Destination: Baltimore

WHY VISIT?

Seafood and history lovers rejoice! Baltimore is a great city in Maryland, and its temperate climate and location on the Chesapeake Bay make it a perfect year-round destination.

Perhaps Baltimore is most famously known as the city where Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner...but the crabs are pretty well known, too!

The "Charm City" is chock-full of cheap things to do with the kiddos. Check out the sports and water activities and historical sites.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Think safety. Baltimore has quite the reputation for crime. It's smart to stick to the Inner Harbor and the main tourist areas, and be aware of your surroundings.

Take a taxi if it's late, and like in any other big city, don't accept rides from unmarked taxis.

A taxi ride to/from Baltimore's Penn Station is approximately $10 and takes 15 minutes or so.

A taxi ride to/from BWI airport is closer to $30 and takes 30 minutes max.

There is light rail service available, but I think walking and taxis are easier.

Hotels in Baltimore are rarely booked up. Use Priceline Negotiator and make sure to specify 4-star in the Inner Harbor. You can get a great room easily for $75/night or so.

Washington, D.C. is very close. If you have time, try to extend your stay and see the nation's capital. Allow a day or two to see Baltimore. Amtrak and MARC offer train service to D.C. (links below)

TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE & DO:

1. Obrycki's
   This off-the-beaten path crab house is a real food experience. Grab a bib and hammer and enjoy! Make sure to take a water taxi instead of walking from the Inner Harbor.
   

2. Fell's Point
   Cobblestone roads give a historical feel to this hip, young area filled with great bars and restaurants. Use the water taxi to get back-and-forth between here and the Inner Harbor.

3. Crabcakes
   You can find 'em everywhere and each will taste a little different, but it's a must-do when visiting the area.
   
   
   

4. The Horse You Came In On Saloon
   What a name! The Nation's oldest, continuously running bar existing before, during, and after prohibition. It's rumored to be famed Baltimorean Edgar Allan Poe's favorite place to drink.

5. Inner Harbor
   One of America's oldest seaports dating from the 1600's. Touristy restaurants and bars line the shores.
   
   
   

6. Babe Ruth's Birthplace Museum
   A fun museum stocked with memorabilia of the Great Bambino in his childhood home. A quick visit, but worth it.
   
   
   

7. Camden Yards
   One of the nation's most famous ballparks, Camden is the blueprint for all the new stadiums with that old ballpark feel. Catch a game or take a tour in the ballpark that changed baseball. Public-tours are available April - September for $9/adults & $6/children

8. Water Taxi on the Chesapeake
   An easy, cheap way to see the Inner Harbor from the water.
   

9. Ft. McHenry
   A water-taxi ride away, you can learn about the Battle of Baltimore and the historic fort that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the U.S. national anthem.

10. The National Aquarium
    Sharks, dolphins, rays and tropical fish are among the more than 16,000 creatures. Get there early and make a ticket reservation. It becomes really crowded quickly on the weekends.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME:

• The Star Spangled Banner Flag House - Home of Mary Pickersgill, the woman who sewed a U.S. flag during the War of 1812, but there are strict tour times and not much to see.


• Edgar Allan Poe's gravesite & memorial - out of the way

USEFUL LINKS:

Hotel Deals with Priceline

Water Taxi Maps & Pick-up Locations

Amtrak to D.C.

MARC to D.C.