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Most visitors to Maryland cannot resist spending time in Baltimore, which is often fondly referred to as Charm City. Baltimore's Inner Harbor, one of the city's main highlights, is flooded with water taxis, cruise boats and sailboats that all offer tours. Always bustling with locals, tourists and excitement, the Inner Harbor hosts many annual festivals and attractions such as the National Aquarium and the USS Constellation. A feature point in the Inner Harbor is Harborplace.
This complex consists of two malls side-by-side that are filled with dozens of shops and restaurants. There is no shortage of recreation or entertainment in Maryland's largest and most exciting city. Depending on which season you are visiting in, the Baltimore Orioles Baseball Club or the Baltimore Ravens Football Club are sure to make sports fans cheer.
Quite simply, Baltimore is one of America's great cities. With so much history, cultural diversity, sightseeing possibilities, and great food, it's easy to see why the city is such a popular travel destination. Dubbed "Charm City," Baltimore is the 13th largest city in the U.S. Blessed with a natural Chesapeake Bay harbor, it lies further west than any other Atlantic port, which has endeared the harbor to shippers worldwide and ranked it fifth among U.S. ports. The port has also given Baltimore a cosmopolitan feel, with clearly identified neighborhoods and a local flavor unlike many large cities.
The Inner Harbor
Baltimore revolves around the water and visitors and locals alike revolve around the Inner Harbor to enjoy it. Downtown Baltimore's renaissance began in earnest in the early-70s, with the city's redevelopment of the 240-acre Inner Harbor area. The Inner Harbor has served as Baltimore's downtown magnet for locals and tourists alike. It's also the site of the new Baltimore Visitor Center. This multi-million facility just opened this spring and featured trained information specialists, attraction highlights and ticketing, touch-screen information systems, a theater with an introductory film.
The best place to start a tour of the Inner Harbor is 27 stories above it, at the Top of the World Observation Level in the World Trade Center. It provides a great overview (and view) of downtown Baltimore's attractions. The adjacent Harborplace features a cornucopia of food, fashion, and style. Two sunlit pavilions offer dining, shopping, and superb scenery. It's a great place to buy your first Baltimore souvenir, as well as sampling some fresh local seafood.
The Inner Harbor also offers many sightseeing attractions right on the water. Be sure to tour the U.S.S. Constellation, the oldest American warship continuously afloat. Then discover hands-on exhibits and fascinating shows at Port Discovery, the Davis Planetarium, and the five-story IMAX Theater at the recently renovated and expanded Maryland Science Center.
Leave plenty of time to explore the wonders of the National Aquarium in Baltimore (many people spend an entire day there). After more than 20 years, the National Aquarium is now one of the city's biggest attractions, the aquarium is underway on a $66 million expansion that will make it bigger and better than ever in 2005 (though it's awe-inspiring right now). Kids, kids at heart, and even landlubbers will love the displays, exhibits, and shows like the all-new Dolphin Show in the spectacular Marine Mammal Pavilion.
Be sure to ask about the new Harbor Pass, which is good for one-time admission to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery, and the Top of the World Observation Level. It's bargain-priced and comes with other discounts and great tips for avoiding crowds.
On The Water
Along with your cruise ship, it's easy to float your boat (or someone else's) in Baltimore. Water taxis, paddle boats, and other vessels (including the "Ducks of Baltimore"--amphibious WWII vehicles) make sightseeing and travel to the city's on-the-water attractions simple.
Visitors can enjoy a replica of Baltimore's famous clipper ships, working skipjacks, charter yachts, cruising vessels, and, often, majestic tall ships of the world that welcome visitors aboard for a tour or a scenic voyage. Whether you're just walking around the brick-lined promenade of the Inner Harbor or you get out on the water, you'll enjoy the brightly-colored skyline of buildings and boats along Baltimore's waterfront.
Neighborhoods
Because Baltimore is extremely ethnically diverse, many flavorful neighborhoods have developed. The rowhouse stoops of many areas serve as great backdrops for further exploration of the melting pot that Baltimore has become. Little Italy is one of the tastiest choices for neighborhood meanderings. Old World Italian Baltimoreans and restaurants welcome visitors from around the world. Lots of pasta and plenty of pizzazz can be found every night. Nearby, Fell's Point is another popular neighborhood.
This handsome maritime community, founded in the 1700s, features quaint restaurants, taverns, and accommodations in an old Baltimore style. Charles Street has also become a neighborhood in every sense of the word. This prestigious north-south corridor nurtures much of Baltimore's cultural and elegant lifestyle scene. The 600- and 700-block area of North Charles Street features the cobblestone streets of Mount Vernon, with posh addresses, eateries, and cultural institutions.
Dining
With cuisine as varied as its neighborhoods, Baltimore doesn't disappoint visitors dining out. From the freshest local seafood to dozens of ethnic eateries, the city's restaurants really cook. Baltimore is first and foremost a crab town. Hard shell blue crabs are steamed and served throughout the city. If you've never eaten crabs before, Baltimore is the best place to try them. Some legendary crabhouses (they also serve other seafood) include: Obrycki's Crab House and Seafood Restaurant; Phillips; Gunning's Crabhouse; and Faidley's Seafood in Lexington Market.
For pasta and lots of atmosphere, head to Little Italy. The quaint atmosphere and great smells will lead you to one of many great restaurants, including Da Mimmo, Amici's, and Chiapparelli's. Other unique options around Baltimore include dozens of dining options at the Inner Harbor, the local market atmosphere in 200-year-old Lexington Market (a downtown market where delicacies are sold from stalls owned by families for generations), and the growing restaurant and bar scene around Fell's Point. You'll never go hungry in Baltimore. |
