Baltimore is a great city to visit as there is so much to see and do near the downtown and harbor areas. Within walking distance, or by water taxi, you can explore the scenic waterfront and an interesting mix of neighborhoods, museums, and galleries. You'll get to know what makes Baltimore unique and exciting; the quirky mix of ethnic diversity, old world traditions, and hometown funk alongside the modern elements of the harbor renaissance. A short ride on the Light Rail, a bus, or taxi will take you to destinations a bit further away. Here are a few of the many attractions of Charm City, but brochures and maps will be available at the convention center or stop by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association for all the information you need.

Inner Harbor

(501 E. Pratt Street, Pier 3) Designated national by Congress, the National Aquarium in Baltimore is Maryland's most popular attraction, and the glass-topped triangular design makes it the most striking building in the harbor. The aquarium contains more than 10,000 specimens and represents not only the ocean and rain forest, but an Icelandic coast, a coral reef, and its newest exhibit on the animals of Australia.

(401 E. Pratt Street) Get a panoramic view of the city and harbor from the 27th floor observation deck of the World Trade Center, the world's tallest pentagonal building.

(Pier 1, 301 E. Pratt Street) Another standout feature of the inner harbor, this 179-foot sloop is the last full sail warship and the last Civil War vessel still afloat. Built in 1853, it has been fully restored and gives visitors a good look at life on board the ship with its elegant, if compact, captain's quarters, the simple hammocks for the crew, the prison brig, and even a manger for livestock. Of course there are the many cannons on the deck, one of which is fired regularly by a spirited guide in uniform, who gives an enlightening history of the vessel.

(Pratt and Light Streets) Time for a stop at Harborplace, the two eating and shopping multiplex glass pavilions centrally located on the harbor and connected with an outdoor amphitheater, where you can sit and watch the street performers or boats. The Pratt Street Pavilion has many good restaurants and a wide selection of traditional and unusual shops, such as Hats in the Belfry. At the Light Street Pavilion you'll find the well-known standard, Philips Seafood Restaurant, along with lunch and snack choices galore from homemade ice cream and fudge to an extensive food court on the second floor, where you can sample the local seafood favorites: crab cakes, oysters, clams and mussels, raw, steamed or fried, and any number of deli and ethnic choices. The Light Street Pavilion also specializes in stores featuring everything Maryland, so buy your local souvenirs at the many shops, or head across Pratt Street to the fancier Gallery for upscale stores, such as Coach, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, and other national retailers.

(601 Light Street.) Kids of all ages will enjoy three levels of hands-on exhibits. Explore the past with full-size dinosaurs and the future in "Our Place in Space." Other interactive exhibits include: the Chesapeake Bay ecology, kinetic energy, human body, and fossils. If you prefer to sit back and watch, enjoy an IMAX movie or a show in the Davis Planetarium. On Friday nights, there is free stargazing through the center's historic refracting telescope on the rooftop observatory.

This walkway affords one a path through all of the tourist activity of the harbor proper, and takes you to either Federal Hill, or, in the other direction, to the Living Classroom A detailed description of the walk appears in the highly recommended book, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, by Evan Balkan (Menasha Ridge Press, 2006).

Downtown Attractions

(830 E. Pratt Street.) Opened in 2005, the museum is the largest African American museum on the east coast, and it traces the history of African Americans from the slave trade to the present in the areas of agriculture, trades, business, arts, and culture. The main purpose of the museum is education, and its exhibits document the struggles as well as the accomplishments of African Americans. The museum highlights both prominent Maryland African American leaders such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Thurgood Marshall, and those that are lesser known. There is an interactive exhibit of the underground railroad and a variety of changing displays, such as African American baseball greats and photographs of African American farmers. Now a prominent feature just east of the Inner Harbor, the modern black granite building and its interior red wall, mounting stairway and light-filled atrium symbolize the sorrows, strength, pride, and joy of African Americans.

(1601-3 East North Avenue) The first of its kind, this unique museum vividly portrays the struggles and triumphs of African Americans. More than 100 lifelike figures depict national heroes, such as Martin Luther King, outstanding Baltimoreans, e.g., neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and leaders in science, exploration, arts, sports, and other fields. The realistic exhibit of the interior of a slave ship and the exhibit on lynching are unforgettable reminders of the horrors of slavery and racism. There are also exhibitions on Islam, abolition, the Harlem Renaissance, and other subjects.

(333 West Camden Street, [888] 848-BIRD) This beautiful stadium, with its traditional design and state-of-the-art features, is a 12-minute walk from the inner harbor and only two blocks from the birthplace of Babe Ruth. The brick facade, sunroof over the upper deck, and grass turf are some of the features that connect it to the great ballparks of the early 1900s such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. The 1905 B&O brick warehouse, which runs 1,000 feet along the east side of the ballpark, adds to the historical urban ambience. An enclosed alley between the park and the warehouse is a haven for hawkers, food, and drink stalls. The bleachers are some of the best in the country, as everyone gets a good view of the playing field. Public tours of the park are available on weekends.

(901 W. Pratt Street) A must for train buffs, the B&O Railroad Museum has the oldest and most extensive railroad collection in the world. The site marks the birthplace of American railroading, as the B&O Railroad was the first successful commercial and passenger train, and many of Baltimore's most prominent business and civic leaders were involved in the enterprise. The museum covers the history of the B&O Railroad and early railroading in America, and displays steam locomotives, rolling stock, and a small object collection covering every facet of railroading. Historic sites include the Mt. Clare Station, an 1851 replacement of the original 1829 station, which was the first railroad station in America; and the magnificent Roundhouse, built in 1884, which is the largest circular industrial building in the world. The main exhibits are in the station and annex building, and the Roundhouse holds rail cars and locomotives, including early stagecoach style passenger cars, America's first steam engine, the Tom Thumb, and 20th-century engines.

(400 W. Lexington Street.) The largest market in Baltimore has operated since 1792 and provides more than 100 stalls with fresh and prepared foods, including a wide variety of international cuisine, deli, and soul food, as well as general merchandise. Annual events include "Lunch with the Elephants," which takes place in March when the circus comes to town; the elephants march up Eutaw Street to the market where they consume the world's largest buffet of fruits and vegetables.

Antique Row

(800 Block N. Howard Street.) Antique Row originated with the cabinetmakers and artisans who lived above their workshops along this street. Here, John and Hugh Finley made their famous, English-style furniture that is decorated with pictures of Maryland mansions. Now the Finley furniture can be seen in the Baltimore Museum of Art, but the many antique and art galleries on Howard Street are still great for window-shopping and treasure hunting. Hours vary; best time to visit is Friday or Saturday from 11 or 12 until about 5 PM. Selected stores include:

801 N. Howard Street, 17th- and 18th-century furniture, paintings, lamps, home accessories.

809 N. Howard Street, variety of dealers offering jewelry, china, porcelain, Chinese antiquities, etc.

817 N. Howard Street, collectible children's books, e.g., Little Golden Books, classics, Victoriana; also book appraisal.

831 N. Howard Street, antique silver.

839 N. Howard Street, period American furniture.

841-843 N. Howard Street, brass restoration; 18th- and 19th-century furniture, art, and accessories.

875 N. Howard Street, Sunday auctions on art, antiques, and collectibles.

Fell's Point

No trip to Baltimore is complete without a visit to the historic waterfront community of Fell's Point, and the water taxi is the best way to get there from the Inner Harbor. Fell's Point was Baltimore's original deep seaport, and it is still a working waterfront with bright red tugboats docked at the wharf. With its eclectic shops, cobbled streets, and many taverns and restaurants, the Point is a favorite of the young and old. You can feed the ducks from the pier, relax in the adjoining square, walk along the waterfront promenade, get an ice cream at Molly Moo's, and have tea or a drink in the cozy downstairs pub at the historic Admiral Fell Inn - humorously named after the founders of the port, William and Edward Fell. Amid the 18th- and 19th-century row houses you can still find the Fell family grave marker on 1607 Shakespeare Street. There are shopping opportunities of all sorts - from old brass to expensive jewelry, home decor at Su Casa, handicrafts from around the world at 10,000 Villages, new and used book and music stores, antiques and oriental rugs, and funky shoes and body jewelry at Stikky Fingers. The young crowd flocks to the late-night bars in Fell's Point, but this is also a great choice for an afternoon visit or dinner.

Some of the attractions at Fell's Point include: Broadway Pier, the second busiest immigration port after New York City until 1917; Broadway Market, a long-standing market where you can sample food from Baltimore's Polish, Greek, and Italian heritage; City Recreation Pier, once a dancing and social center, later a police station and setting for "Homicide, Life on the Streets;" Douglass Terrace, five houses which Frederick Douglass had built when he returned to Baltimore as a free and famous man; the Robert Long House, the oldest existing house in Baltimore, which was built in 1765 complete with pre-revolutionary war furniture; and the Fell's Point Maritime Museum for the history of Baltimore seafaring commerce.

Federal Hill

(800 Key Highway, 410-244-1900) Walk 10 minutes from the Inner Harbor to the unique American Visionary Art Museum, home to the most bizarre, whimsical, and poignant collection of "outsider" art that you'll ever see. Many of the self-taught artists are farmers, rural inhabitants, or people on the fringes of society, and they use paint as well as such everyday materials as matches, metal, or paper plates to create their vision. Along with the permanent collection, year-long exhibits have a central theme that is explored in six galleries. The building itself, described as an "architectural jewel," combines a historic industrial building with new construction and a central stairway of hand-cast metal. On the exterior of the building, a mosaic of hundreds of mirror, glass, and tile pieces covers an entire three-story wall, and there is a bright, multicolored wind-powered 55-foot whirligig in the courtyard, built by 76-year-old mechanic, farmer and visionary artist, Vollis Simpson. The museum also includes a sculpture barn and wildflower garden.

(Warren Avenue and Key Highway). This grassy space is located across the Key Highway behind the Science Center, so it is close to the harbor activity. The site of many important events in Baltimore's history, Federal Hill got its name in 1788 when thousands of Baltimoreans marched from Fell's Point to the Hill to celebrate Maryland's ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Later, an observatory was built on the hill so merchants could be on the lookout for the arrival of their ships, as Federal Hill, along with Fells Point, was a center of Baltimore's shipping trade through the 19th century.

The Federal Hill neighborhood offers a view of early Baltimore houses. Built in the 18th and 19th centuries, many have been beautifully restored. Some have elegant facades and others are quaint and charming, such as the compact two-story brick row houses that line the streets near Cross Street Market. The market has all types of local treats and produce, as well as a crowded beer and seafood venue. Another fun place to shop, the area around Charles and Cross Streets has a great selection of unique stores, from home decor, beautiful tiles, antiques, furniture, and clothing stores. My personal favorite is Zelda Zen, a small store across from the Market, full of sparkly jewelry, candles, and accessories, all for a great price. Federal Hill comes alive at night with its many bars, wide selection of restaurants and music blaring from the Funk Box, where the state governor formerly played with his Celtic band, O'Malley's March.

(1415 Key Highway) A renovated 1865 oyster cannery houses this museum, offering visitors a hands-on exploration of the history of labor and industry. There are re-creations of a 1900 machine shop, print shop, garment workshop, and a steam-driven tugboat outside the building.

(Fort Avenue). The star-shaped fort is famous for its pivotal role in the defense of Baltimore in the War of 1812 and for the origin of the national anthem. Although British warships bombarded the fort for more than 24 hours on September 13, 1814, at dawn the huge American flag made by a local flagmaker, Mary Pickersgill, still waved over the fort. Seeing the flag, a young American lawyer, Francis Scott Key, who was watching from the deck of a truce ship where he was working on prisoner exchange, was inspired to write the poem that would become the Star-Spangled Banner. You can tour the living quarters within the fort, and cells for prisoners, see the many cannons, and walk the perimeter of the grounds for a great view of ships on the harbor. There is a short film on the history of the fort every 20 minutes.

Mount Vernon

Less than a mile north of the Inner Harbor on Charles Street is the cultural center of Mt. Vernon with libraries, museums, and beautiful historic townhomes clustered around the central park.

This little city park is an oasis of shade on a hot day: it has shade trees, park benches, grass, and lovely views of the Washington Monument and the neo-Gothic Methodist church on the corner of Charles Street and Mount Vernon Place. You can stroll the area, visit a restaurant, and return to sit on a bench and drink in the sights.

Completed in 1829, this is the first monument to George Washington. It was designed by Robert Mills, who later built the Washington Monument in D.C. Climb the 228 spiraling steps for great views of the city.

(600 N. Charles Street) The Walters Collection spans 55 centuries of art, including Egyptian antiquities (e.g., a rare sarcophagus), Asian ceramics, exquisite illuminated manuscripts, ivory, Faberge eggs, and masterworks of old and modern paintings. William Walters, a wealthy railroad and liquor magnate, began collecting art in the 1800s, and he displayed these works for public viewing in his house on Mt. Vernon Place. His son Henry continued the eclectic collection and eventually left the vast holdings to Baltimore. The museum now includes three buildings: the main Italianate and Baroque building completed in 1909 by Henry Walters, a recently renovated wing which houses much of the collection, and the Hackerman House, an 1851 Greek Revival mansion. The mansion, where the Asian art is displayed in the beautifully furnished rooms, gives an idea of the life of the wealthy during the 19th century.

(Cathedral and Mulberry Streets) The Basilica was built from 1806 to 1892 and was the first metropolitan cathedral. John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop and Archbishop of Baltimore, wanted a cathedral in the neoclassical American style, and Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who designed the capitol, volunteered his services. Thomas Jefferson's insistence on skylights for the capitol influenced Latrobe's plan for the Basilica's grand dome. The church, considered one of the finest examples of 19th-century architecture, was recently fully restored.

(Corner of Charles Street and Mt. Vernon Place) One of only three Gothic buildings in Baltimore, the high steeple and unique exterior walls of green serpentine add to its splendor. It was designed by Dixon and Carr and built in 1871. Interior pews are of handcarved walnut.

Other notable churches in Mt. Vernon are the 1817 First Unitarian at the corner of Charles and Franklin and the Grace and St. Peters Episcopal Church, an elegant English Gothic Revival church at 707 Park Street. Many other lovely churches are located in the surrounding area. If you find yourself in the area of Bolton Hill, visit the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, Park and Lafayette Streets, to see the gorgeous tiffany windows, two of the largest ever made, in the brilliant blue dome interior.

(201 W. Monument Street) The recently renovated and expanded Maryland Historical Society is the state's oldest cultural institution. Highlights of the museum's 5.4 million objects include: extensive genealogy indexes, rare Civil War and other photographs, slavery and plantation records, currency, and historical maps. In addition to the permanent exhibits at the Historical Society, there are ten featured exhibits each year. Also, there is a great gift store.

Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
Northwest Baltimore

(10 Art Museum Drive, free admission). Adjacent to John Hopkins University, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has a spectacular collection of modern art contributed by two sisters, Claribel and Etta Cone, who traveled in Europe in the early 1900s and acquired works by Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, Renoir, and others. Included in the Cone Collection is a room with some of their lovely furniture and antiques displayed with selected paintings. In addition, a touch-screen provides visitors with a 3-D view into the interior of their adjacent Baltimore apartments, which were crammed with art, beautiful furniture, and other treasures. Robert Garrett, from a prominent Baltimore railroad family, contributed original funding for the museum, as well as a fabulous collection of ancient Antioch mosaics that adorn the central court of the museum. The elegant Classical Revival building was designed by John Russell Pope, who was the architect for the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Several wings include permanent collections of African, Native American, and Pre-Columbian art; American and European decorative art, such as the Finley furniture from Baltimore; old masters, contemporary art, and other holdings.

Shaded walkways situated in a nook below street level shield the walker from traffic noise on Charles Street. It is located just north of the Baltimore Museum of Art on the west side of Charles Street and adjacent to the JHU Homewood Campus.

(3400 N. Charles Street) This 1801 National Historic Landmark, home to Charles Carroll Jr., provided the architectural vocabulary and name for Johns Hopkins University's recently renovated Homewood campus. Built on a Paladian-inspired five-part plan, Homewood is one of the nation's best surviving examples of federal period architecture and is renowned for its elegant proportions, fine workmanship, and extravagant details. After touring Homewood's brightly colored rooms, with superb examples of Baltimore furniture, and viewing the exhibition "Feathers, Fins, and Fur: The Pet in Early Maryland", stretch out on the grassy area known as "the Beach" in front of the museum and watch the JHU students, faculty, and staff bustle by. The museum is located next to the Milton S. Eisenhower Library, which is centrally located on the JHU campus facing Charles Street.

Located west of the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus, there are many paths to jog and open spaces for throwing a frisbee, shady trees, and places to spread a blanket and relax. If you are missing a pet left at home, this is dog heaven! Walk through campus west toward Wyman Park. Or take the light rail to the Woodberry stop and walk east through funky Hampden to reach the Park.

Across Charles Street from the Baltimore Museum of Art is the eclectic community Charles Village with its mix of shops, cafes, inexpensive restaurants, and interesting architecture. Developed in the late 1800s as Peabody Heights, builders constructed a variety of exteriors and then let buyers choose the interior embellishments. The most distinctive are the large bow front three-to-four story Victorian "Painted Ladies" with brightly colored exteriors and the stately mansions along Charles Street.

(4100 Greenway Street at Stratford Road) This six-acre park owned by the Guilford Neighborhood Association features many plants and flowers and is especially worth a walk in spring when the tulips and azaleas are blooming. It is also within walking distance of the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus. The elegant homes and tree-lined streets of Guilford, previously mentioned, make for a pleasant walk to the Gardens.

(4545 N. Charles Street, closed on Mondays). A few miles north of downtown Baltimore, the lovely wooded grounds of Evergreen House offers respite from the city's hustle and bustle. On the National Register of Historic Places, this Italianate mansion on 26 landscaped acres was the home of two generations of Baltimore's Garrett family of B&O Railroad fame (from 1878 to 1942). Today a museum owned by JHU, Evergreen's 48 opulent rooms contain more than 50,000 of the Garretts' diverse belongings, including post-Impressionist paintings, drawings by Degas and Picasso, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, rare books, and one of the largest private collections of Tiffany glass. Tours are offered during visitor's hours.

Hampden

Visit the birthplace of John Waters for a taste of hometown funk, great shopping, and offbeat restaurants. The former modest mill community has become a haven for artists, who live alongside the old-time blue-collar residents. Thirty-fourth Street is famous for its Christmas decorations and some are displayed year-round. Along "The Avenue," actually 36th Street, there are many unique shopping and dining opportunities. Look for the giant pink flamingo on the storefront to find Cafe Hon, a local tradition, which offers good basic fare, including the Hon burger and Hon bun, and also sells off-beat Baltimore souvenirs. There are also several second-hand "junque" stores such as Fat Elvis, where you can find a large collection of 45s, vintage clothing, and (the last time I visited) even a coffin for purchase or rental on milestone birthdays. Great clothing and gift stores include Oh! Said Rose for clothes, gifts and jewelry, Ma Petit Shoe for Parisian shoes and delicious chocolates, and Cloud Nine for original clothing. Hometown Girl is great for souvenirs.

674 acres surround the lake where Barry Levinson filmed Avalon. You can walk around the lake, stop by the nearby Baltimore Conservatory to see the orchid collection, or visit the zoo on your walk. Notable sights near the lake are the Turkish Tower and the restored fountain. There are also monuments to Eli Siegel, William Wallace (aka Braveheart), and Christopher Columbus. The conservatory features a garden of the senses for the disabled, guided tours, and hiking trails that you can wander on your own.

Started in 1862 with a donation of four swans by a local citizen, the zoo is one of the oldest in the country and now has more than 1,500 birds, reptiles, and mammals. You can get up close and personal with exhibits, such as the Polar Bear Watch that lets you observe the bears from a tundra buggy, or the Parakeet Landing, where you can feed the cockatiels and rosellas. Learn about local and exotic animals as you take treks through the Maryland Wilderness or the African Journey.

(4915 Greenspring Avenue, 410-396-0180) A lovely 19th-century mansion and grounds with many trails to explore. Botanoholics will love the 207 acres of formal, woodland, and even rowhouse gardens, all within the Baltimore city limits. You can also book a tour by calling ahead (410-367-2217) or check the web site.

Bibliography

• "Baltimore: Get in on It." Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.
• Downtown area map provided by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.
• Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
• "Baltimore Sun Visitor's Guide." The Baltimore Sun.
• Evitts, Elizabeth A. and Nancy Jones-Bonbrest. Insiders' Guide to Baltimore, 4th ed. Guilford, Conn.: Insiders' Guide, 2005.
• Live Baltimore Home Center: Neighborhoods.
• Males, Carolyn, Carol Rolnick, and Pam Goresh. Wish you were here! A guide to Baltimore City for natives and newcomers. Baltimore, Md.: Woodholme House Publishers, 1999.

About the Authors

Patty MacDonald is head of research and instruction services at Notre Dame Library in Baltimore, and Maureen Beck is director of library services at Villa Julie Library in Baltimore.