Shawme-Crowell is the best place for no-hassle weekend on the Cape: by avoiding traffic on the single lanes of Route 6 further down the road and the long drive up to Provincetown, you can spend less time in the car and more time outside.

Though the campground is in a forest, you are not far from the Cape Cod Bay and the air can turn quite salty depending on where the wind comes from.

Naturally, Shawme-Crowell is the best starting point for a ride on the bike path along the Cape Cod canal, which can be reached in Sandwich, a mile or so away from the campground. Other outdoor destinations nearby include the long beach of Sandy Neck, a few miles east on Route 6A, and the West Barnstable Conservation area, accessible through the service road alongside Route 6 from exit 3. The campground itself also features several trails in the forest. Combining several of these options over a full weekend is guaranteed to energize you for the next five days of work.

Depending on their location in the campground, sites vary from medium-sized to outright large, especially in the Area 1 - in some cases you are unlikely to even see your neighbors through the trees. Though Route 6 is not far, traffic noise is not a nuisance (unless your site is in the southern part of the Area 2, where you are closer to the road), and the staff is generally friendly and helpful.

A final advantage is that Shawme-Crowell is much less known than Nickerson State Park: even if you have not made a reservation, and if you can arrive early, you can probably land one of the first-come, first-served sites. Call a few hours in advance (508-888-0351) and check the occupancy with the staff.

You can make an advance reservation for the campground by calling 1-877-422-6762 or by visiting www.reserveamerica.com ReserveAmerica charges a $9.25 booking fee, and can process only stays of two nights or more.

Contact Information: Shawme-Crowell State Forest, P.O Box 621, Sandwich MA 02563, (508) 888-0351