Dunes 101

The weather's been really good to us this winter here at Land's End. We've had more sunny days than ever before and little rain and snow. If you love the outdoors like I do, a walk at the sand dunes can be a real delight, both in season and off-season. 

Wanderer over a Sea of Sand

My friend and I parked the car at Snail Road and started climbing that first big dune, which can be discouraging to some. Once at the top we knew the effort was worthwhile.  

Where the Sands meet the Skies

The magical scenery, which consisted of natural vegetation, turquoise skies, golden sands and solitary dune shacks was breathtaking and gave us a feeling of awe, perfection and accomplishment. 

Vegetation at the Dunes

It's only a one-hour walk to where the sands meet the ocean and back, but the experience is priceless. The hike is great exercise and you're surrounded by fresh air and Mother Nature at its best. 

Converging footsteps

I strongly recommend it when it's nice and sunny. 
Good hike!   

Mid-October Sunset Dune Tour

by Radu Luca

video credit: Radu Luca

photo credit: Janet Jorgulesco

    
 

 “You gotta have Art’s” is their motto and right they are...

No visit to Provincetown is complete without a dune tour. I’ve been a Provincetown resident for a while now, but I’ve never been on one...until yesterday. And what a treat that was! We booked a sunset trip and we were lucky to have great weather and clear skies.


Abby and Paul, who have been living in Provincetown “for ever” as they said, were our drivers. Their knowledge on the history, geography, and pretty much every aspect involving the dunes, never ceased to amaze me.


En route we learned interesting facts about some of the famous dune shacks, symbols of sought solitude and romantic or creative getaways, picked delicious wild cranberries from a bog and witnessed an epic sunset.


The serene scenery is breathtaking and it seems to be untouched by the years that have gone by. Unsurprisingly, the decor consisting of wild vegetation, sand dunes, divine light and archaic dune shacks built with driftwood from the “graveyard” of the Atlantic ocean, which Peaked Hill used to be, was a motor of inspiration for great artists such as Harry Kemp and Eugene O’Neill.

Art’s Dune Tours have been in business since 1946, ever since Art Costa, “The King of the Dunes” started his beach taxi business. Now, over 60 years later, Rob Costa, his son, is managing the family business.


Art’s run daily dune tours mid-May through mid-November, Race Point Lighthouse tours, and private charters for special events. Clambakes, where passengers can choose from a variety of menu items, are available on request.