsewhere on the cape, I suppose).
A lot of grassy dunes that corrosion is obvious where visible. Fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as Cape Cod itself due to its location. Personally, Provincetown is where one can easily find same-sex couples which this beach invites all.
Provincetown Theatre Company is nearby this beach.
Considering Cape Cod's global reputation for being a seaside vacation paradise, most of the beaches aren't much to write home about. But Race Point Beach is idyllic, with minimal seaweed, small waves, clearwater, and, well, not as many rocks as other beaches. And if it's hot enough, the 65 degree water can be crisp and refreshing.
Don't be afraid if you look out on the water and see creatures swimming by. We saw 4-5 seals not 50 feet from the shore.
The facilities are okay... there are outdoor showers and indoor changing rooms. No vending machines, which is good because there's also no trash and liter.
If you ride your bike, you don't have to pay for parking.
I absolutely loved this beach. You can drive right to it (or park by the visitor's center and walk) and it is gorgeous sand stretching out forever. Next time I might rent a bike to explore the park more -- there is a bike trail that looks fun!
Great beach. Not overly powerful waves (at least not when I've been there). A nice smooth sand beach for laying down.
Restrooms, showers and rinse off area. Good amount of parking.
Definitely a beach to try if u just want to kick back and relax.
Beaches are never what I expect them to be. Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, naturally my family would travel to New Jersey during the summer. We'd always go to Wildwood and the beach there is dumpy, full of condoms, syringes, and cheap spring breakers. And the beaches were always crowded with tons of shitty music, tanned PA'ers, NJ'ers and NY'ers. There'd be kids running around tripping on you. People would walk around asking if you wanted to buy ice cream. Small planes would fly overhead with ads for happy hour at some local bar. Lifeguards would yell at everyone for having fun. That's kind of what I thought all beaches were like.
But after our bike ride, we arrived here and it was nothing like Wildwood which isn't a bad or good thing. It's just a thing.
It looks like a postcard when you walk toward the beach and it's so quiet. There were only a few people scattered about and hardly anyone was in the water because it was ridiculously cold. This has got to be one of the most relaxing beaches I've been to. The only problem is that there should be a vending machine cause I was hella parched!
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My favorite beach in provincetown, no rocks and soft sand. You can drive there and park or ride in on your bike and park it at the fences. The water is quite warm and the location is great for sunsets.
It is more family oriented than the other beaches.
One of the best beaches on the east coast. Race point has a wild feel to it as it is not part of a protected cove.
Big dunes, big surf and cold water.
I love the bike trails that lead out to the beach.
The only place on the east coast to watch the sun set over the ocean towards the West.
Amazingly breath taking.
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Having now been to both Race Point and Herring Cove beaches, I simply must agree with and quote Author Michael Cunningham in "Land's End" where he writes: "The beach at Race Point is, to my mind, superior to the one at Herring Cove, and I who enjoy a beach full of gay men, have often wished my brothers had elected to colonize Race Point instead."
I as well found this beach is spectacularly beautiful with its grassy dunes cascading down to it's pristine wind blown sand and clear blue waters. It was an especially welcome sight after biking through the Province Lands trails on a summer day to get there!
[Cunningham, Michael. "Land's End". New York: Crowne Publishers, 2002. 51]
I like this beach a lot. It's big, clean and has good water. not much in big waves, but you can swim your ass off!
Life guard, clean bathroom and lots of parking!
You can also bike here from downtown, there are bike paths through the dunes and you feel like you are on the moon! it's cool.
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Race Point Beach is an amazing beach. It's big and clean and not at all crowded. My husband and I came here twice on our Cape vacation, and loved every minute that we spent swimming in the refreshing water and basking in the sun.
There are some great paved bike trails through the dunes and wooded areas near the beach, also extending to Herring Cove Beach. It's a great place for a brisk bike ride, followed by a picnic lunch and a dip in the Atlantic!
If you're not biking, there's a fee to park your car (around $10, I forget) but it's well worth it. I've always been a huge fan of Coast Guard Beach, but Race Point may just be my new favorite on the Cape (although the surfing is way better at Coast Guard!!!)
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Came here for the first time last July, GORGEOUS beach! Love that is wide open, so your not stuck cramped in a little square of sand between a thousand people and kiddies kicking sand on you. The views were were breath taking of the Atlantic , and we even saw some seals bobbing their heads along the shoreline and a whale breached in the distance. Didn't find it too conducive for swimming because the water was freezing! (as to be expected since it's on the ocean side of the cape and not the protected cape cod bay). So excited to go back this summer!
Great beach, as other reviewers mentioned. Water doesn't get as warm on this side of the cape, not great for swimming (at least not for long).
Sand dunes here are really nice and peaceful. Last time we were out here we had a sea lion playing peek-a-boo in and out of the waves with the kids for over an hour.
Nice paved (although sandy) bike trail, big parking area. Access to drive onto the sand if you want (don't sink).
Very close to Provincetown, another interesting place to visit. Perhaps I'll review P-town another time.
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One of the best beaches in the northeast. Hot sun (summer only lol) cold water, good surf and rarely crowded. You can walk for days. Excellent sunsets over water. Hard to find in the east. Bike trails nearby, small airport, coast guard, nature walks, discovery center down the road, etc.
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You haven't seen a sunset until you've seen one from Race Point Beach. Best night ever? Watching a romantic sunset (awwww) followed by a bonfire (get a permit) with a group of friends. It's cheaper than a night at the Vixen or the A-House and even more fun, cuz you don't have to deal with all the sketchy mcsketchersons.
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The view from here is superb, and there is a lot of parking. A wonderful place to watch the sun set. The last time I was here, someone in a truck was on his break from work, and he attempted to toss a one-hitter into my car after he asked us when the last time the "pine pigs" drove by was. This is the greatest beach to ride your bike to, too.
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Too bad it's April in New England (Not quite beach weather). If it was July, this would be the place to be.
Big plus, excellent whale watching right from the beach. We saw at least 5 whales.
One more note: if you are thinking about walking to the lighthouse down the beach, it is quite a hike.
Gorgoeus beach. Perfect for biking too. Great view in the evening for sunset and perfect for sunbathing during the day. The water was cold. Too cold for us so we didn't go in. But, we saw 3 seals swimming by. Really cool!
