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Going Local

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Joel Meyerowitz, photographer

A native New Yorker, Meyerowitz has been coming to Cape Cod and documenting its landscapes for 32 years. Here, his take on the best natural adventures:

Walking on White Cedar Swamp trail

“One of the most magical places is at Marconi Beach, near Wellfleet. A raised platform wends its way through an amazing light-dappled swamp.”

Swimming in the Kettle Ponds

“Secret springs left over from the Ice Age are hidden deep in the Wellfleet and Truro woods. The water is exquisitely clear and silky. My favorites: Long Pond, Gull Pond, and the unvisited Spectacle Pond.”

Taking a Ferry to the Tip of Cape Cod

“Flyer’s Boat Shop & Rental, in Provincetown, runs a funky service out to the wild, sandy spit where the Atlantic and the bay meet. You can really get away from it all.”

John Waters, filmmaker and photographer

The man behind Hairspray and Cry-Baby hitchhiked to Provincetown 44 years ago and has returned every summer since to ride his Pee-Wee Herman–style bike around town and retrace his favorite steps:

Shopping in P-Town

“I used to run the Provincetown Bookshop when I was young. It’s seriously good—I got my literary chops there. Map sells clothes and gifts, and has guest DJ’s like the writer Michael Cunningham. Relish is a high-end but cool bakery and sandwich shop. The name of it makes me laugh out loud.”

Heading to the Beaches in Truro

“Longnook Beach is the most beautiful beach, with this giant cliff. It looks like the credits to soap operas. It has real waves. Parking is nearly impossible, so I hitchhike there. I also just like hitchhiking. I have an old, handwritten sign that says Longnook on one side and Provincetown on the other. I get a ride in a second.”

Drinking in the Scenery

“I love minorities, so I only go to straight bars, like the Old Colony Tap, a fisherman’s hangout. I like to sit and watch the townies drink. If you’re an exhibitionist you can sit in the window and be seen by passersby.”

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