Baltimore is a great place to visit. There are many things to see and do in the busy city of Baltimore. The summertime is very hot and humid in Baltimore yet it is a good place to visit. There are indoor (air conditioned) attractions as well as fun outdoor events to be attended. The breeze off of the water does help some with the heat but you will be so busy, you probably won’t even notice how hot it can be. First of all, go to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. Here are some specific ideas:
The first thing to do is to walk around the Harbor itself on a nice day. There are boats in the water that are interesting to look at. There are often touring boats that you can ride for a price plus many private boats that people dock on the piers. There are paddleboats to rent in nice weather and it is fun to paddle around the harbor for a different view of the area. Go into HarborPlace to cool off on a hot day and to see interesting shops and places to eat. Some are souvenir type shops and others are higher class boutiques. You can find things that are especially unique to Baltimore if you choose. If you like shopping, you can go straight over the The Gallery Shopping Mall which has several floors of shops and eating places as well. Most of the shops at the Gallery are similar to ones you will find at your local malls but a few are specialty, one-of-a-kind boutiques. If you like shopping, you will find this of great interest.
Another place to visit would be the Maryland Science Center. Always packed with new displays and special exhibits, this is a great place to take the kids. It is located right on the Inner Harbor and can be walked to from HarborPlace. Here, kids can learn something without even realizing it. It is so much fun and there are many interactive displays as well as a kids room at the Maryland Science Center. There is always something to learn at the Science Center and it is fun to do so. Admission is reasonable and definitely worth it. There is also an IMAX theatre in the Science Center (for an additional fee) which has different movies as different times. I saw an IMAX film and it is definitely something that you have to experience. In addition, there is a Planetarium that has different shows daily. Planetariums are a great place to learn about the stars and the night sky in ways that you cannot simply experience by just going outside. There is a café that serves kid friendly as well as adult friendly meals or snacks so that you don’t have to leave the museum to get a bite to eat if you are hungry. There is also, of course, a science store where you can buy many science related souvenirs. I would recommend going to the Science Center.
Across the Harbor from the Science Center is the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Be sure to catch the dolphin show. I’ve seen it twice it was excellent. You can also walk from the Science Center or HarborPlace to the Aquarium. It is a little pricey and during peak seasons, you have to get a timed ticket to go in so get there early so you don’t miss out. You can also purchase tickets ahead of time online to avoid the lines and this is an especially good option if you are going during the summer when the aquarium tends to be the busiest! There are many other areas of the Aquarium as well including the rainforest exhibit which makes you feel that you are really in a rainforest. The newest exhibit is about animals from Australia. Many types of sea life can be seen at the aquarium which houses more than 10,000 specimens in its 4 story building.
Ft. McHenry is a great piece of history to visit. Ft. McHenry is the birthplace of the National Anthem! The visitor center has a video you can watch, you can see exhibits at the fort itself and there are activities for the children. Events are scheduled throughout the season and show what life was like in the 1800s. The grounds and visitor center are open seasonally and free. Admission to the fort is $7 for adults and free to children.
If you’re still looking for more to do, you will have to travel away from the Harbor, to the west is the B&O; Museum. If you are interested in trains, or if the kids are, this is the place to visit. There is a model railroad and also you can see restored steam engines and old time passenger cars as well. The B&O; Museum boasts the “oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collection in the world.” They have everything from dining car china to the finest steam locomotives! There are many hands on activities and events including train rides on the first commercial track in America!
If baseball is your thing, a visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for a game might be your speed. The Orioles are a Baltimore legend and their current schedule can be found at http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bal . The Babe Ruth Museum is not far from Oriole Park. It is the birthplace of Babe Ruth, the baseball player. In the museum are memorabilia from Babe’s career. It is a nice little side trip from the Harbor.
If you are looking for someplace special to eat, the possibilities are endless. As mentioned previously, there are many choices right at Harborplace and in the surrounding area as well. . East of the Harbor, not far from the Baltimore Convention Center,is “Little Italy” where there are some f the finest Italian restaurants. My favorite choices would be Velleggia’s, Chiapperelli’s, and Sabatino’s. Each full service restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine prepared in a family owned establishment with all of the quality one would expect. If it’s a good sandwich you are looking for, you will not have to go too far. An area known as “Corned Beef Row,” offferis some of the tastiest delicatessen around. Some of the names you should look for are Lenny’s, Weiss’, or Attman’s Delicatessens. You won’t be disappointed.
And, there is much more! There are many nice hotels to stay at right in the city or less expensive hotels outside of the city in the suburbs. If you are planning an extended visit, contact the Department of tourism or visit http://www.visitmaryland.org/ for more detailed information on where to stay and for other places to visit based on your interests. As someone who grew up in Baltimore, MD, I definitely recommend the above attractions as I have personally visited each. There may be even more to see, based upon your interests.
