Top 12 things to do in Baltimore, MD

Now let’s see what all I missed during my blitz through Baltimore on my berzerk road trip to PEI in fall of 2016.

THINGS TO DO

Keeping in mind that I’m not too into sports (sorry, Ravens & Orioles) so games or sports-related museums aren’t going to catch my interest. I also don’t gamble so the big casino is out. But there is plenty to see aside from Camden Yards!

INNER HARBOR

The bulk of Baltimore’s touristy center is going to be found along the Inner Harbor, one of the innermost inlets of Chesapeake Bay. Here you can find Fort McHenry, the National Aquarium, historic boat tours, sailing excursions, restaurants, shopping, and parkland. There is also a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, which I think speaks to the level of touristness in this area.

One cute minor attraction in this area (I’ll cover the more significant ones below) is a relocated lighthouse, the tiny  7-Foot Knoll Light. It’s squat and bitty and apparently used to be parked way out in the Chesapeake Bay on a tiny rock with some very unlucky lighthouse keepers. They’ve moved it inland so you and I can poke our heads in for free (though there is a donation box.) 

Nearby, there’s a Top of the World Observation deck on the 27th floor of the trade center for 360-degree views of the city. It will cost $4-$6 per person, though there seem to be Groupons available. Federal Hill Park is a decent-sized park with great views of the harbor.

SAILING CRUISES

One Inner Harbor experience that looks really fun would be a sailing excursion from the harbor. There seem to be several sailboats that offer cruises, generally priced around $50 per person for a 90-minute sail. Many encourage you to bring your own beer or wine (some even provide cheese!) and some are sunset cruises, which I think sounds the coolest. Imagine taking lots of golden-hour and sunset pictures of the city from your sailboat! That seems worth the splurge to me.

FORT MCHENRY

The Fort McHenry National Monument is the fort that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to The Star Spangled Banner during the war of 1812. Parking is free, but entrance to the historic portions of the fort will cost $10 for ages 16 and above. There are scheduled ranger talks around that famous flag pole and a few events during the year, like an 1812 Fife and Drum Camp! I love that!

HISTORIC SHIPS

There are four historic ships you can tour around the Inner Harbor. It costs $7-15 to visit two ships and $9-18  to visit all four (with a 20% discount to all military.) You don’t even have to visit them all in one day. Tickets are valid for one year after purchase, though I’m guessing you only get to visit each one once. Purchase tickets on Pier 1 or 3, or online here. 

The ships on the tour include:

USS Constellation on Pier 1 was built in 1854 as the last sailing warship of the Navy. Explore all four decks with an audio guide and talk to the crewmen on board.

USS Torsk on Pier 3 is a WWII submarine and a highlight of the tour. Touring the boat from the back to the front, you (carefully) walk through the operating rooms, crew and mess halls, ending up in the torpedo bay. Up to 80 men used to live and work on this sub! I’m just going to imagine that smelled pretty bad.

Lightship 116 Chesapeake, also on Pier 3, was used as a mobile lighthouse between 1930 and 1965. On board is an exhibit on dogs aboard sailing vessels like this one.

USCGC Taney on Pier 5 is a Coast Guard high endurance cutter, notable as the last ship floating that fought in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Also on Pier 5 is the 7-Foot Knoll Light.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM

The National Aquarium on Pier 3 is a popular–albeit pricey–attraction, especially for a family. Tickets are $39.95 for adults, $34.96 for seniors, and $24.95 for kids 3-11. I’ve also heard it can get super crowded, so try to go early during a weekday perhaps. (The nearby parking garages also give an early-bird discount on parking before 9 am.) On the upside, they have a huge Dolphin show that looks super fun! Plus lots of sharks and other interesting animals.

FELL’S POINT

Fell’s Point is a charming historic neighborhood to the east of the Inner Harbor. Established in 1726 as a ship-building harbor and once known for its “boarding houses, brothels, and bars”, you can now enjoy excellent dining and shopping in the 18th- and 19th-century buildings. Take a National Parks Service walking tour to get the most out of what you are seeing. Or visit The Horse You Came In On saloon to spot the ghost of Edgar Allen Poe.

*Bonus Tip* The ghost of Edgar Allen Poe apparently gets around town. He’s said to be spotted near his own grave in the Old Western Burial Ground, and in his home, now a museum.

WALTERS ART MUSEUM

The Walters is the free art museum I visited during my half-day in town and I really enjoyed it! Located in the heart of downtown, away from the harbor and most of the tourists, this is a nice respite from the bustle of the city. I highly recommend it if you even remotely like art, history, or quiet places.

On June 16, The Walters is opening a new section, 1 West Mount Vernon Place, a 19th-century mansion with huge staircases, a Tiffany glass skylight, and Baccarat-style chandeliers. The mansion will open on the 17th with “an array of special programs, an opening ceremony, food trucks, art-making, and performances for visitors of all ages.” Sounds like fun!

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

Located north of the Inner Harbor and Mount Vernon is the Baltimore Museum of Art, another great FREE art museum! This one looks a bit larger and with more contemporary art. Located adjacent to the Johns Hopkins University campus, it looks like there is a lot of outdoor space to explore as well: the museum’s sculpture garden, the university campus, and the 16-acre Wyman Park Dell.

I really like is the availability of free guided tours, including a 45-minute highlights tour, a 30-minute in-depth look at one art piece, or a 60-minute tour with the museum’s curator. Maybe I should have gone here instead…

GEORGE PEABODY LIBRARY

Maybe this isn’t a major attraction in Baltimore, but I would LOVE to see the George Peabody Library. It’s a huge room full of books, what’s not to love? Plus it’s free to visit and read. Mostly, it seems to be used as an event space, especially for weddings. How fun would it be to get married in a library?!

I don’t exactly recommend going out of your way to see this, but while visiting the downtown Mount Vernon area, it would definitely be high on my list to stop into.

EVERGREEN MUSEUM & LIBRARY

Located near the Johns Hopkins University campus, the Evergreen house museum offers guided tours on the hour through 48 opulent rooms and Italian gardens. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students and youth 6-17. They offer a full roster of special events as well, like a kitchen garden class and a free summer family evening with a scooter race.

Another house museum on the Johns Hopkins campus is the Homewood Museum, offering tours on the half-hour for the same prices as Evergreen. I dig fancy house tours so these really pique my interest. And while you’re at it, you might as well take in the Johns Hopkins Archeology Museum, in the heart of the spectacular Gillman Atrium. Hours are limited, so plan accordingly if you’d like to see objects of interest gathered over the last 132 years.

CRYPTOLOGIC MUSEUM

If we’re going to get into arcane museums, the free Cryptologic Museum by the NSA sounds like a hoot! 25 minutes southeast of the Inner Harbor, this museum delves into the history and successes of the spy and code-breaking industry. The museum covers history from the 18th century, through WWII’s famous Enigma machine, to space-age machines from the 1970’s. Call in advance to schedule a free 1.5 hour guided tour.

SHERWOOD GARDENS & THE PATTERSON PAGODA

In an effort to get us out into the sunshine again, a minor but lovely Baltimore attraction is Sherwood Gardens, a private park in the midst of the historic Guildford community. This garden is best seen in the spring due to the 80,000 tulip bulbs planted here every year by the residents. Dogwoods, flowering cherries, wisteria, and magnolias also bloom in this Olmstead-designed park.

Another relatively minor-but-cute sight is the Patterson Pagoda in Patterson Park, a nice open park just east of Fell’s Point and the harbor. The Victorian-style observation tower is open every Sunday from noon-6 pm for the 60-foot climb to the top.

That’s really more like 28 things to do in Baltimore, isn’t it? You’re welcome.