“Good morning, Baltimore!” declares Tracy Turnblad in the opening number of the musical Hairspray. The cockeyed optimist loves Charm City in all its underdog glory, and so do we. A sometimes rough-around-the-edges kind of place, Baltimore, Maryland is all heart and we might add lays claim to many fames including prestigious Johns Hopkins University, filmmaker John Waters and fat and lumpy crab cakes. How much do we share Turnblad’s B-More enthusiasm? Let us count the ways, ten of them in fact.
Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor is a tourist attraction that’s worth the hype.
Satisfy Your “Inner” Tourist
The city’s most celebrated attraction remains a stellar introduction to the city. Sure, we could do without some of Inner Harbor’s corporate tenants (does a famous seafood city really need a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.?), but the Harbor is home to excellent museums (Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium), Fort McHenry (birthplace of the National Anthem) and the 27th floor observation deck at the World Trade Center, plus numerous hotels and restaurants.
Envision Out-of-This-World Art
A Baltimore highlight for any out-of-towner (especially the Instagram obsessed) is the American Visionary Art Museum, a showcase for self-taught artists that will make your eyeballs pop out of your sockets! Expect incredible installations, sculptures and oversized oddities crafted out of everything from toothpicks to tin cans and housed in a glittery silver building surrounded by wacky art.
Get your camera ready, Baltimore is filled with Insta-worthy shots. #nofilterneeded
Stroll (and Climb) a Historic Hill
If you’re not from the Eastern Seaboard, you’ll love that the historic neighborhood of Federal Hill conforms to many an East Coast stereotype. Think neatly groomed row houses, rowdy pubs, seafood eateries galore and bustling food stalls at Cross Street Market. Don’t miss a hike up the actual Federal Hill, the city views from the top are amazing!
Haven’t had a Maryland-made crab cake? You haven’t had crab cakes.
Flood the Market
Charm City loves its food halls! There’s Cross Street Market and newish R. House in Remington. But the granddaddy for food devotees is Lexington Market. A Baltimore fixture since 1782 (and currently in the midst of modernization) this sprawling market boasts nearly 100 food vendors offering everything from fish and produce to every ethnic cuisine imaginable. But many a tourist queues up for one thing only—all lump Maryland Crab Cakes from Faidley’s Seafood.
Entertain Your Inner Nerd
Hello, pop culture! Fans of Americana will go gaga at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, a quirky cultural institution that pays homage to U.S. popular culture dating back to the 17th century. To put it all into perspective, imagine if your crazy neighbors’ collection of Barbie, Beatlemania and B-movies were dusted off, displayed with care and given historical context.
Judge a Book By Its Cover
It’s true that quirky Hampden shop Atomic Books is where cult film director John Waters receives his fan mail. We once challenged a store clerk to produce the evidence and watched in awe as he dumped a bin full of fan mail addressed to Waters onto the counter. But Atomic is also justly loved for its vast selection of art books, small press comics, rarities and more!
Go crab crazy at Baltimore’s Captain James Landing.
Sea Food and Eat It!
Perhaps the crabbiest city on earth—in a crustacean kind of way—the Chesapeake Bay’s most famous delicacy can these days be found all over the U.S., but when in Rome do as the Romans do. Grab one at boat-shaped Captain James Landing (which serves everything crab), folksy lunch spot Miss Shirley’s Café or at Gertrude at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
For an offbeat look at Baltimore, don’t miss the eclectic neighborhood of Hampden.
Hit Up the City’s Hippest ‘Hood
The B-More nabe most closely linked with cult filmmaker John Waters (see Atomic Books), Hampden no longer resembles the working-class neighborhood made famous in his films, but gentrification be darned, it’s still kitschy and charming. A walk along 36th Street will take you past tons of indie shops and offbeat eateries—and young locals dressed in thrift store chic.
Find Your Fest
Never afraid to let its hair down, Baltimore has no shortage of festivals, and perhaps the widest ranging of any American city. The African American Heritage Festival gathers 350,000 annually to Druid Hill Park in August; the Baltimore Book Festival in September is one of the nation’s best; Maryland Deathfest is the USA’s largest metal gathering; and don’t forget street fair HONfest in which folks don their retro best (think beehive wigs, retro fur and cat eye glasses).
Plan a stay at Fell’s Point to rest, relax and revel in the city’s beauty. Photo courtesy of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
“Fell” Asleep After a Long Day
Established in 1763 on Baltimore’s southeast waterfront (not far from Inner Harbor), handsome Fell’s Point makes for a perfect base for exploration. Tucked along its cobblestone streets are charming brick buildings containing lively bars, restaurants and hotels aplenty including our current favorite—the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. A newer entry into the city’s ever-expanding hotel scene, we’re obsessed with it in part for its perfect location on Rec Pier, but also because the Pendry is elegant without being stuffy and upscale without breaking our bank. Its rooftop pool is the icing on the vacation cake!
Jason Heidemann, Travelocity Staff Writer
Latest posts by Jason Heidemann, Travelocity Staff Writer (see all)
- 9 hotels to live out your favorite holiday-themed TV tearjerker - November 8, 2021
- Top kid-friendly hotels near Universal Studios Hollywood - July 1, 2021
- Where should you go to “Seize Your Someday”? (QUIZ) - June 16, 2021
Travelocity compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.
It is a fantastic post; it had been exceptionally informative. I appearance forward in examining significantly more of ones function. Also, I produced confident to bookmark your internet site so I can come back later