Baltimore. A majestic harbor city tucked firmly in the state of Maryland. This peaceful and commonly-overlooked gem is a representation of the quieter American life: it is unlike the hustle and bustle of America’s larger cities, yet paints a perfect picture of what a city should be.
Often portrayed as a microcosm of the entire Mid-Atlantic region, Baltimore shan’t be overlooked. If you’re looking for a lesser-known yet still chill vacation spot, with plenty of historic sights and vibrant culture, look no further than Baltimore, Maryland.
When pulling up to the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort on Baltimore’s eastern waterfront, I allowed the cool breeze of the harbor to rush over me as I exited the car, the bellboys and valet guys in sight. Expecting a ‘meh’ vibe to the city, I came to realize over the next few days how truly awesome Baltimore is.
I had created a checklist in advance of things I wanted to do, things I had seen on Google Maps that looked interesting. A week prior, I had planned out on the Notes app of my iPhone which of these landmarks I was going to visit, which of these events I was going to attend, and when.
I completed everything on my list.
Listed below are the top five things to do and see — based on my experience — in Baltimore, Maryland. They are listed in bottom-up order.
5) Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry is a historic former fort located in Baltimore’s southern Locust Point neighborhood. Built from 1776 to 1797, the fort played a crucial role in defending Baltimore Harbor from the British during the War of 1812. It was also used during World War I and World War II, and designated a national park in 1925 and eventually a National Monument in 1939.
If you’re into American history, or history in general, Fort McHenry (and Baltimore in general) is a great spot to check out. Visitors can tour the small-ish museum built nearby the fort. But if you’re not into history, or running low on time (as I was), you need not visit the museum. The entire area surround–ing the fort is a large, peaceful park.
Walk along the banks of the Baltimore Harbor, watching the ant-sized cars and trucks crossing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the far distance. Bring some lunch, sit down on a bench, have a picnic, take a nap, whatever relaxing thing your heart desires. Fort McHenry is the place to do it.
The one drawback from Fort McHenry is that it is located somewhat far from the core of Baltimore, so a 10-minute drive through the quiet and cute streets of South Baltimore is required. There’s plenty of parking at the Fort, though.
4) U.S.S. Constellation
The last sail-only warship built by the United States Navy, the U.S.S. Constellation was built and sailed in 1854. After serving the Union in the American Civil War, the ship was retired in 1954, one hundred years after being commissioned, and is now docked in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
As you tour the Inner Harbor (which we’ll get to), you’ll pass by the ship. Get some cheap tickets to be granted access to the small museum, which lies next to the ship. The museum is filled with historical artifacts and memorabilia from the ship and its glory days, so again, if you’re into history, you’ll dig this.
After passing though the one-room museum, you’ll be able to board the ship and tour its four decks (the lower decks don’t have a lot of headroom. You’ve been warned). View and take pictures of each cabin, which still contain the original furniture, desks, and paper letters from when it was still in service. Like the rest of Baltimore, the ship is worth checking out, even if you’re not a big history person.
3) Boat Tour
All major water cities have ’em, so take advantage! Baltimore’s boat tour is not unlike the other boat tours of small, historic cities like Boston and Providence. However, each city is unique and will offer different skyline views, and Baltimore’s skyline represents the city itself well: small and plain, yet pretty in nature.
The sightseeing tour I took was called Watermark Cruises, found at the western side of the Inner Harbor. The tour was pre-recorded, each voice clip playing a different piece of information as we passed landmarks and sights, viewing them from a distance on the boat. The tour lasted about 45 minutes, and it was about 80ºF that day (oh yeah, the weather in Baltimore is pretty great, compared to the rest of the Northeast. Considerably warmer and sunnier in April, there’s less rain, and the trees are grown in weeks before their northern counterparts), so I was able to get a nice tan.
Do the boat tour, and you should get a tan, too.
2) Orioles Game
Going to an Orioles game in Camden Yards is possibly one of the coolest experiences. The team’s in a massive crater these past few years (wait, they’re a major league team?), having a record-worst 47–115 season in 2018.
However, they can be considered the “lovable losers” of the East. Their friendly, innocent aura is apparent (maybe it’s a sense of desperation. As I was leaving the ballpark, a fan told me “Come back soon! We need you!”), and the tickets are, dare I say, mad cheap. I was able to snag first-row tickets by first base for $10, and this came with the ability to mingle with the players, get a ball and a few autographs before the game. Even if you hate or are unfamiliar with baseball, make time for an Orioles game in Baltimore.
A piece of advice: if you want to see an Orioles game in Camden Yards when you come to Baltimore, do make sure the Orioles will actually be in town during your stay. If they are, snag some tickets online, come prepared (StubHub is the way to go). The schedule for their entire season is posted on their website, so plan ahead. As Sal Vulcano once said, “don’t be an idiot.”
1) Inner Harbor
Coming in at number one is the Inner Harbor. Mentioned multiple times already, the Inner Harbor is the spot where it’s all at. It is the number one destination in Baltimore, and everywhere you’re going to be, you’re going to be walking along the Inner Harbor. As it is a major artery in Baltimore, and a top tourist destination for this reason, it is listed at number one.
The Inner Harbor, as its name implies, is a waterfront walkway located right on Baltimore Harbor. Along the Inner Harbor, one can access the U.S.S. Constellation, National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, and a whole bunch of shops, including a former power plant building that is now converted into hotspot bars, restaurants, and a massive Barnes & Noble.
Honorable Mentions
Not every sight made the cut, but they’re still worth a mention.
Some other honorable mentions include:
- The former power plant. You’ll definitely pass it as you’re walking the Inner Harbor, so why not stop inside the Hard Rock Cafe to grab lunch, or gaze up at the massive smokestacks from inside the Barnes & Noble.
- Baltimore City Hall. Not much to see on the inside, but there’s some green space outside, and you can get some sick pictures, as I got above. It’s located on the eastern end of Downtown, not far from the Inner Harbor.
- The National Aquarium. I’ll be honest, if you’re not much of an indoors person, or you’ve seen enough aquariums in your day, I’d skip this one. It was hardly worth the $119 per ticket, and I saw the whole thing in an hour. Plus, the entire building was swarming with sneezing and coughing children. There are some intriguing fish in there, including an epic shark and jellyfish exhibit, but if you’re running short on time, skip this one.
- Shot Tower. Not much to it other than the fact that it’s a giant, 234 foot-tall tower, that can’t be accessed. Snapping a few pictures of it from a distance will do.
- Little Italy. Another lower-quality-than-expected attraction, Little Italy is more like “Little Abandoned Fake Italian Neighborhood”. The small neighborhood consists of empty restaurants with Italian names, but the place hardly feels Italian. In broad daylight, you’ll be lucky if you see two people walking on the streets, other than prostitutes. An overrated place to avoid, indeed.
- Baltimore Basilica. Although quite a far walk from the Inner Harbor, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the first Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. Plenty of saints and prominent Catholic figures of recent history have walked and celebrated mass within the confines of this church. As a Catholic myself, I made the effort to visit it, viewing it as an importance to my faith. If you’re not Catholic, you can still visit it and admire its beautiful architecture.
Baltimore is home to many prominent historic sites, and it’s filled with many sights to see. History lover or not, it’s a place you don’t want to miss out on.
So what are you waiting for? Baltimore is calling with a fresh breeze.
Can you feel it?
Chris is a writer and publisher who travels America, and loves doing it. He also loves pizza, video games, and sports, and can tell you a thing or two about each. Follow him on Medium to be informed of new articles.
