Harbor Shop

Sign up here for more E.S.P. recommendations of things to eat, see and do nearby.

Harbor Hotel Provincetown
698 Commercial St.,
Provincetown, MA 02657
(855) 447-8696
www.harborhotelptown.com

We've got bad news. That raise you were sure you were going to get at the beginning of the summer still hasn't come, and it's highly unlikely that's going to change in the next month. But while your Spanish dream vacation will have to remain just that, and that two-week Nantucket rental you keep verbally committing to may not be in the cards this summer, at least you're lucky enough to live in Boston.

Translation: you're less than two hours away from a bevy of awesome weekend vacation destinations, perhaps none more fun or interesting than Provincetown. The city on the Cape's furthest point (by land), P-Town is at once eccentric and sophisticated, as is the Harbor Hotel Provincetown.

More: Road Trip Provincetown

Roughly a mile from downtown P-Town, the colorful, inviting Harbor Hotel (formerly the Cape Inn) is a waterfront oasis with a clean, vibrant vibe providing a perfect Cape retreat. When you're not off exploring the Cape's beaches, lounge the day away by the pool with some lobster sliders and a frozen margarita. When the sun starts to set, relax with a cold beer by the fire pit or enjoy some live music, pool and great eats inside at the artsy Whaler Lounge.

If you're the type that needs to always be wired –literally and figuratively– you'll be happy to find flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and an all-day coffee bar. With oceanfront views and some pet-friendly rooms, it can be easy to stay put for a while.

More: E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. Boston

But when town eventually beckons, a quick shuttle ride will take you right into the heart of it all. Stop worrying about the European adventure that continues to elude you.

With beaches, great food and a whole cast of quirky characters, P-Town is basically just Barcelona without the jet lag.

By Jesse Husid