The Crown & Anchor

"What were your first impressions when you arrived?This grande dame of Commercial Street is an oldie but goodie. It's impossible to miss the columns and porticos outside, and even more impossible to miss the drag queens you'll find lingering around the property. What’s the crowd like?There's certainly a strong LGBT contingent—this is a gay institution, after all—but all are welcome here. What should we be drinking?Potent, cheap pours. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.There's a restaurant and bar menu here, but you'd be better served by enjoying a couple of drinks by the pool and grabbing lunch elsewhere. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?Extraordinarily warm and welcoming. Most of the bar staff has worked here for years—they're a wonderful resource to ply for local tips and insider info. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?In the early afternoon, grab a spot by the pool and enjoy a few drinks under the sun. Later in the day, cash in on one of the happy hour specials and sing along to the live piano music before catching the last ferry back to Boston."

"Yes, it’s in a beautiful historic home, and the rooms are clean, quiet, and quintessentially New England, but people don’t stay here for luxury. They stay here for the location: Most rooms offer views of the water, and the premises is smack-dab in the middle of the action on Commercial Street, literally steps to the Boatslip, where Provincetown’s most popular tea dance takes place."

"As if summering in Cape Cod wasn’t enticing enough, Chatham Bars Inn will be extra exciting for any science and wildlife enthusiasts in your group. The Cape is known for its great white sharks, and there’s no better way to play citizen scientist than out in the field, gaining a better understanding of these majestic creatures. Book a charter with Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, as seen on Shark Week with biologist Greg Skomal, and choose a one-hour receiver excursion (from $50 per person) or go big with a private expedition for up to six passengers (from $2,500). Guests will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assist the AWSC with its tracking and tagging of great whites. Back at Chatham Bars Inn, meanwhile, landlubbers can indulge in a private beach stroll just steps from shingle-style oceanside cottages, clambakes at the Beach House Grill, whale watching and lobstering, and jaunts into nearby Provincetown. Book now: Cottages from $585 per night; skylark.com" - Nina Kokotas Hahn

"This grande dame of Commercial Street is an oldie but goodie. It's impossible to miss the columns and porticos outside, and even more impossible to miss the drag queens lingering around the property. There's a full restaurant and bar menu here, but you would be better served by enjoying a couple of drinks by the pool or happy hour specials—later in the day, you can sing along to the live piano music before catching the last ferry back to Boston. Extraordinarily warm and welcoming, most of the bar staff has worked here for years—they're a wonderful resource to ply for local tips and insider info." - Todd Plummer