Let’s visit Baltimore together!
When I matched with my 1st host family back in 2020, to become their Au Pair later that year, I immediately started researching the surroundings. I hit the ground running researching everything from coffee shops to day trips out of town. At the time, they were living in Severna Park, MD and the first major city that popped up on google search was Baltimore. Now, truth be told, I knew absolutely nothing about Baltimore, being that my only connection to Baltimore was that special agent Anthony DiNozzo, from both me and my mom’s favorite tv series, used to be a detective in the Baltimore police department. So, from the shows perspective I knew only one thing, and that is that crime in this major city was high, which is still true today outside of the tv show.
Being a firm believer that no matter what town or city you visit, there will always be something for everyone to do, I took it upon myself to deep dive into “Things to do in Baltimore”. And after living near this city for over two years and visiting numerous times, I think, I can safely say, I have compiled a rather lengthy list of interesting things for any individual to at least try when visiting Charm City:
1. Pitango café and bakery
I for one, am an avid coffee drinker. Imagine this, it’s a chilly Saturday morning, you’ve just had the busiest week at your job with your boss hounding you for days on end. Instead of sitting around sulking about the dreadful Monday, fast approaching, you are sitting with an extra-large Cappuccino, your favorite book in hand, at a table over-looking the water. All around you, you see trees and people on walks with their pups, so relaxed, so happy. You sit and sip your coffee slowly, before you head out, with maybe a second to go cup in hand, to go shopping at a small boutique down the street.
I don’t know about you, but for me, what I just described will forever be one of my favorite things about Baltimore and about a little coffee shop called Pitango café and bakery.
Pitango is a coffee shop overlooking the water right in the middle of Fell’s point, a historic waterfront neighborhood in Baltimore. Fell’s point is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Baltimore and was once a bustling shipbuilding port and also the hometown from where a famous jazz artist named Billie Holiday emerged.
2. Inner harbor:
Many people consider Inner Harbor, the Crown jewel of Baltimore, and for good reason as it is the historic seaport vacation destination that attracts tourists from all over the world. Here, you can explore anything from the harbor hotels to nice restaurants and even attractions like the National Aquarium, The Gallery and Harbor place mall, a marketplace for everyone. One could spend hours walking around shopping and sampling the local foods such as seafood straight out of the Chesapeake Bay.
3. National Aquarium
When visiting Inner harbor, don’t forget to stop by the National Aquarium, one of America’s largest and most diverse aquariums. Home to over 10000 different animals ranging from marine mammals to birds, amphibians and reptiles. Walking through this Aquarium is an amazing eye-opening experience, seeing different animals cohabitate to peering over the edge of the glass at the black tip reef that houses 69 different species and 630 animals, from black tip sharks to stingrays and small fish. Let us not forget about Shark Alley, one of my personal favorite exhibits here at the National Aquarium.
Every new destination I travel to, I always check to see if there is either a zoo or an aquarium nearby. I love to see what every city has to offer, and I especially love to see how these institutions are helping to protect these animals and their offspring. If you have time, make sure to read up on how the National Aquarium’s conservation programs work and how, even you can get involved today.
Book tickets ahead of time at aqua.org and while you’re there, check out their special upcoming events page to book anything from half-off Friday nights to 4D shark- and dolphin experiences. How cool is that?
4. Visit a museum
Should the art scene be more up your alley, Baltimore will not disappoint.
Museum of art – Spend some time inside walking through the museum before heading outside to the sculpture gardens to admire sculptures in the amazing green garden.
Looking for something a little different, look no further than the Visionary works museum, featuring art from self-taught artists like farmers and inmates.
Walter’s art museum – Do you have some free time in your itinerary? Well, the Walter’s art museum might be just what you are looking for. And guess what... Admissions are completely free.
Personally, I love both driving and walking through the streets of Baltimore and viewing over 165 street murals by phenomenal artists.
Looking for more of a historical museum to visit:
B&O Railroad Museum
Edgar Allan Poe house and museum
Reginald F. Lewis Museum
5. Local foods
Trying local foods when visiting a new place should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Baltimore is famous for it’s Steamed blue crabs, because of the abundance of these crabs in the Chesapeake Bay, also crab cakes and Old bay seasoning! Locals will put Old Bay on anything from crabs to fries and even their eggs.
Find yourself a spot in one of the many crab houses overlooking the Chesapeake bay and just enjoy what all Baltimore has to offer.
6. Maryland zoo
Being as it is, the United States 3rd oldest Zoo and housing over 2000 animals, the Maryland zoo is a family fun adventure worth putting on the itinerary. Kids under 2 are allowed in for free while adult tickets are super affordable and totally worth it for the all-day activity that parents can turn it into.
With admission, you get to explore the African journey exhibits, the Northern passage as well as the Maryland wilderness exhibits, viewing everything from a Reticulated giraffe to a Panamanian Golden frog.
And from personal experience I can safely say, there is a big chance the parents might have even more fun than the kids.
Book tickets now at www.marylandzoo.org and don’t forget to check out their events page to see if anything fun or exciting is happening when you visit.
7. Catch a sports game
Do not miss the chance to go to the M&T bank stadium to see the Ravens football team in action during football season and NFL pre-season. As someone who didn’t grow up with football and lived in s different country, I have been fascinated by NFL since coming to the States. Truly something, I think everyone should see at least once in their life.
If baseball is more your speed, stop at Campden yards for an Orioles game and who knows, you might just be the one who catches that home run ball…
In the end I think that, with a little bit of thought and planning, your visit to Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, can be nothing short of a fun adventure for both you and/or your family. I have found, whether I was looking for a laid-back Saturday shopping and walking or I was looking for some good local food or even looking for an all-day adventure exploring, one can always find something in Baltimore that fits your category. While I do recommend always being safe in this city, as crime numbers are high, I believe that there is so much to do and to see and this large city in Maryland is truly a gem I am so happy I got to live so close to for the time I did.
I hope you have an amazing time in Charm City.
Let me know how your visit goes in the “Let me know what you think” page.
I would love to know your opinion on Baltimore, MD.
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