Crow's Nest Resort

The Crow’s Nest Resort occupies a long, Cape Cod style building that sits among the tall grasses between the beach and the 6A road among other small hotels. The building itself features gray cedar shingles and white trim. All rooms face the ocean, and upper rooms sit along an open-air hallway, while lower rooms are situated along a long patio studded in white Adirondack chairs and surrounded by sand. The private beach is just beyond this area. There’s no real lobby, just a small room with a long wood reception desk filled with all sorts of area brochures. There are few extra on-site property features other than the private beach, and little in the way of activity nearby (though Provincetown is only a seven-minute drive from the hotel). But with spacious rooms that feature full kitchenettes, beach-themed decor, and ocean views, this is the perfect place for families and couples looking for peaceful beachside relaxation.

If Cape Cod’s a flexed arm, the Crow’s Nest Resort sits at the wrist, in the quiet Outer Cape town of North Truro. Just off 6A, the hotel is located on a thin strip of land between the East Harbor and Cape Cod Bay. The property itself is beachfront, sitting on the quiet shores of Cape Cod Bay with beautiful views of Cape Cod’s arm twisting into Provincetown. The hotel is far away from most of area’s major sights except for Provincetown, which is only a seven-minute drive from the hotel. (Wellfleet is 20 minutes away.) The Provincetown Municipal Airport is 12 minutes away, while Boston Logan International Airport can take two and a half to three hours by car, depending on the traffic.

Rooms at the Crow’s Nest Resort vary in size and decor, but all are apartment-style with fully equipped kitchens, light, beachy decor that’s neutral yet homey, and, most important, beachfront views -- every room on-site has an unobstructed view of the water. Apartments come in the form of studios, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom units. There's also one three-bedroom unit available; the Captain’s Suite is a 1,650 square foot space with nice extras including fireplaces, a private balcony, and vaulted ceilings.It’s a toss-up whether a bottom or top floor room is a better bet for guests -- bottom floor rooms open up onto a long, boardwalk-type patio, with stairs down to the private beach, while upper rooms offer an even broader view of the ocean. All rooms have been soundproofed for a quiet night's sleep.The decor varies from room to room, but it’s all very reflective of Cape Cod with white wood furniture and headboards, pastel-colored walls, wicker accents, beach-themed wall art, and wood floors. The bedspreads and other fabrics are floral, quilted, and plaid; while some guests might think this style is dated, they don't show signs of wear and tear and feel more classic Cape Cod than out of date.Kitchens have tiled floors and brown wood cabinets, and bathrooms are similarly neutral with white fixtures, a brown wood vanity, a tiled floor, and a roomy shower/tub combo; some rooms have a whirlpool tub and separate walk-in shower. The style is not overly luxurious, but the premises are clean, uncluttered, functional, and spacious. All rooms have air-conditioning, gas fireplaces, free Wi-Fi, cable TVs with HBO and DVD players, and combination washers and dryers. Some guests complain about a long wash/dry cycle, while others say the Wi-Fi is slow. Bathrooms come equipped with individual Ecossential Elements toiletries, irons and ironing boards, and hairdryers.Each kitchen contains a dishwasher, a blender, a microwave, an oven with four burners, a coffeemaker, a toaster, and a full fridge. Kitchens are finished with pots and pans, utensils, plates, glasses, and dishwashing and washing machine liquids. All units are provided with bedding, sheets, and bath towels, but guests should bring their own beach towels and folding chairs, paper products (such as paper towels and napkins), and scouring sponges for pans. Housekeeping cleans rooms daily.

This hotel has few on-site features, which guests find completely acceptable for a beachfront property with apartment-style rooms with full kitchens. The main common areas include the outdoor boardwalk-style patio, which is surrounded by sand and has Adirondack chairs for guests, and the beach, which is just down a small set of stairs down from the patio. The beach is beautiful -- long and flat, quite tiny at high tide but spacious at low tide, with wonderful views of the Cape’s curving arm and Provincetown. Since the beach is private, it’s much quieter than the typically packed public Cape Cod beaches. Management is available on-site 24-hours a day, and housekeeping cleans daily. Wi-Fi is free throughout, though it can be slow at times.