Weekend trips in Baltimore area?
 

I'm in MD for the next two months or so and am looking for some weekend trips/itineraries. What are some places to see/visit in the Baltimore area, and it's surroundings?

It really all depends on what you consider "fun" as there is a ton of stuff within a reasonable drive or train ride:

-Annapolis is always nice, especially if you can get a place to stay on or near the waterfront. The Paca House and Gardens is a nice way to spend a half day; they have a really massive koi pond in the gardens and it's a mellow, relaxing place

--Charlestown Races and Slots if you want to whoop it up and gamble but don't want to go all the way to Atlantic City (plus Charles Town either just got, or is getting ready to get, table games in addition to their slots)

--There are several nice day spas in/around Berkley Springs, West Va

--There are some wineries in Frederick County, MD and a bunch more along Route 15 in VA right along the Potomac so you could make a one-night itinerary of winery touring in the daytime and overnight in a B&B (not many decent, proper hotels up this way so B&B's will be the better choice)

--If you are outdoorsy, you could go out to Catoctin State Park which is up near the MD-PA line; gorgeous, especially this time of year with the leaves turning. I love taking my motorcycle up there. Really one of the most beautiful places in the area.

--Amtrak Train to Philly would be about an hour or so, and another hour or so to Manhattan (sorry if my times are a little off, as for me time stands still when I'm on the Amtrak... meaning it crawls so slow....)

--Amtrak or Marc (if it's running) down to DC is under an hour

--Oh and in North Beach, MD, they have a big pre-Christmas celebration where Santa comes in on a speedboat. It's been a long time since I attended but I remember it to always be good fun.

Post a little more about what you're looking for and I'm sure you'll end up with a ton of suggestions!

Within Baltimore itself, I highly recommend the Walters. It's an excellent art museum and (as of a few years ago) is free. In the same general vicinity, you can see Baltimore's version of the Washington Monument and the Pratt Free Library.

Other things to see in Baltimore are Fort McHenry, the American Visionary Art Museum (especially when they do the kinetic sculpture race), and the aquarium (which is excellent but pricy).

The most popular place amongst my admittedly nerdy friends in the nearby suburbs is the National Cryptological Museum.

Within a couple of hours driving, you can get to much of the rest of Maryland or to DC or to Delaware and parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia. I will second the suggestion of Annapolis and also mention that the historic part of Frederick has quite a lot of interesting places. Since the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is approaching, there will be even more than usual going on at the various Civil War related sites in the area. (About half the war was fought in Virginia. Given the number of reenactors, it often feels like it was fought weeks ago, not 150 years ago.)

Again, if you tell us more about what stuff you like, we can help you find things to do.

I like the outdoors, water and gardens but keep in mind that I've lived in the south for over a decade now so it's alil breezy outside these days to be out all day. I don't mind driving an hour or so and would rather drive than take a train. History and art museums are nice for an hour or so, too much of it I get bored. Also some good recommendations for night life could come in handy, I'm 26.

Also in Baltimore you have the National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor area (which is the touristy area of town), the Ravens, and the B&O Railroad Museum. If you like architecture or churches, the old Basilica, the first Catholic cathedral in the U.S., is a rare cathedral built in the Federal style. There is a Babe Ruth museum somewhere near Camden, but I would not expect too much from it.

There are a few nightlife districts. Federal Hill and Fells Point are probably the biggest concentrations of bars/restaurants, and both are walking distance from the Inner Harbor, as is Little Italy. A little farther uptown is Mount Vernon, which is a little older/upscale.

Also, be aware that much of Baltimore is quite unsafe for a visitor after dark. It may not attract headlines like Detroit or have a reputation like New Orleans, but Baltimore has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country.

Annapolis is a good place for water oriented things, including boat rides.

As for gardens, there's Longwood Gardens in Kennett Park, Pennsylvania. It's a bit over 2 hours from where I live, so probably just over an hour from Baltimore. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia is fine, too (again, a bit over an hour from Baltimore). Closer at hand would be the National Arboretum in D.C. I believe there is also some botanical garden in Wheaton, MD, but I'm not sure why I believe that. There's also the American Chestnut Land Trust down in Calvert County.

I'm not a big night life person, but I do know the theatre scene reasonably well and can point you at the Hippodrome for touring productions and Centerstage, and the Lyric. Again, if you are more specific about what type of night life you want (music, dancing, theatre), you might get more helpful answers.

The park in Wheaton, MD is Brookside Gardens. It is fabulous -- and amazing for a county park (Montgomery County). in the summertime, they have an exhibition of live butterflies in a conservatory there. But the outside park is lovely and pretty big.

There is also the U.S. Botanical Garden next to the U.S. Capitol. it is indoors, but still outdoorsy--especially good for wintertime!

Baltimore Museum of Art is good. It is at the edge of the Johns Hopkins U campus. You might find out where JHU students hang out.

The boys and I just finished a two day jaunt in Baltimore. We saw the Constellation, the Taney, and the Torsk. When to the National Electronics Museum and ate at Vacarro's.

Good stuff.

For night life, hit up Fell's Point. Too many bars to choose from to tell you a favorite. Nice place for a crawl. Actually, it is a very nice place to visit during the day as well.

http://www.fellspoint.us/

Power Plant Life is also a good spot for clubbing

Check out The Avenue (36th Street in Hampden) for a dose of local kitsch. Pick up reading material at Atomic Books. Check out some of the cool craft shops. Avoid Cafe Hon, though (there's a boycott in place, long story). Instead, eat at the Dogwood or Golden West and grab coffee at Spro.

Catch an arthouse film at the Charles and visit the Baltimore Museum of Art. It's free and, again if I may recommend a restaurant, you should go to Gertrude's. Fantastic seafood. Also in the area is the Paper Moon Diner. Go there. You'll love it.