Welcome to Baltimore, Maryland. Or, depending on with whom you’re speaking and what area you are visiting, Baltimore, B’more, or Bawlmore. We have some great things for you to do while you’re here, so sit back, relax, and plan your trip.
If you’re coming for a visit, Baltimore City is the place to be. Check out the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Harborplace and The Gallery (http://www.harborplace.com/html/) offer a plethora of shops and restaurants. Take your pick from 30 different eateries and 17 different restaurants. Then go shopping at stores such as J. Crew or Nine West, or stores that offer local crafts. Be sure to check out the Fudgery where you can witness the secret to making delicious, mouth-watering fudge. Singing, audience participation, and free samples go hand in hand with this experience.
After all that fudge you might want to take a breather. Go for a walk around the harbor, or take a paddle boat or sail boat out for some exercise. You can also visit the National Aquarium (http://www.aqua.org/). It houses over 14,000 animals. Take in the dolphin show, and don’t forget to make your way to the rainforest on the top floor. Meander through this habitat and see firsthand the relationship between the animals and plants. Peer carefully into the trees for a look at some exotic birds, grey-headed flying foxes, laughing kookaburras, and three-foot-long adult frilled lizards.
Next, make your way over to the Maryland Science Center (http://www.mdsci.org/). On your walk over, stop off at Rash Field. It’s a great place to picnic or sunbathe in the summer, and ice skate outdoors in the winter. It’s also a great place to watch Baltimore’s 4th of July fireworks show. When you get to the Science Center, check out the many exciting exhibits. There is a lot for the kids to do. Visit the planetarium, IMAX, and observatory. Check out the Science on a Sphere program (http://www.mdsci.org/shows/scienceonasphere.html) and the many shows on the demonstration stages. Or you may choose to visit Port Discovery (http://www.portdiscovery.org/index.html), a museum just for kids! There are three floors of interactive exhibits for kids from 2-10 years of age.
Experiencing the nightlife is a must in Baltimore, and Power Plant Live (http://www.powerplantlive.com/) is an energetic and exciting place to do just that. Whether you’re into dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon Saloon, club music at Have a Nice Day Café, headliners at the Comedy Factory, a Cuban and Latin vibe at Babalu, or an elegant evening at Havana Club, you will not be disappointed. It’s all available to you in one central location fit with parking garages.
Take a water taxi from the Inner Harbor over to historical Fells Point (http://www.fellspoint.us/). From museums to fishing charters to ghost tours to art galleries, you will surely find something for the whole family to enjoy. Fells Point offers an array of establishments. Definitely visit Max’s Taphouse. They house Maryland’s largest selection of local and imported beer on draft. Not only do they have 72 rotating drafts, but they also have over 300 bottled beers available. From there, take a short cab ride to the Canton area for more drinks at the Irish pubs or martini bars. You’ll find plenty of restaurants there, too, along with some great shops that offer unique goods.
Do you have the art bug? We have plenty of museums in Baltimore. My favorite is the Walter’s Art Museum (www.thewalters.org). Not only is the art on display refreshing, but the building is aesthetically pleasing as well. The Walter’s Art Museum houses pieces from all over the world, ranging from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-century Europe. Head on over to the Baltimore Museum of Art (http://artbma.org/home.html) for a different experience. And if all that art makes you hungry, stop by the BMA’s restaurant, Gertrude’s, for a bite to eat prepared by celebrity chef, John Shileds.
For a different genre, visit the American Visionary Art Museum (http://www.avam.org/index.html). There are six galleries, each focusing on a different exhibition and theme. What is visionary art, you may ask? According to the brilliant visionary minds of those representing the Visionary Art Museum, “visionary art begins by listening to the inner voices of the soul, and often may not even be thought of as ‘art’ by its creator.” Not a visionary? It’s okay. You can just appreciate the visions of the visionaries at the Visionary Art Museum.
While in Baltimore, Maryland, you must feast on the seafood we are known for – crabs. There are plenty of crabhouses around, but check out the crab cakes made by award-winning chef, Mitchell Cooper, at Café Promenade. These are my absolute favorite. This delightful restaurant is housed in the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel at Camden Yards. I don’t know what he does to make them so tasty, but the crab cakes are out of this world!! While you’re in the neighborhood, head over to Camden Yards to catch an Orioles Game.
There are plenty of things to do in Baltimore, Maryland. In fact, there is so much to choose from you should think about adding a few days to your trip…or else plan very, very well! Have fun!!
Address & Contact Information:
Harborplace & The Gallery: 200 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
National Aquarium: 501 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-576-3800
Maryland Science Center: 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-685-2370
Port Discovery: 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-727-8120
Power Plant Live: Intersection of Market Place and Water Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Fell’s Point Visitor Center: 808 S. Ann. St., Baltimore, MD 21231, 410-675-6750
Canton: S. Lakewood Ave and O”Donnell St, Southeast Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Walters Art Museum: 600 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-547-9000
Baltimore Museum of Art: 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, 443-573-1700
American Visionary Art Museum: 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-244-1900
Baltimore Marriott® Inner Harbor at Camden Yards: 110 South Eutaw Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, 410-962-0202
Oriole Park at Camden Yards: 333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 888-848-BIRD
