National Seashore:
Most of Truro is comprised of the National Seashore. This federal park extends beyond Truro in both directions. Over 4,300 in acres, it has miles and miles of hiking trails, dirt roads and amazing sand dunes up to 100 feet tall overlooking pristine beaches. There is an entry trail just down the road from the house.
Take a hike (or short drive) up to the 'abandoned' Truro Air Force Station, with its 'ghost town' feel in the neighborhood of deserted officer housing, overgrown baseball field, rusty playground, etc. Take the short and easy walk to the 100 foot sand dune over looking the ocean. It's an amazing place that everyone enjoys seeing.
The trails can also be used to access many of the beaches, although most our guests prefer to get a weekly town beach permit and drive the short distance to each beach. Get another permit to have an evening bonfire on the beach (firewood available at the house)
Bayside beaches:
The susnet picture on the main page of our listing is looking across the bay. On a clear day or crisp night you can see clear across Cape Cod Bay to Plymouth and the Sagamore Bridge! Where the distant hill in that photo 'dips' is the 'hollow' in 'Great Hollow Beach', less than a 2-mile walk (or very short drive). A great place to go to picnic while watching the sunset. Just as close in the other direction are the beaches on the ocean-side...Long Nook, Coast Guard, Head of the Meadow, all with 60 to 100 ft. sand dunes. The skies at dusk and dawn are usually fused with awesome light and color...the stuff that has drawn artists to the outer cape for generations. Last season we saw nearly 70 seals basking on a sandbar in the early morning.
Just down the road from the house is a local farm market, a fresh seafood store, and a new place with home-made ice cream, stone-fired pizzas, great coffees (espresso, etc.) and free wi-fi (although our house has that, too.)
Equidistant between Provincetown and Wellfleet:
Both Wellfleet and Provincetown are about the same distance from the house...about 10 minutes (or less) by car. Wellfleet is less rural than Truro, with a small downtown and some great family seafood restaurants.
Provincetown is where the days and nights are alive with throngs of visitors and locals. There are many shops and excellent restaurants, a very active theatre community, rentals for boats, kyaks and bikes. The art gallery scene in 'P'town' goes back generations and the studios are well known throughout the art world. Several venues have live music of different types. And, of course, there are the famous dance clubs and other bars.
For kids, there are whale watches, fishing, and the trip up Pilgrim Monument, the tallest granite structure in America. Dedicated by T.R. Roosevelt, this year it's 102 years old. There's the Trolley tour, the Provincetown Ghost Tour, the famous Whale Watch cruises (if you haven't done that before you should do it!)
Golf:
Truro Public Golf Course nearby. Great ocean views, a fun course near the Truro Lighthouse.
Other Activities:
Winter cross country skiing on National Seashore Trails. Near art galleries, shops, restaurants, museums, theaters and galleries of P'town.
