First time tourist in Baltimore? Then you’ve definitely chosen the right place for your vacation. Being the largest city in the state of Maryland, there are so many things you can do here to enjoy your stay. Be its historical landmarks, arts, sports, food, name it and you’ll definitely find it in Charm City.
If you don’t have any idea what to do in Baltimore as in the case of many first-time tourists, Jaime Lee wrote a blog post in Two Monkeys Travel Group about the awesome things to do in Baltimore, serving as your travel guide in the city as well. Mentioning all awesome things could be quite long, but she mentioned 7 of the best things you can do here.
7 Awesome Things to Do in Baltimore, USA @abiteofculture
Image Source: Two Monkeys Travel Group
1. Experience sports culture
Baltimore is HUGE on sports. It’s an essential part of the city’s culture and people take their sports teams very seriously in Baltimore. The people bleed orange and white in the summer and black and purple in the winter. If you want to get taste of Baltimore culture, this is a great way to do just that.
Baseball season is between April and October/November and Baltimore boasts arguably the best baseball stadium built to date. Camden Yards opened in 1992 and has a spectacular “vintage” vibe to it. It’s the perfect place to spend a summer evening; make sure to get the beer with Old Bay Spice in it!
Between August/September and May is football season. The Baltimore Ravens bring a ton of fans to the stadium. It’s a loud, rambunctious experience, but one that you’ll surely love!
2. Find your inner hipster in Hampden
Hampden is a neighborhood outside of downtown Baltimore that is unique in more ways than one. It is the heart of the “hon” culture. “Hon” (short for honey) stems from the dialect of people from Baltimore as well as the lifestyle of Baltimore back in the 1950s’. If you really want to fit in at the Oriole’s game, make sure to say, “How ‘bout dem O’s, hon?”
Hampden is filled with tons of Mom n’ Pop shops and restaurants. There are record stores, gift shops, cute coffee shops, Italian restaurants, and oh so much more! Hampden throws some great events; from HONFest to its 34th street Christmas lights display. It’s a Baltimore experience you shouldn’t miss.
3. Make your way Federal Hill
Federal Hill is one of the best (free) views you can get in Baltimore. It overlooks downtown Baltimore and is a very relaxing way to observe the city. It’s a public park so you can even bring a little picnic if you’d like!
If you’re a history buff this is a great place for you to visit, as well. The hill was used as a battle fort in the Civil War and the cannons still remain to this day!
4. Take a step back in time and stroll along the cobbled streets in Fells Point
Fells Point contains a ton history in one concentrated little neighborhood. It was populated even before America became a country! It runs along the bay providing for great vibes as you stroll along the water’s edge.
On Saturdays between April/May and November you’ll even find a farmer’s market! It’s a fabulous market with all kinds of fruits, veggies, street foods, fresh squeezed lemonade and all types of homemade goods. If you make your way to the market for just one reason, my goodness let it be the street food!
5. Eat crabs at LP Steamers and crab cakes at Faidley’s
Crabs are the most important part of Maryland cuisine and arguably the culture as well. You haven’t experienced Maryland until you’ve had yourself some form of crabs; whether it be the classic crab covered in Old Bay Spice or a crab cake infused with Old Bay Spice. With either one, you can’t go wrong.
LP Steamers is located in Locust Point, a neighborhood just south of downtown Baltimore. LP Steamers a little place on the corner that serves perfectly spiced, perfectly cooked Maryland crabs. You won’t be disappointed! If you’ve never eaten crabs before, ask the staff for a tutorial to be sure you get all the meat out.
Faidley’s is located inside Lexington Market, which has it’s own long history! Lexington Market has some of the best, truly traditional food. It’s a gastronomic must see, a foodie bucket list location! Faidley’s is one of the best known vendors in Lexington Market, and with good reason. They have the best crab cakes you will ever taste, hands down. Make sure to get a lump meat crab cake and have them broil it; it’s the best way to eat ‘em! Browse the entire list here…
A mix of culture, history, and sports is what to expect in Charm City all throughout the year. But one thing that stands out among the rest is its food. As a matter of fact, Baltimore food is among the best in the country. Tourists must definitely try the best restaurants and love the city even more. Regan Stephens has made a list of the best way to spend a perfect food weekend in Baltimore in his article published in Food and Wine. Brace yourself for some delicious foods and fantastic restaurants.
How to Spend a Perfect Food Weekend in Baltimore
Baltimore may be best known for its picturesque Inner Harbor—home to the popular National Aquarium—and crustacean bounty, but while the sealife is impressive and there’s nothing quite like cracking into a dozen Maryland Blue crabs liberally sprinkled with spicy Old Bay, there’s so much more to Charm City. Spend a weekend biking around historic neighborhoods, treasure hunting in vintage shops on the Avenue and exploring the city’s diverse food scene, from the newest food hall housed in an old auto body shop to small-batch ice cream made in locally-inspired flavors, and of course, plenty of fresh seafood.
Day 1
If you arrive by train—a quick and easy trip from New York City, Philadelphia, or D.C.—The Ivy’s antique London taxi cab will meet you at the station. Check into the 19th-century mansion situated in the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, restored to its original splendor with eighteen plush guestrooms and suites, a spa, conservatory and cozy library. The country’s only highly-inclusive urban hotel, your stay comes with extras like afternoon tea service, a minibar stocked with goodies like locally made kombucha and caramels, and what may be the best hotel breakfast of your life.
Before sightseeing, start with lunch at the Mount Vernon Marketplace, located less than a mile from the hotel. The former warehouse was transformed into a fun food hall with stalls selling everything from freshly-shucked local oysters to vegan soups and ramen. After lunch, pull up a stool at Taps Fill Station, where the entire menu of beer, wine, mead, olive oil and more is on draft. Order a kombucha or nitro cold-brew coffee before walking a few blocks to the George Peabody Library.
The collection of 19th-century research materials is part Johns Hopkins University and sadly, isn’t meant for public book perusing, but it’s worth a stop in to gape at the stunning architecture—thought to be one of the most beautiful libraries in the world with its five tiers of balconies, ornate columns and glass skylight ceiling. Across the street find the Walters Art Museum. With free entry, the museum is home to a millennia-spanning collection that includes ancient Greek sculptures, 19th-century European modernist masterpieces and a notable collection of Fabergé eggs. Afterward check out Mount Vernon’s Washington Monument, the first memorial honoring the founding father that dates back to 1815, and climb the spiral staircase inside for a lofty view of central Baltimore. On the walk back to the hotel, stop into all-day café Dooby’s for one of their house-baked cookies in flavors like Fruity Pebble marshmallow or matcha with white chocolate chips.
Start your day at the Ivy’s restaurant again, only this time for the epic breakfast. The multi-course feast features house smoked salmon, grapefruit brulée and stacks of lemon souffle pancakes drizzled with blueberry compote, among other made-to-order delights. Work off the morning meal with a guided bike tour of the city’s waterfront with Light Street Cycles, passing historic Fort McHenry, quaint Fell’s Point and other riverfront neighborhoods. On the way back pedal past Vaccaro’s to pick up a cannoli at the sixty-one year-old Little Italy institution.
After the twelve mile tour, head north to the Remington neighborhood to refuel at R. House. The recently opened food hall occupies an airy, industrial-inspired space that was once an auto body shop and is now home to ten chef-driven stalls (and one rotating pop-up) selling Korean barbecue, Venezuelan Arepas, poke bowls and more. On a sunny day, take your food to one of the communal tables outside on the wrap around patio. From there, head north to Hampden, where you’ll find 36th street—also known as the Avenue—lined with independent shop loaded with character.
There are kitschy gift shops and vintage boutiques selling vinyl records and brightly colored costume jewelry, Atomic Books, where Baltimore’s own John Waters receives fan mail, and Ma Petite Shoe—a shoe shop that also specializes in artisan-made chocolates from around the world. Pick up a few beautifully-wrapped bars to take home, and end your visit to the Avenue at The Charmery for a scoop of ice cream in seasonally-changing flavors like Old Bay caramel and Berger Cookies and Cream, made with the beloved chocolate frosted cookies from a local bakery. See full post here…
Those are sumptuous foods and cozy restaurant you got there. Definitely, lots of restaurants to choose from in Baltimore, and this is perhaps the reason why lots of tourists flock in here all year round. With this fact, food businesses are booming in this city. There is even an event called Baltimore restaurant week to showcase the city’s food.
Lauren Cohen published an article in Baltimore Magazine explaining why 2019’s edition of Baltimore restaurant week feels more important than ever. Read the article below to find out more.
Why Baltimore Restaurant Week Feels More Important Than Ever
This month’s Baltimore Restaurant Week is going to be a bit different for chef Donna Crivello, who shuttered her 19-year-old neighborhood outpost Donna’s Cafe in the Village of Cross Keys last month. Instead of overseeing two kitchens during the annual dining-out promotion, she is now solely focused on her work at rustic Italian spot Cosima inside Woodberry’s Mill No. 1.
“I have so many mixed emotions about closing Donna’s,” Crivello says. “It was the end of an era for us. But moving forward, it’s nice that I have a lot more time to spend at Cosima.”
Though Donna’s was one of last year’s record-high restaurant closures—among others including Aggio, Parts & Labor, and Wit & Wisdom—the industry is ready to wipe the slate clean. And Baltimore Restaurant Week, which returns January 11-20, will kick off the year on a high note.
“I always like to look at the glass half full,” says chef Robbin Haas, who closed The Nickel Taphouse in Mt. Washington due to financial struggles last October. “Even though there may have been some setbacks, you still have to keep moving ahead. And Restaurant Week is a way to really bring some energy into the restaurants.”
Haas remains a partner at Birroteca in Hampden and Encantada at the American Visionary Art Museum in Federal Hill. Both spots will be participating in Restaurant Week, which offers multi-course lunch and dinner menus at fixed price points ranging from $12-35. The idea behind the winter promotion is to generate business during a season that is notoriously slower for the dining scene.
“You have this natural doldrum after the holidays where people are not going out because they’re watching their weight or their credit card bill,” says Steven Rivelis, co-owner of The Elephant in Mt. Vernon. “It’s a great opportunity to reset things and start them in a positive way.”
Though the dining deal makes it easy to explore restaurants in unfamiliar neighborhoods, Rivelis also stresses the importance of supporting the spots in your own backyard.
“Businesses need our neighbors,” he says. “And neighbors need the businesses, or else you don’t have a thriving community. It’s a reciprocal responsibility, and I think Restaurant Week provides an opportunity for folks to get out and spend money in their own city.”
Crivello agrees, mentioning that Cosima typically sees a spike in reservations throughout the event: “It’s a real boost for January sales,” she says. “If you can get 11 really good days, it makes a huge difference.”
While some might be quick to pass on Restaurant Week because of the increased crowds or limited menu, Crivello assures that most teams anticipate the high demand and plan ahead. Learn more here…
There are definitely lots of things to look forward to when visiting Baltimore for the first time. Whether you’re a sports lover, fond of historical landmarks, or food lover. Baltimore is definitely your place. Locals most gladly to welcome tourists and let them enjoy their stay in Charm City.
A lot of these tourists actually fell in love with Baltimore’s food and restaurant and chose to stay in this city for good. Looking for a home for sale in Baltimore or planning to sell your house fast? Dependable Homebuyers will help you with what you want to do with your property. Visit us on https://www.dependablehomebuyers.com/maryland/baltimore/ and we’re glad to assist you.
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