Trips Keep Gas Costs Low and Stress Lower

July 18, 2008— -- For urbanites and suburbanites aching to escape busy, car-choked streets, affordable relaxation is less than a tank of gas away.

Skim your toes across a lake's surface, hike in dense forests or watch the sun set over majestic mountains in these picturesque summer destinations, all less than three hours away from major U.S. cities.

Escape: Annapolis, Md.

Distance: Approximately an hour

Annapolis provides a welcome respite from urban D.C. area with shops, theaters and bayside vistas. Aside from its charming brick-lined streets and burgeoning boutique scene, Annapolis is home to the U.S. Naval Academy and overlooks Chesapeake Bay. A drive to Annapolis can be an ideal day trip or weekend escape, said Sherri Dalphonse, senior travel editor for Washingtonian magazine.

"It's an especially good place to visit if you want to just get out in the water," Dalphonse said. "There are several good restaurants where you can get a crab cake and there's a lot of good shopping and history. You can stroll through the Naval Academy and the town itself is quaint, interesting to walk through, so it's got a bit of everything."

Dalphonse's favorite stops in Annapolis? Eatery McGarvey's and jewelry store, Lilac Bijoux.

Escape: South Haven, Mich.

Distance: Approximately three-and-a-half hours

South Haven is the perfect escape from Detroit's hustle and bustle. Situated on the Lake Michigan shoreline, the town has plenty of maritime activity, shopping and outdoor fun. South Haven features a wide range of bed and breakfasts, cottages and hotels for every type of traveler. Visitors can take out a jet ski, attend a wine tasting or go horseback riding.

"It's a pretty town with fantastic beaches, a lighthouse, good shopping for arts and gifts, and it's reasonably priced," said Detroit Free Press travel writer Ellen Creager. "Plus, it's the blueberry capital of Michigan, so you can pick your own on a farm or visit a farm market."

Escape: Landgrove, Vt.

Distance: About three hours

Landgrove's small population — 144 according to the last census — doesn't detract from its appeal for city-weary Bostonians. The Boston Globe describes the village's Landgrove Inn as a true "old-fashioned inn" built into a 19th century farmhouse, with nooks and crannies to boot. Vermont's Green Mountains provide a serene backdrop for visitors to take in nature. Visitors to the inn can swim, play tennis or explore the town's winding, unpaved roads.