Exploring Baltimore: A Comprehensive Tourist Guide
Baltimore is located on the Chesapeake Bay. Its picturesque Inner Harbor is the center of restaurant, shopping and business districts. The residential neighborhoods of Baltimore maintain a small town charm.
It is a city of steel and glass skyscrapers that dominate the commercial district and only a short walk from the residential neighborhoods. Many Baltimore residents still live in the classic red brick row house that the city is traditionally associated.
The town of Baltimore was founded in 1729 and incorporated in 1796. Baltimore was named to honor the title of Marylands founding family, the six Lords of Baltimore. In 1768 the beginning Baltimore was a tiny village of 200 homes.
As the city grew it became an important shipbuilding center. Merchants prospered and the citys port flourished. In 1851, the city was separated from Baltimore County and given status equal to that of the counties in 1851. By 1860, Baltimore was the third largest city in the nation. Today Baltimore is the 13th largest city in the United States.
Baltimore is home to a world port, many government offices, significant medical and educational institutions and a major tourist attraction. It is one of the most important cities on the East Coast.
Baltimore Hidden Tourist Attractions
In Baltimore, charm is everywhere and adventures await.A major seaport hub since the 1700s, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the center of the city's tourism today: The National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center and numerous dining and shopping options can be found near the waterfront.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK BALTIMORE TOURExploring its Tourist Attractions
There are plenty of places worth a visit in the Baltimore area and top attractions include many notable landmarks, historical buildings, appealing museums and a number of art galleries, which contain works by many famous artists.
Must-see sights in the city include the National Aquarium, the Basilica of the Assumption, Robert East Lee Memorial Park, the Maryland Zoo African safari experience, the Star Spangled Banner Flag House and also the city’s most famous sight, the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Museums in Baltimore are also plentiful and top museum attractions include the extensive Baltimore Museum of Art, the B&O Railroad Museum, the baseball-related Babe Ruth Museum, and the Maryland Science Center, complete with IMAX theater and planetarium.
Annual festivals in Baltimore include the Baltimore Blues Festival – held in Paterson Park each May, July’s Artscape along the Mount Royal Avenue, the popular Taste of Baltimore festival in October, and December’s festive Washington Monument Lighting Ceremony.
There are at least 200 distinct neighborhoods in Baltimore. Among them includes:
- The maritime community of Fells Point
- Little Italy
- The fashionable Mount Vernon Place
- Federal Hill which was named for a huge celebration residents held in honor of the ratification of the federal Constitution
The cannon on the hill, which overlooks the Inner Harbor, is a reminder of the Civil War, when federal troops seized the railroads and occupied Baltimore and Annapolis to keep Maryland in the Union and to prevent Washington, D.C., from being surrounded by Confederate states.
Other Popular Attractions in Baltimore
Baltimore Inner Harbor was redeveloped by James Rouse in the late 1970s. Since that time millions of people have come to see Baltimore Inner Harbor. You can ride the elevator 27 stories to the Top of the World Observation Level and Museum in the World Trade Center. Other attractions include:
- Exploring the inside of the World War II submarine Torsk
- The kid-powered museum, Port Discovery
- The Maryland Science Center is just across the harbor with hands-on exhibits on science
- The Columbus Center has exhibits on science and marine research
- See the Pride of Baltimore II, which is fast-sailing 160-foot topsail schooner and a replica of the famous Baltimore Clippers
- Visiting sharks, dolphins, and thousands of other aquatic animals at the National Aquarium
Art, Music, Literature and Culture in Baltimore
Baltimore has been a center of art, music, literature and culture for many years. Baltimore is home to the oldest music school in the United States, which is the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Baltimore is also home to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera.
The Peale Museum is the countrys oldest museum. It was built in Baltimore by painter Rembrandt Peale in 1814. See Egyptian mummies, and rooms that remind you of an ancient castle with suits of armor for men and horses at the Walter Art Gallery.
Paintings by Picasso and Cezanne are among the many works of art at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
Visit literary landmarks. Edgar Allan Poes house is another popular attraction. Edgar Allan Poe died in Baltimore in 1849 and is buried in Westminster Cemetery.
Cultural Attractions in Baltimore include:
- The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
- Maryland Science Center
- Baltimore Museum of Art
- National Aquarium
- Baltimore Zoo
Baltimore is the home to the Ravens, Super Bowl XXXV champions, the Orioles and the second jewel in the triple crown, the Preakness. Other active sports in and around Baltimore City include:
- Swimming
- Skiing
- Horseback riding
- Tennis
- Golf
- Sailing
If you are a spectator you can enjoy watching lacrosse, indoor soccer, and horseracing at Pimlico or the traditional Hunt Cup in the spring. The primary attraction in Baltimore City is baseball played at the Baltimore Orioles renowned park at Camden Yards.
Baltimore is conveniently located less than an hour from Marylands sandy bay beaches and about three hours from the resorts on the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the best public libraries, with a book collection of 2,250,000 volumes resides in Baltimore, Maryland. In the Baltimore-Washington area, there are more than 70 accredited institutions of higher education. All cultural opportunities of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York are easily reached by car or train.
There are many attractive and affordable places to live within easy commuting distance to cultural activities, medical facilities, restaurants, and employment.
Baltimore Shopping
For the best selection of shops in the city, head to the Harborplace area, which contains over 200 shops, including a number of independent outlets and fashion boutiques. Also, the nearby Village of Cross Keys is home to an array of appealing small shops and specialty stores.
For antiques, take a trip to Howard Street, where you will find a cluster of notable antique stores, which have become known as the city’s ‘Antique Row’.
Baltimore also features a number of large and modern shopping malls, such as Security Square and Owing Mills. The regular Lexington Market is another major shopping draw card and has been established for more than 150 years, with an enormous selection of market traders.
Baltimore Hotel
Baltimore and its surrounding districts feature a range of fine hotels at all levels. For budget accommodation, looks for motels along nearby Interstates and close to the airport.
Reasonably priced accommodation is available in the city center, together with a number of top, five-star hotels, with luxury facilities.
Waterside hotels around the Inner Harbor area are amongst those most desirable, although the Mount Vernon area is becoming an equally appealing place to stay. Historic hotels are plentiful in the Fells Point area, together with affordable family-run bed and breakfasts.
Baltimore Restaurant
With its scenic coastal location, it is hardly surprising that Baltimore restaurants specialize in seafood and all things fishy. Much of the local produce comes from the nearby Chesapeake Bay and many of the city’s restaurants serve steamed crab, amongst other local dishes.
For lively dining in Baltimore, look no further than the restaurants around Mount Vernon and Fells Point, while for more exclusive establishments, the restaurants along Charles Street are some of the most highly regarded in the city.
Baltimore, Maryland is a fascinating place to visit.
Top Baltimore Cruises & Sailing
See Baltimore from a rare perspective on a sightseeing cruise through the harbor. As you sail past coastline views, listen to on–board narration that points out easy–to–miss landmarks, from Fells Point to the USS Constellation. With both indoor and outdoor observation decks and a bar with drinks available for purchase, this tour is a popular choice for both visitors and locals.
Discover Baltimore from the water on a sightseeing boat
Cruise through the city's Inner Harbor
Learn about local history from an informative, prerecorded historical narrative
See landmarks such as the USS Constellation, Fells Point, and the National Aquarium
Â
Book Baltimore Cruises & Sailing