Things to do in Baltimore

Baltimore has a number of interesting neighbourhoods that attract visitors, and there are interesting museums and historical sites to visit. However, it is Baltimore’s Inner Harbour and waterfront area that is the main tourist destination in the city.

Inner Harbour

Although Baltimore has been an important seaport since the 1700s, it was in the 1970s that the city turned its waterfront area into an attraction for tourists and an area that has enhanced the daily lives of the city’s residents. You'll find a wide array of things to do here, all within walking distance. The Inner Harbour boasts many good restaurants, interesting taverns and bars. There’s 300 years of history here and plenty of opportunities for fun-filled days with the family as well as romantic evenings for couples. Full information is available at: www.baltimore.org/baltimore_inner_harbor.htm.

National Aquarium

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is a leading attraction for visitors, and is considered to be one of the world’s finest aquariums. In addition to the permanent sea life residing here, there are several special exhibits as well. The Amazon rainforest display features such attractions as anacondas, poison dart frogs and sloth; a sea cliffs habitat that is complete with puffins and other north Atlantic sea birds; and walk-through coral reefs and open ocean tanks that bring visitors up close to sharks and other exotic species. You’ll also find regularly scheduled shows at the Marine Mammal Pavilion. Phone: +1 410 576 3800; website: www.aqua.org.

Maryland Science Centre

The new glass, steel and concrete Maryland Science Center is located at the Inner Harbour and boasts five storeys of interactive exhibits, a theatre, an observatory and the world-famous Davis Planetarium. There are hands-on displays ranging from space travel and dinosaurs to science experiments. The centre’s planetarium runs sun-gazing programmes during the day and star-gazing programmes at night. Phone: +1 410 685 5225; website: www.marylandsciencecenter.org.

Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry is inextricably linked in history with America's national anthem.  The antham was written by Francis Scott Key during the lengthy but unsuccessful attack by British forces during the War of 1812. On summer weekends, military drills are performed here, as is a living history programme simulating daily activities at the time of the war. From the fort, you’ll have fine views along the Patapsco River to Baltimore’s Inner Harbour and on towards Chesapeake Bay. Phone: +1 410 962 4290; website: www.nps.gov/fomc.

Orioles Park

If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll enjoy a tour of Orioles Park at Camden Yards. The tour takes you to see places that average fans don’t get the chance to see including the dugouts, the press box and the umpires' tunnel. The times of tours are subject to change during the baseball season and tours aren't on offer when the Ravens (football team) play here. For information on current schedules, call: +1 410 547 6234.

Baltimore tours

Visitors have a wide range of choices for tours of Baltimore and its many attractions. There are tours of the harbour and the museums, and also a number of special-interest tours to choose from. Land & Sea Tours feature amphibious vehicles taking visitors through the city’s neighbourhoods, ending with a cruise of the harbour (tel: +1 410 727 DUCK). Concierge Plus (tel. +1 410 580 0350) hosts walking through Little Italy and the locations used in filming the Hollywood movies Homicide and Sleepless in Seattle. 

Additional tours focus on points of historical interest including maritime history tours, immigration tours and ghost walks. African American Cultural Tours, focusing on the contributions of local African Americans, are also available. If you want to see things from a different perspective, there are also harbour cruises. The Bay Lady and Lady Baltimore are two large, 450-passenger ships docked in front of the Light Street Pavilion, operated by Harbour Cruises (tel: +1 800 695 BOAT; website: www.harborcruises.com).

Museums

There are lots of museums to choose from in and around Baltimore and its Inner Harbour. Some interesting museums are devoted to sports, the history of the railroad, African American history and Civil War events.
 
There are also some unusual choices which include: the American Visionary Art Museum, which celebrates the contributions of self-taught artists, housed in the recently-restored Whiskey Barrel building; Thou Art Creative Centre, which offers visitors a chance to explore their creativity using new and old artistic materials, and to contribute in this manner to the museum’s growing collection; and the Jim Rouse Center for Visionary Thought, which celebrates historical and current creative, grassroots activities that continue to improve the quality of life around the world.