Shopping in Ptown

True to its name, the main thoroughfare of Commercial Street is a shopper’s paradise in Provincetown. Unlike other vacation destinations, Provincetown takes pride in avoiding cookie-cutter chain stores in favor of unique, one-of-a-kind boutiques filled with house wares, clothing, handcrafted jewelry, antiques and special souvenirs that will forever remind you of your visit.

For starters, pay a visit to the Human Rights Campaign’s Provincetown Action Center & Store (209-211 Commercial St.; hrc.com/cornerstore), one of only three HRC boutiques in the country. Pick up your Pride paraphernalia and contribute to one of the nation’s leading organizations in the fight for GLBT rights; Massachusetts remains the only US state with legal marriage rights for gay couples, so take home some good karma and a politically minded attitude to match! It’s not the only place to make a political statement; this year, D Flax (214 Commercial St.; dflax.com) is offering a line of “Peace” inspired merchandise: t-shirts, bags and more.

Nor is the HRC Provincetown’s only Washington, DC based import: P-Town Pulp (306-A Commercial St.; pulpdc.com) is your New England location for the Capitol City’s funkiest handmade greeting cards and small gifts. If all the civic-minded shopping has engendered a pinch of Patriotism, bring home a unique souvenir from The Lily Pond (261 Commercial St.; thelilypond.com), which specializes in true blue “Made in the USA” gifts. This boutique is a particular hit with animal lovers for its special focus on hand-painted, ceramic and porcelain statues of dogs, cats, mice, roosters, penguins and – of course! – frogs.

Judging by the name, you might think Silk & Feathers (377 Commercial St.; silkandfeathers.com) was another addition to the menagerie. But the name is a reference to the soft, supple fabrics of this clothiers women’s apparel. The eclectic selection and “mix & match” presentation combines Boho-chic with Madison Ave. designers. Moda Fina (349 Commercial St.; shopmodafina.com) offers a similar outlook on playing playful dress-up, culling its collection of women’s clothes from small, individual designers. Ruthie’s Boutique (14 Center St.; 508-487-3820) is another big hit and proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations.  Gorgeous baubles from R.C. Handcrafted Jewelry (241 Commercial St.; rchandcraftedjewelry.com) are the perfect way to finish up the ensemble. Accessorize, accessorize!

Boys just want to have fun, too, and Body Body (296 Commercial St.; 508-487-9400) has a lock on town’s largest collection of men’s clothing, underwear and accessories. Be sure to visit Board Stiff (286 Commercial St.) for its selection of men’s swim trunks and surfing accessories – including board rentals. Continue to build your outfit by stopping by its sibling stores Sol Optics (230 Commercial St.) and Coconuts (294 Commercial St.) for a cool pair of shades and a waterproof watch. For one stop shopping, you can even visit www.x-wear.com, the online warehouse for all three Provincetown properties.

Even children should don the latest duds, so peek in to Kid Stuff (371 Commercial St.; kidbitsptown.com) for pint-sized apparel. Go Fish (381 Commercial St.; kidbitsptown.com) also serves up tees for tots, carrying the latest in colorful and comfortable Fresh Produce brand clothing for mom.

Of course, those looking to unleash their own inner child will find plenty of shopping options for the young at heart: play with the mind-bending toys at Puzzle Me This (290 Commercial St.; puzzlemethis.com), spoil your appetite next door at Provincetown Fudge Factory  (210 Commercial St.; ptownfudge.com) and spend your afternoon like a kid again, flying kites beach side with the help of Outer Cape Kites (Ryder Street Extension; 508-487-6133). And before you hit the sand, hit Now Voyager Bookstore & Gallery, (357 Commercial St; nowvoyagerbooks.com) and pick up a new beach read .

Spending all this time in the great outdoors might inspire even the brownest of thumbs to have a new appreciation for Mother Nature, so pay a visit to some of Provincetown’s best florists and take home a gorgeous, fragrant souvenir that will last all season long. Wildflower Florist (152A Commercial St.; serenadeflorist.com) and Flowers by Mary (3 Noona Drive, North Truro; provincetownflowersbymary.com) are two local stops that will bundle you a beautiful bouquet.

True to its name, Roots Home & Garden (193 Commercial St.; rootshomeandgarden.com) bridges inner and outer décor with a spectacular array of house wares for square inch of the home and yard. Utilities (393 Commercial St.; utilitieshome.com) is another popular choice for an upscale, contemporary selection of dinnerware, entertaining accessories, rugs, small appliances, bath accoutrements and more. Newly opened Chadington’s of Provincetown (240 Commercial St.; chadingtons.com) , on the other hand, specializes in “uniquities” that marry whimsical flourish with traditional, quality home décor. Monty’s, (350 Commericial Street; montysprovincetown.com), meanwhile, boasts a fine collection of holiday heirlooms; hand painted glass ornaments are a local favorite. With its focus on Art Deco and celebrity memorabilia, Remembrances of Things Past (376 Commercial St.; thingspast.com) is a surefire stop for souvenirs, while Under Glass Custom Framing (371 Commercial St.; 508-487-0670) will help you beauty your art acquisitions with expert craftsmanship.

Undercover (361 Commercial St.; undercoverlinen.com) focuses mainly on the bedroom, supplying soft and supple sheets, blankets and towels for maximum relaxation. But we doubt that relaxing is the only thing you’ll do in bed, so be sure to stop by M.G. Leather of Provincetown (338 Commercial St.; mgleather.com), purveyor of adult toys, bondage wear, and BDSM accessories for leather-lovers. Not to be confused with Hersheldon’s Leather (317 Commercial St.; hersheldons.com), which sells coats, jackets, and other forms of apparel you’d be less embarrassed to model for your mother.

If it’s your first time exploring those aforementioned, fabulous fantasies, a quick detour through Yardarm Liquors (38 Conwell St.; 508-487-0700) or Perry’s Wine & Liquors (1 Tremont St.; perrysptown.com) or Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod (Rte. 6A, N. Truro; trurovineyardsofcapecod.com) will do wonders to set the scene and loosen your mood – within reason, but of course!

Just like the special sense of community that pervades the Provincetown spirit, every purchase you make is bound to be unique. Whether shopping for yourself or someone special, you’ll encounter a festive assembly of truly distinctive options. Leave the ordinary elsewhere, and remember that - as with all things Provincetown - irreplaceable memories always come for free!

See? When we say we’ve got you covered… we mean it.