Urban getaways don't have to break the bank

I love my city, don't get me wrong, but even as a day trip from the suburbs with a couple of kids and teens, Chicago requires beaucoups bucks for museums, cabs, food and extra fun. When you yearn for an urban vacation with appealing activities for the whole family, consider some of these affordable options.

Teenagers especially will adore a visit to indie rock haven Portland, Ore., a town blessed with a pleasant climate and a smart light-rail transportation system. Portland was named North America's Best Big City by Money magazine, and Outside magazine called it one of the 10 Greatest Places to Live, in no small part because of its open spaces, forward-thinking vibe, hip dining spots, shops and clubs.

See if there are any all-ages shows taking place at the Crystal Ballroom where local acts, such as the Shins and Modest Mouse, come home to play. Your emo guys and girls will while away an hour or two at legendary Jackpot Records and indie bookstore Powell's before ordering a vegan pastry or tofu scramble at any of the area's popular diners and coffee shops.

If you have younger hipsters in tow, consider getting a Portland Attractions Pass ($35 for an adult pass and $29 for ages 5-18) to visit the city's top 10 attractions for a fraction of the combined regular price. Some of the venues on the pass include End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (interactive exhibits and living-history interpreters); Oregon Museum of Science and Industry; Oregon Zoo; Portland Children's Museum; and the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, where you'll learn about forests and trees in the Pacific Northwest and around the globe.

See them all via the 44-mile light-rail system that connects downtown, the airport, parks and museums for around $2 for adults and $1.35 for kids.

Accommodations range from the uber-cool Ace Hotel (www.acehotel.com/Portland) to very affordable chain hotel outposts. For details on special packages, events and more, go to www.travelportland.com or call (877) 678-5263.

The Orioles play through September at Baltimore's Camden Yards and you can treat your favorite kid to a ball game for as little as $8 at what some call America's best-looking ballpark.

This major U.S. seaport city in Maryland has spiffed up its image, downtown and neighborhoods and there are boatloads of activities for families. See the views from the tallest pentagonal building on the planet, Baltimore's World Trade Center, then right across the promenade visit the impressive National Aquarium (www.aqua.org) and finish up with a stroll and a bite to eat at Haborplace, a festival marketplace with eateries and shops dockside.

Get a living-history lesson at Fort McHenry, the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner." Catch a walking tour, cruise and tour boats, trolley tour or ride the Ducks of Baltimore. Admission to both the Walters Museum of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art is always free.

Stay at the Courtyard by Marriott, one block from the waterfront and bordering Little Italy, starting from an easy $80 (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bwidt-courtyard-baltimore-downtown-inner-harbor).

Any speed demons in your pit crew? Consider Charlotte, N.C., where racing season runs April to November at Lowe's Motor Speedway (www.lowesmotorspeedway.com). The state-of-the-art venue hosts more than 350 events a year, so you're sure to catch one on your trip. Charlotte is a sports fan's dream with the NBA Charlotte Bobcats and NFL Carolina Panthers; opportunities to reach your personal best at the U.S. National Whitewater Center (www.usnwc.org); and museums galore, such as the Hendrick Motorsports Museum (www.hendrickmotorsports.com).

Other good family stops include a visit to Discovery Place, one of the top interactive science museums in the nation, and ImaginOn, a facility with exhibits on stage craft, storytelling, a colossal dollhouse and more (www.imaginon.org).

Although Charlotte is a big city, it exudes a certain Southern charm and hospitality that, perhaps, your family will bring back home. More good news? The official travel resource for Charlotte, www.visitcharlotte.com, reports that rates at Charlotte-area hotels trail the U.S. average by about 20 percent. Speed over to the Web site or call (800) 722-1994.