Baltimore, better known as “Bawlmer” to locals, was formally established in 1729 and has plenty of interesting places to visit and things to do relating to history, sports and art.
- Inner Harbor – a short walk from the convention center and across Light Street from the Hyatt Regency. It is a historic seaport since the 1700s that became a model for post-industrial seafront development. Enjoy a walk along the water and experience a wide range of attractions. It is anchored by the Maryland Museum of Science at the southwest end and curves around several piers to end at the National Aquarium at its north east end. It has Shops, eateries, Ripleys Believe It or Not, Baltimore Water Taxi; paddle boats; Spirit of Baltimore cruises and the World Trade Center Baltimore.
- National Aquarium: Located on Pier 3 and 4, the National Aquarium in Baltimore is a joint effort with another location in Washington, DC. The aquarium in Baltimore features marine life in various exhibits, from sharks and dolphins, to hundreds of exotic species found in the Atlantic Coral Reef Exhibit. Of particular note is the five-story Tropical Rain Forest, with all kinds of birds, frogs, and a variety of larger mammals, such as sloths and monkeys.
Address: Inner Harbor
Official site: http://www.aqua.org/ - Maryland Science Center: Located at the south end of the Inner Harbor; has 3 floors of interactive and educational exhibits and a planetarium and IMAX theater. Something interesting to do for all ages.
Address: 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Official site: http://www.mdsci.org/ - Historic Ships of Baltimore: Located on the Inner Harbor, Historic Ships in Baltimore represent one of the most impressive collections of military vessels in the world. Located within easy walking distance of each other, four ships and a lighthouse exhibit life at sea from the mid-19th century to the mid-1980’s. The attractions include the US Sloop-of-War Constellation (Civil War battleship), the US Submarine Torsk (World War II submarine), the US Coast Guard Cutter Taney (Pearl Harbor), and the Lightship Chesapeake exhibit life at sea from the mid-19th century to the mid-1980’s. Also included in the collection is the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse which marked the entrance to the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor for over 130 years. Experience “hands-on encounters with history” through tours, special events, live cannon firings, educational programs and more!
- Camden Yards/Geppi Entertainment Museum/Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum: Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the official home of the Baltimore Orioles. The one-time railroad center is only 2 blocks from the birthplace of baseball’s most legendary hero, George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Ruth’s father operated Ruth’s Cafe on the ground floor of the family residence, now center field at Oriole Park.
Official site: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=bal - Ft. McHenry: Built between 1798 and 1803 to command the harbor entrance. In 1814 it withstood a 24 hour bombardment by a British warship and thus saved Baltimore from occupation. In the fort’s Visitor Center are displays and a film on the history of the fort, referring to the origins of the national anthem, the ‘The Star Spangled Banner’. However, the original of the famous flag now hangs in the Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Official site: http://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm
- American Visionary Art Museum: A short walk from the Inner Harbor on the south side. The American Visionary Art Museum displays the work of self-taught artists in six galleries. The main building’s architecture is also an artistic creation, winning many international and national awards for its design and beauty. The sculpture barn, formerly the Four Roses whiskey warehouse, houses towering exhibits.
Address: 800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230-3940
Official site: http://www.avam.org/ - Baltimore and Ohio Railroad museum: The B&O Railroad Museum is recognized universally as the birthplace of American railroading. It was here within the Museum’s 40-acre campus that Baltimore businessmen, surveyors, and engineers set about building the B&O Railroad in 1829, laying the first commercial long-distance track, building the first passenger station, and inventing America’s unique railroad. A National Historic Landmark, Affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, and independent educational resource, the B&O Railroad Museum collects, preserves and interprets artifacts related to early American railroading, particularly the Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, Western Maryland, and other mid-Atlantic railroads. The centerpiece is the turntable, which connects with 22 lines containing locomotives and coaches. With only a few exceptions all the exhibits are originals and in working order. There is also a miniature railway system.
Address: 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223-2699
Official site: http://www.borail.org/ - Walters Art Museum/Mt. Vernon Historic district: The Walters Art Museum, located in the Mount Vernon Cultural District, is a cultural institution of international renown. It was the private collection of a Baltimore tycoon and his son and has art spanning 55 centuries. It is one of only a few museums worldwide to present a comprehensive history of art from the third millennium B.C. to the early 20th century. Among its thousands of treasures are a fine collection of ivories, jewelry, enamels and bronzes, and a large reserve of illuminated manuscripts and rare books. The Walters’ Egyptian, Greek and Roman, Byzantine, Ethiopian and western medieval art collections are extensive, as are the museum’s holdings of Renaissance and Asian art. Every major trend in French painting during the 19th century is represented by one or more works in the collection.
Address: 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-5185
Official site: http://thewalters.org/ - Harbor East/Fells point: Fell’s Point is a historic, lively waterfront neighborhood that has been beautifully restored. The old harbor quarter of Fell’s Point was once the shipbuilding district of Baltimore, with places of entertainment for the seamen. Today, behind the brick facades of this beautifully restored quarter are mainly restaurants, cafes, and quaint shops. You can take a water taxi from the Inner Harbor (in front of the Science Center) to Fell’s point.
Do not forget to enjoy Maryland Crabs while you are at ASE. Some popular crab houses in the city:
Bo Brooks, Canton
Canton Dockside, Canton
LP Steamers, Locust Point – close to Ft. McHenry
Captain James Seafood, Canton