Cape Cod is a beach destination, and the Salt House Inn - which has been listed on Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List - is a quintessential beach hotel. The design is light and airy, the rooms are breezy, and the hospitality is chilled out. Gay-owned, it has plenty of New England atmosphere but is mixed with the sophisticated urban details veteran travelers have come to expect.

You can breakfast for free at Salt House, but if you want to get a better sense of the neighborhood, head over to Fanizzi's for brunch. A hit with locals and tourists alike, Fanizzi's is old school in a good way. The buffet brunch is enormous and fresh and has plenty of seafood touches to remind you where you are - if the sweeping bay views aren't enough.

Just down the block from Fanizzi's is Pilgrim Monument, a good way to burn off some of the calories you just consumed. The walk up this 252-foot stone tower takes about 15 minutes, but with a mix of ramps and stairs it's doable for most. The view from the top is phenomenal, and you'll see why this is perhaps the most important tourist site in town.

Now that you've got the lay of the land, rent a bicycle from Ptown Bikes, one of the most reliable cycling centers in town. You're headed on the road to Wellfleet, which is about an hour and a half away on two wheels. But don't despair if you get tired - a bicycle shuttle runs between the two towns, so you can hop on at several stops along the way.

Arrive back in Provincetown in the late afternoon, the ideal time for some whale watching. This is a very popular pastime, so you'll want to be sure to book in advance, and be ready to see dolphins and whales of many types up close and personal, with a side of education and appreciation. The fleet's boats are large, comfortable and heated, with full bars serving snacks and cocktails.

Wind down the day with dinner and drinks at The Lobster Pot, a Provincetown institution. Smack in the center of town, it's become something of a landmark over the years, easily identifiable by the long lines of people waiting to get in. The atmosphere is high-energy and talkative, and if you can get a seat on the upper deck, you're in for a whale of a sunset.