Travel Guides > Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Travel

Located about 50 miles from Washington, DC, for years Baltimore was just a place to stop and get gas on the way to see the real tourist attractions in the nation's capitol. However, in the last few decades, Baltimore has done a great job of establishing itself as a tourist destination in its own right, with improvements to its Inner Harbor and campaigns to attract visitors to its diverse neighborhoods.

First established long ago as a port city, Baltimore became a shipbuilding center for the military. The city, because of its location, also attracted large industrial businesses, like steel companies and auto manufacturers.

Today's Baltimore is a wealth of museums and other attractions that make visitors want to do more than just pass through on the interstate.

Baltimore's premiere attraction, found in the re-invigorated Inner Harbor area, is the immense National Aquarium. Touted as one of the best in the country, this aquarium is home to really cool exhibits like an Amazon River Forest, a Tropical Rain Forest, and a Coral Reef. Don't miss the dolphin ampitheater!

For history buffs, a trip to Fort McHenry is a must. See where Francis Scott Key penned the Star Spangled Banner and catch a glimpse of one of the largest flags flying anywhere, a whopping 30x42 foot Stars and Stripes. Exhibits also teach you about the history of the fort and the purposes it served throughout several wars.

Baltimore boasts two excellent art museums. The Baltimore Museum of Art houses an especially wonderful collection of French impressionist works as well as pieces from other eras and genres and the Walters Art Gallery is famous for its impressive Egyptian display and lots of medieval knight's armor, a favorite with children.

For something a bit more lighthearted, travel to Babe Ruth's Birthplace and the Baltimore Orioles Museum. Located close to Camden Yards, the Oriole's ballpark, this little row house displays interesting artifacts from Ruth's childhood as well as memorabilia from the Orioles and the old Baltimore Colts football franchise.

Port Discovery, a haven for the under-12 set, is an interactive museum designed by the creative minds of Disney Imagineers. Kids can jump, climb, slide, play, sing, and do everything else they love to do in this unique museum.

If you'd like to spend some time shopping, head to the Inner Harbor where you can peruse HarborPlace, an excellent mall-type experience with more stores and restaurants than you can count.

While there are plenty of restaurants and small eateries near Baltimore's tourist sites, the best places to eat are in the city's neighborhoods and the best way to find the greatest places to eat in a big city is to ask the locals. They're sure to direct you away from the crowded tourist areas and into the unique regions of the city. For example, Little Italy, with its tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants, is the perfect place for an affordable yet scrumptious Italian dinner and residents are happy to share that information with hungry guests visiting this wonderful city.