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5 Cities only a day away from Long Island

They’re close, they’re green, they’re on the water, they have fine dining - and the rest is history

BY MALERIE YOLEN-COHEN | Special to Newsday

June 8, 2008

DePasquale Plaza in Providence's Little Italy on Federal Hill (Providence Warwick CVB Photo / June 6, 2008)

When you have to take out a loan just to fill up your car with gas (and in so doing increase your carbon footprint), it's time to think local when considering summer travel plans.

The good news is you don't have to journey far to get a taste of the exotic, whiff bracing sea air, delve into our nation's history, dine at cutting-edge restaurants and take advantage of unbelievable hotel packages. Portland, Providence, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore are rolling out the green carpet - with lots of environmentally and budget-friendly offerings this summer that are sure to satisfy even the most jaded world traveler.

Who needs a guilt trip when you can travel happy?

BALTIMORE

Indefatigable urban planners have turned decrepit waterfront properties into world-class museums, hotels and restaurants, and, like a stone thrown into a pond, this achievement is radiating outward into areas heretofore uninhabitable.

Things to do

It all began with the Inner Harbor - where the National Aquarium (aqua.org), Maryland Science Center (mdsci.org), Baltimore Public Works Museum (ci.baltimore.md .us), Baltimore Maritime Museum (baltomaritimemuseum.org) and shops and restaurants draw year-round tourists like ants to a picnic.

Now, multimillion dollar condos are rising from formerly crumbling harbor piers. On any given day, paddle boats splash in the shadows of gleaming buildings, the Harbor Water Taxi (thewatertaxi.com; all-day access $9 adults, $4 kids) ferries visitors to 17 access points.

Perhaps the daffiest sailing vessel to come to the Baltimore waterfront this year is the 49-passenger Fearless - a "pirate ship" complete with water cannons and a lively costumed crew - that sails out of Fells Point (urbanpirates.us; six one-hour excursions a day; $25 adults, $20 kids). The Baltimore Duck Tour (baltimoreducks.com; $25 adults, $15 kids) still packs 'em in daily on those amphibious vehicles just as home in the water as on land. An added plus - you get to keep those duck-billed shaped quacking whistles guaranteed to annoy parents for years to come.

Eating and shopping

The newest area to see and be seen is Harbor East (harboreast.com) - formerly a warehouse and industrial wasteland. When swanky Marriott Waterfront Hotel (marriott.com, $229 and up) precariously opened in 2001, it started a building boom in the area. Now, shops like Urban Chic (urbanchiconline.com) - an Urban Outfitters for the Carrie Bradshaw set - and Bin 604 (bin604.com), a wine shop that specializes in little-known bargain and collectible wines, have made a home there along with eateries like hipster Pazo (pazorestaurant.com) which serves up tapas and pizzas with pizzazz ($59 for six small plates for two) and Charleston (charlestonrestaurant.com).

For all the newness, Baltimore has its own key place in our nation's history - the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British in the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become our "Star-Spangled Banner. " One of the most uplifting moments of the tour comes after watching a short movie inside the Fort, then singing the national anthem as curtains open to reveal an American flag flying outside. It's worth visiting Baltimore for that moment alone.

BOSTON

Like the proverbial groundhog poking its head from the ground, Boston - with 17 long, dark years of the Big Dig behind it - is now focusing on natural and man-made splendors above the soil.

The city that will be forever linked to America's revolutionary stirrings - tea party, anyone? - is bounding headfirst toward a new revolution.

Things to do

Of course, traditionalists can still savor the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail (thefreedomtrail.org) - a self-guided walking tour that ushers visitors through 16 highlights of the American Revolution - which is celebrating its 50th year with 50 events, including a British Encampment on Boston Common and re-enactments of skirmishes, pirate raids and the Boston Tea Party.

But Boston is clamoring to build modern and gleaming amid the cobblestones of our past. The new focal point in Boston is the sparkling water of the harbor - formerly a cesspool, now a national model for waterfront revival, and the Boston Harbor Walk (bostonharborwalk.com) takes full advantage of the renewed vistas. Extending along the waterfront from Chelsea Creek to the Neponset River through a variety of neighborhoods, this 47-mile walkway is easily reached from hotels and features restaurants and museums.

Boston is so proud of its waterfront, the city provides benches and Adirondack chairs specifically for setting a spell to gaze out at the harbor; downtown Lewis Wharf (upon which a secret garden has been planted), Sergeant's Wharf and Long Wharf all have amenities for this "take time to smell the roses" endeavor.

If merely gazing at the harbor doesn't float your boat, hop aboard one. Fast ferry service takes you to various Boston landings and out to the Boston Harbor Islands (bostonislands.com, $14 adults), lighthouse lovers can view their beloved saltshakers on a 5-hour Lighthouse Tour (bostonislands.com, $55) and the new, exhilarating 2,800 horsepower Codzilla (bostonharborcruises.com June-September; $19 adults, $15 kids), sure to get you drenched, zooms five times a day from Long Wharf. Help hoist the sails of a tall ship; the 125-foot Schooner Liberty Clipper (libertyfleet.com; $30 adults, $15 kids) offers three two-hour sails daily. For something completely different, and less frenetic, paddle one of the most scenic sections of urban river in the country with The Charles River Friday Night Kayak and Barbecue (paddleboston.com, $63 includes guide, kayak rental, food and beverages).