From Wikitravel

Baltimore is a popular tourist destination in Maryland, in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America, near Washington (D.C.). It is perhaps most famously known as the city where Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner, and today has become a major center for tourism and travel.

It lies on the juncture of the Chesapeake Bay. With continuous nightlife, temperate climate, and plenty of hospitality, any time of the year is a great time to visit.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Geography 3 Climate 4 Get in 4.1 By bus 4.2 By car 4.3 By train 4.4 By plane 5 Get around 6 See 7 Do 7.1 LGBT 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 11 Get out

Understand

Geography

Baltimore lies in an arm of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the world. The eastern two-thirds of the metropolitan area lie on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, between 15 and 50 feet above sea level, and contain many peninsulas jutting out into the bay. The western third of the city slowly rises into rolling hills, and leads to the piedmont region. It is located about 40 miles from Washington (D.C.), and approximately 100 miles from Philadelphia. The Atlantic Ocean lies about 2 hours to the southeast.

Climate

Baltimore's climate is primarily affected by three factors: its proximity to a warm marine estuary, its low elevation, and the wall of mountains to the northwest. These factor's make the area's climate milder and less extreme than other U.S. cities at this latitude. Summers are humid and hot, but not extremely so, with highs reaching the 80-90°F and lows in the 60-70°F. Winters are cool and moist, with highs in the 40-50°F and lows in the 30-40° F. Temperatures in the winter will wander into the high 10°F on a rare occasion, and it is almost never below 10°F in the city proper. Light snow can sometimes fall in winter, although some years there is no significant accumulation and once every 4 or 5 years a coastal storm can dump over 8 inches on the city. Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures in the 50s-70s(°F), and southern breezes.

Get in

By bus

Greyhound serves most major cities, and the stop in Baltimore's downtown is a few blocks south of the Inner Harbor

By car

Car parking is expensive in the inner city, roughly $5/hr around the harbor area. The 395 turn-off from the I95 will take you right into the harbor area, but traffic can be slow in the center of the city at rush hour and on game days.

By train

Amtrak offers frequent services into Baltimore. The station is on Charles Street in the center of the city, but a considerable distance from the harbor area. However, a spur of the light rail system connects to the train station, and you can ride it to the convention center, three blocks from the harbor.

The MARC train system provides inexpensive service between Baltimore and Washington (D.C.) (and from Washington to Frederick, Maryland and Martinsburg, West Virginia). It is, however, meant to be a commuter system, and runs mostly during work days/hours. Check to be sure it is available when you need it.

By plane

The Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located a few miles outside of the city and is accessible by car or light rail. Shuttles connect BWI to an Amtrak train station just off the airport grounds.

BWI has a somewhat unique car rental system. Car rental facilities are located in a centralized facility located away from the airport. Airport shuttle buses must take travelers to and from the facility and it is advisable to plan an extra 10 to 15 minutes to get out of the airport. Also, if heading to Washington DC, the signage from the airport's car rental facility is very poor and confusing, especially to Route 495. However, all roads ultimately lead to highway access in either direction (North or South).

Get around

Public transportation in Baltimore is nothing spectacular. The buses are slow and unreliable, and the light rail system is meager. However, most sights you'll probably be seeing are within a very small radius and can be walked to.

The light rail system is far more useful for getting into the city than getting around it. You may wish to park outside the city (for free!) and take the light rail in.

There is also a single line subway which runs from Johns Hopkins hospital, through downtown, and out to the northwest suburbs of Pikesville and Owings Mills.

Parking is plentiful near all major sights, usually with pay lots and garages charging parking rates commensurate with with most major cities. The harbor area and the public transportation systems are safe and patrolled.

One of the most popular (and unique!) modes of transportation in Baltimore is the water taxi system. The water taxi is an especially nice way to get around during the warmer months, and offers unique views of the Baltimore skyline. $8.00 buys you unlimited rides all day long, and you can hop on and off at any of the stops throughout the harbor area (which covers areas like Fort McHenry, Fells Point, Little Italy, the Science Center and Aquarium). Hours of operation vary throughout the year; check the schedule for details.

Do not be overly concerned about claims that Baltimore has a high murder rate. While all large urban areas have crime problems, in B-More, most of the murders are related to the illegal drug market and occur in areas of town you will never encounter. As a visitor, you will be safe, but be prudent and know where you are going and how you are getting there. As when visiting anywhere, common sense precautions should be taken when walking around at night: walk in groups; do not carry large amounts of money; and avoid poorly lit and seedy neighborhoods.

Cabs can be expensive, but are safe.

See

• Harbor. The harbor area is the busy center to the city, a major tourist attraction, a must-see, often featuring live music by jazz groups and crooners.
• National Cryptologic Museum at Fort Meade in Maryland, between Washington (D.C.) and Baltimore. [1], [2].
• American Visionary Art Museum, Inner Harbor, [3]. Tu-Su. The most eclectic and interesting collection of contemporary art from professional and amateur artists alike. Adults $9 / Concessions $6.

• U.S.S. Constellation, [4]. The last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy and the only Civil War-era vessel still afloat.
• Fort McHenry Birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner
• Port Discovery - The Children's Museum, Voted one of the top 5 childrens' museum in the US - directly off of the Inner Harbor, [5].
• Baltimore Maritime Museum, [6].
• Maryland Science Center, [7].
• National Aquarium, [8]. One of the best aquariums in the nation, the Baltimore Aquarium is famous for its tropical rainforest exhibit, its efforts to saving marine mammals, and its large shark tanks. Well worth the prise of admission, it's a draw for marine scientists and civilians alike.
• Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, [9].
• Baltimore Museum of Art, north of the harbor, [10]. W-Su. Fantastic. Free.
• The Walters Art Museum, in mid-town, [11].
• Johns Hopkins University, [12]. The Homewood campus was a property purchased in 1800 by Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a wedding present for his son, who designed and oversaw the building of the outstanding federal style country house. The Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States.

• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture 830 E. Pratt Street, (410) 333-1130, [13]. Tu-Su 10 A.M.-5 P.M., closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. This new facility is the largest museum on the East Coast that is devoted to African American history and culture. Admission $8, seniors and college students $6, 6 and under free.

Do

• Harbor ferry. Circumnavigates the harbor.
• Baltimore Orioles, [14]. The local baseball team plays at the Camden Yards.
• Baltimore Ravens, [15]. Football.
• Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
• Morris A Mechanic Theatre
• Hippodrome Theatre

LGBT

• Club Hippo, [16].
• Lambda Rising Bookstore, [17].
• Baltimore Pride, in June, [18]

Eat

The excellent market place, near the harbor, is full of fresh seafood and great food bars to eat with the locals. (Although, obviously, locals do not frequent the Inner Harbor, preferring the neighborhoods surrounding it) Little Italy and Fell's Point, Federal Hill, etc. all feature local and international cuisine. Maryland is known for its steamed crabs, which used to come from the Chesapeake Bay, but due to over-fishing, the catches are diminished each year, so crabs are frequently brought in from Louisiana and Texas.

Lexington Market is an especially popular lunchtime destination, with countless vendors selling all kinds of food imaginable. There are standing tables in an open area on the ground floor, as well as a large seating area on the upper level above that.

Fine dining can be had at Windows, the restaurant in the Renaissance Harbor Side Hotel. Get a window table for a view of the U.S.S. Constellation docked at the inner harbor. It looks down on the pavilions at the harbor.

If you enjoy Mexican food, Nacho Mama's (2907 O'Donnell St) is a great place to check out. Fun atmosphere, surrounded many "priceless artifacts" representing everything Baltimore. More information

Drink

The two neighborhoods with the largest concentrations of drinking establishments and clubs are Fells Point and Powerplant Live!/Inner Harbor. Other areas are Canton Square, Mt. Vernon, Federal Hill, Hampden, and the Station North Arts and Entertainment District.

Fells Point has dozens of options for both eating and drinking, it is located about a 15 min walk from downtown, or a short cab ride.

The DuClaw Brewing Company has an excellent selectino of locally made craft beers, with rotating styles depending on the season. The Greene Turtle is an acceptable sports bar. Max's on Broadway has one of the best selection of beers from around the world. Dozens of beers on tap and even more in bottles. If you are looking for a hard to find beer, Max's is your place in Baltimore.

Powerplant Live! is an area just off of the harbor in downtown that has two blocks of nothing but bars, clubs and restaurants. It has an outdoor area that has music and other events during good weather.

Brewer's Art on Charles Street specializes in Belgian ales. Cross Street Market in Federal Hill has a sushi and raw bar, and an excellent happy hour on Friday.

Sleep

• AmeriSuites - BWI Airport, 940 International Dr, (410) 859-3366, [19]. AmeriSuites BWI is ideally located for business and leisure guests whether you are visiting Baltimore, Annapolis, or even Washington, D.C. Our centralized location makes it convenient and our complimentary shuttle service to and from BWI Airport is a definite plus.

• AmeriSuites - Owings Mills, 4730 Painters Mill Road, (410) 998-3630, [20]. AmeriSuites Owings Mills has a complimentary shuttle service within a five-mile radius for transportation to corporate businesses, shopping, dining and the Metro, which provides an easy commute to downtown and Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

• Clarion Hotel - Peabody Court, 612 Cathedral St, 410 727-7101, [21]. Located in the historic Mt Vernon Arts and Cultural District. Cultural and historic venues such as Meyeroff Symphony Hall, The Lyric, the Engineers Society of Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, Peabody Conservatory, John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore Opera, Center Stage, Maryland Historical Society and Antique Row are just steps from the front door.

• Comfort Suites BWI Airport 815 Elkridge Landing Road, Tel. (410) 691-1000. [22]. The Comfort Suites BWI Airport, a mile from Baltimore Washington International Airport, offers free airport shuttle service. Their oversized suites feature separate areas for working and relaxing and all of the business amenities you need and expect.

• Marriott - Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna St, 410 385-3000, [23]. Located on the water beside the pier six pavilion, within walking distance of Little Italy, The National Aquarium, The Hardrock Cafe, and other places of interest.

• Marriott - Inner Harbor at Camden Yards, 410 962-0202, [24]. Located near the Oriols Stadium and the Ravens Stadium, within walking distance to the Baltimore Convention Center.

• Microtel - BWI Airport, 410 865-7510, [25]. Enjoy consistency, quality, reasonable prices and great service each time you stay with Microtel Inns & Suites. Free local and long-distance calling in the continental US, wireless internet access and more amenities available.

• The Inn at 2920, 2920 Elliott St, (about 1/2 hour from the Harbor), [26]. Although the price might be a bit steep for a bed and breakfast, it is definitely worth it. The place makes you feel pampered, the food is cooked by an excellent chef and the B&B is located in a cool, hip neighborhood (if somewhat yuppy-like), named Canton.

• Wyndham, 101 W Fayette St, 410 752-1100, fax 410 752-0832, [27]. Directly across from the Baltimore Arena and only minutes away from the Baltimore Inner Harbor Convention Center. The elegance, history and fun of Baltimore's beautiful harbor are only three blocks away from this hotel.

Get out

• Annapolis

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