Suggestions for Visitors in Baltimore?
 

Hi, My parents are coming to visit soon and we have done pretty much everything in the DC area that they are interested in. I was thinking of taking them for a day trip to Baltimore. Besides the aquarium and Inner Harbor, anyone have suggestions? As far as I know, they have never been tourists in Baltimore before. Suggestions for activities and dining are appreciated. They tend to like low key (and reasonably priced) restaurants. Thanks.

While I enjoy a lot of things right around Inner Harbor, be ready to pay for the pleasure of any of the attractions. IMO, prices of the aquarium, various ships and other activities are fairly high or maybe it's because I'm used to DC and free smithsonian museums.

BTW, I recommend using the water taxi for the day if its good weather.

My dining recommendation is Corks restaurant. It looks like (and kind of is) a hole-in-the-wall, but serves tremendously wonderful food and has a jaw-dropping wine list.

If they are museum inclined, both the Baltimore and the Walters are very fine.

For a taste of baltimore as portrayed by john waters, go to G&M for crab cakes. you may not be able to get a seat, so be prepared to get them to go. the place gets a zagat 7 for decor(which is generous). The crab cakes are boiled, then broiled.

G&M isn't exactly easy to find if you are not familiar with the area. If you are going to travel that far out, Timbuktu puts their crabcakes to shame :)


For a day in Baltimore, definitely get a water taxi ticket. Spend some time walking around Fell's Point, Ft. Mc Henry, Canton. Try a Clipper City cruise (discount coupon with water taxi ticket). Restaurants in FEll's Point will be better and less expensive than in the Inner Harbor. Crabby Dick's is good as is Obrycki's and Bo Brooks.

Have you considered a day trip to Annapolis? It's a beautiful small city in which you can take a tour of historic homes, tour the Naval Academy, go shopping in its cute cobblestone streets, and take boat rides too. Plus the restaurants are fantastic.

I was thinking the same. Annapolis is a good choice.

Here are some places I can think of besides Annapolis and Baltimore:
(probably you've been there already)

- Mount Vernon
- Harpers ferry
- Great falls

if the day is good, Shenandoah NP and/or Luray caverns is also a good idea.

There's a lot to see and do in Baltimore. As slawecki mentioned, if your parents are into art, you should consider the Walters Art Gallery, downtown off Mount Vernon Place, and the Baltimore Museum of Art, a bit north of the city center. Both are excellent, but I prefer the Walters. The B&O Railroad Museum with its roundhouse and collection of locomotives and rolling stock is excellent and very informative. Evergreen House, a mansion from the late 1800's and furnished in the style of the Golden Age (built with B&O money) is up near Johns Hopkins University. There's also Fort McHenry, but it's a little further from downtown. Fells Point or Little Italy would be good choices for dining.

Thanks so much for all the ideas! They are looking forward to their trip to Baltimore. I think next time I will try Annapolis. I have taken them to Mt. Vernon, Great Falls, and Luray Caverns.

I agree 100% with you. Annapolis is amazing! The Naval Academy is beautiful and the waterfront is packed with cute, interesting shops and great food. I'd go to Annapolis every weekend if the drive wasn't so long. Highly recommend it!

I'd also recommend the Phillip's Seafood Buffett down at the Baltimore waterfront. It is $25 dollars a person which seems like alot but the food is amazing. Every single type of seafood is there and a dessert bar. I've eaten there for 3 hours before so I could eat as many crab legs as possible. Baltimore is known for crabcakes so I'd definately go there. ^

The BMA and Walters are lovely, but compared to DC museums really quite small. For my money, I'd rather go to the Philips Collection in DC for impressionism than the BMA- yes the Cone sisters bequest has some memorable works, but the volume is at the Philips. Incidentally, I believe the renovations project is finished and that means Renoir's Boating party is back.

But it does have the usual buffet issues. Packed, an hour line, not best atmosphere etc but overall it is very good value and Edy's ice cream buffet too ;)

I'd second Annapolis though. IMO more interesting and picturesque than Baltimore. More of a walking city.

You couldn't pay me to eat at Phillip's, buffet or not. They are a typical tourist trap restaurant and their crabcakes suck. I ate the buffet at their restaurant in DC a few years ago and it was horrible.

I'll have to disagree here. Annapolis is lovely but so are the many little areas along the Baltimore harbor. I would pick Fell's Point and Canton over Annapolis any day. I do like Annapolis on boat show weekends, though. :)

I think Annapolis has a nice family friendly atmosphere and cute antique shops (maritime geared). Depending on level of interest in colonial architecture at St. John's College in the area, you could spend a lot of time there or just do a quick jaunt.