Best damn bicycle trail in Massachusetts
Stretching from Dennis to Wellfleet, the Cape Cod Rail Trail is simply the finest bicycle path in the Bay State. It's a little nippy this time of year, but the crowds are gone, and - at 22 miles- it's a great way to give your legs a workout without having to deal with summer's skateboarders, rollerbladers, strolling couples, runners, etc.

At more than 25 years old, the former railroad bed is showing its age. Narrow and a bit bumpy in spots, it nevertheless attracts a reported 400,000 people annually. There's a $1.1 million rehabilitation project now under way that has created a significant detour on to the public streets in Eastham. You'll also have to thread the needle through the Nickerson State Park section, which is under construction. Another $5 million in state money has been approved to widen and smooth the trail starting next spring.

Still, these are small inconveniences compared with the benefits: a flat, fast path through an interesting area dotted with ponds; a terrific picnicking site at Nickerson; and a pit stop in the town of Orleans. The trail also passes near the Cape Cod National Seashore's Salt Pond Visitors Center and an Audubon Society wildlife sanctuary. Start early enough in the day and you can easily bike the entire trail, make the return trip, and have plenty of time to go out for dinner.

Cape Cod Rail Trail, www.mass.gov/dem/parks/ccrt.htm.