Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards gives visitors a look at the history of Baltimore in relation to sports.  The concentration is on baseball and football, but other sports are explored as well.  There are large exhibitions on the history of the Orioles, Ravens and Colts, which are the city's most famous teams.  If you're a fan of these teams, this is definitely a must-visit.  For fans of sports, but not those teams, it definitely will hold some interest for you as well.  However, if you aren't a sports fan, there really isn't much you are going to enjoy here. You should also note that you can get a combination ticket for this museum and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum to save some money.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is located a few minutes walk away from Camden Yards. For anyone that is a fan of Babe Ruth, or baseball in general, this is a must-visit.  You'll learn a great deal about the Bambino from both his days as a superstar, as well as how he got there.  In addition, you'll see a good amount of history of how Baltimore contributed to baseball's history.  There is also a good amount of memorabilia for fans to explore.  It should also be noted that you can get a combination ticket for this museum and the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards to save some money.

Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Geppi's Entertainment Museum, located right next to Camden Yards in Baltimore, is a fantastic archival for comic book fans. They have an extensive collection of comic books from various genres and are displayed in chronological order, a great way to see America's history and the evolution of comics.

In addition, they have various toys, memorabilia, and other items from pop culture on display, which are st up in rooms divided up by decade.

The exhibits in this museum will bring back a strong sense of nostalgia to many people.  It takes about an hour to go through the collection, and it is well worth the time!

Top of the World - Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The Top of the World in Baltimore's Inner Harbor's World Trade Center building, gives visitor's a great opportunity to get a view of both the harbor, as well as a perfect panoramic view of Baltimore.  Entry is only $5/person, a pretty good value.

In addition to the great 360 degree view, there is also the 9/11 memorial exhibit on the viewing floor, which pays tribute to the victims of the attacks in Washington, DC, New York City, and Pennsylvania. A portion of the exhibit focuses on the victims who were from Maryland. It's a simple, but touching exhibit.

Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor is located about 5 minutes by foot from the Inner Harbor of Baltimore.  It's also about a 10 minute walk to Camden Yards.  This makes it an ideal location for leaving your car at the hotel and exploring a good amount of what Baltimore has to offer.

The rates offered by the hotel are typically reasonable, but definitely be aware of the $32/night charge for valet parking.  The valet service was excellent as all staff members we interacted with were very friendly and my car was always ready for me within the time promised (typically 10 minutes).

The rooms in the hotel were your standard Hampton Inn rooms, which were very clean with comfortable beds.  The bathroom was also larger than a standard hotel room.  Each morning, a complimentary breakfast was provided, which included eggs, sausage, french toast sticks, make-your-own waffles, cereal, muffins, bagels, etc.  The wi-fi that is included free of charge has good speeds and never caused us any issues.

This was definitely a hotel we'd recommend to anyone looking to explore this section of Baltimore.

Address: 131 East Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD, 21202

Wifi: Free

Parking: $32/night - Valet Only

Restaurant: No

Bar/Lounge: No

Smoking: Non-smoking

Hidden Fees: None

Breakfast: Free

In-room safe: No

National Aquarium of Baltimore

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The biggest attraction in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the National Aquarium.  This gigantic building gives visitors the opportunity to see ocean life from all over the world.  For any sea creature lover, this is definitely a must visit!  We did feel though that the price was a little bit high for what was offered (we thought the aquariums in Camden, NJ and Boston, MA were a better value). The way the aquarium is structured makes it difficult to go from one section to another without having to do a large amount of backtracking, especially for the animal feedings and the caretaker talks.

Additionally, due of the immense popularity of the aquarium, it can get very crowded on weekends, making it difficult to move through the exhibits and see the sea life without waiting for a while.

Our recommendation, when you walk into the aquarium, your party can either go through Blue Wonders first, or, behind you is Animal Planet Australia and Dolphin Discovery. Most people go straight to Blue Wonders, leaving Animal Planet Australia and Dolphin Discovery relatively empty, and easier to navigate if Blue Wonders is crowded.

So, while we do recommend this as an attraction when visiting Baltimore's Inner Harbor, be aware of the high price and potential crowds, and definitely check out some of the other options around the country.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
While not one of the most famous zoos in the country, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, located in Druid Hill Park, is a pleasant zoo to experience.  The zoo size is pretty average sized compared to other zoos around the country, however, they have a few unique animal exhibits that are worth the trip here.

The polar bear exhibit is pretty neat, and allows you to go into a Tundra Buggy, which is what is used in Manitoba, Canada for tourists to experience polar bears in their natural habitat. At the zoo, it lets you get closer to the polar bears as it goes over the top of the exhibit. There are also lions, penguins, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and much more to experience here.

For those staying in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, a car (or taxi) would be needed to get here.  It is good for a 2-3 hour trip though, just for a basic walk through the zoo, stopping at most of the animals.

B&O Railroad Museum

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore offers visitors a unique view into the history of trains and railroads in America. The museum is set up in a circular building and the spaces are designed to walk you through the history of train travel from horse and carriage, to the steam powered engines. As you walk around the museum, there are a few of the trains that you can enter that will give you more details about the interiors of the locomotives. And, around the walls of the museum and at a few stations (no pun intended!) there are kid fun stations that are train related.

In addition, a top notch model railroad is set up for display and is running inside of an actual train car!

For a few extra bucks, you can also take a ride on one of these trains (Although we decided to skip that). We spent about an hour in this museum (without riding the train), so plan on at least an hour or more here. If someone in your traveling party is a fan of trains, make this a must-visit stop on your trip to Baltimore.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
Baltimore's Fort McHenry was a pivotal battleground site for protecting the harbor and the city.  Only a few minutes from the Inner Harbor, and with plenty of free parking, this National Monument and Historic Site (the only National Park Service location with both designations in the country) is an excellent visit.  There are various park rangers in the fort to give answer any questions you may have, and also to give talks on various topics throughout the day (ask for the schedule at the visitor's center).

For $7/person, you're free to walk about the fort.  In addition, the surrounding area gives a beautiful view of the harbor.  You'll probably spend between 1 and 2 hours here, depending on how much time you want to invest in the talks the rangers give.  Overall, it's a good experience and recommended for anyone who enjoys visiting America's old forts.

Baltimore Streetcar Museum

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The Baltimore Streetcar Museum presents visitors with a glimpse into what transportation was like in Baltimore during the hey-day of the streetcar, back in the early 1900s, with the last one taken off the lines in the mid-1960s.  These vehicles were the main way to get around the city and the suburbs of Baltimore back then.

The museum itself is pretty basic, mostly filled with photos of old streetcars along with captions about them. Outside in the "yard" are a number of antique street cars, most of which ran in the Baltimore area.

However, the best part of the visit is taking a ride on one of the streetcars and getting the feel for what it was like for people who used this in their regular commute.  There are also personnel dressed as train engineers that are there to answer any questions you may have.

American Visionary Art Museum

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
Not everyone is into visiting art museums as they can sometimes be pretentious, stuffy, and honestly, boring if you aren't into the style of art on the walls.  The American Visionary Art Museum is VERY different from the standard art museum though.  Even when you arrive (and there is plenty of street parking available), you'll see art on the outside of the building and along the side of the building. When we visited, there were even artists working on masterpieces on the sidewalk!

The art inside the museum is what you'd call "very unusual."  It's really difficult to put into words.  From seeing a cruise liner made of hundreds of thousands of toothpicks to seeing the "fart" exhibit near the 1st floor bathrooms, this museum will entertain people of all ages and with all varying degrees of interest in art.

The museum has two buildings and a sculpture garden, the main building has three floors (including a very unique restaurant on the third floor) and a small exhibit on the ground floor around the bathrooms. The second building is much more interactive, with larger artist pieces as well as motion pieces that visitors and interact with. Between the two buildings in the sculpture garden. Be sure to walk along the sidewalk between the two buildings as well, as there is even more funky, fun art that is street facing.

Edgar Allan Poe House, Baltimore

Written by Leann Pettit
Grab a copy of "The Raven" and head to the Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore, where Poe lived from 1833 to 1835, and where he is believed to have written a number of short stories and poems, including the poem "To Elizabeth" and "The Tales from the Folio Club."

The house is very small and three stories with very good descriptive signs to explain the life of Poe leading up to his life in Baltimore, as he lived in the house in Baltimore and then going forward until his mysterious death in Baltimore.

While the house is located in a "challenging" neighborhood, visiting during the day I didn't feel uncomfortable and there were plenty of employees working at the house and street parking very close by so visitors didn't have to walk very far to get there.

Birroteca

Written by Leann Pettit
Birroteca, located on Clipper Rd. in downtown Baltimore (near the Streetcar Museum), has a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a fantastic menu to boot. The restaurant has both a cozy dining room and a comfortable bar space that shows NFL games on Sundays.

The menu features their pizzas prominently, which are big enough for two people to share, or to have a hefty dinner and a good sized lunch the next day. They also offer a few lighter entree options, mostly pastas and salads. And, each day the kitchen offers a family sized meal that serves two or more (on the day we went it was a pound of spaghetti and 9 meatballs...woah.)

We ordered the Duck, Duck Goose pizza, which we read about in a number of magazines and blogs as being one of the best things to eat in Baltimore. It's Birroteca's crispy, yet chewy, crust topped with duck confit, fig-onion jam, cheese and a duck egg and a healthy swish of balsamic vinegar. There is definitely a reason why this pizza is on everyone's list - lordy is it good. The fatty, yet moist and savory duck plays so well paired with the jam, and the egg on top is a wonderfully creamy element to the pizza. The balsamic vinegar really adds a sweet and acidic element to the dish to balance out all of the heavy savory, fatty toppings. It's so good, you are not going to want to share.

We also ordered the butternut squash risotto, which was buttery and creamy and, while we expected it to be sweet and have those seasonings of fall (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, etc.), it didn't, and it was perfect. There were large chunks of butternut squash in the risotto, really highlighting the squash, as opposed to making it second fiddle to the seasonings and rice.

Sotto Sopra

Written by Leann Pettit

Sotto Sopra, in downtown Baltimore, had a menu we couldn’t resist, and then couldn’t make a decision on. We made reservations for dinner on a weekend night, and the restaurant was only taking reservations on that Saturday night. They also offer special opera nights throughout the year, which has a special menu.

We ordered the pork osso buco and the Sacchetti di Zucca con Salsiccia, a pumpkin filled pasta. The pasta was plate licking good - sweet and savory with the pumpkin filled pasta and a cream sauce with crumbled sausage. The sauce was so good that I used some of the focaccia bread to soak up the sauce after finishing the dish. The osso buco, made from pork instead of veal, was fall of the bone tender, and, while served with a knife, we never needed it. It had that deep, meaty, savory flavor that a dish like this can only get from long, slow cooking periods. It was a huge portion, perfect for sharing, or for a very hungry diner. The osso buco is served with mushroom risotto, however, we asked for a different risotto and the kitchen made a parmesan and vegetable risotto for us. The new risotto was the perfect compliment to the pork to cut some of that rich pork with a lighter dish that was creamy and buttery. We also ordered the tiramisu for dessert. The slice of cake was absolutely heavenly, creamy and fluffy and the lady fingers were soaked to the point they just melted in your mouth. The perfect end to a delicious meal.

Mr. Rain's Fun House

Written by Leann Pettit

On the third floor of the American Visionaries Museum, just outside of the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, is Mr. Rain’s Fun House, a restaurant that is as unique as the museum it is located in. We made reservations at Mr. Rain’s for brunch the afternoon we were enjoying the museum, however, diners are welcomed to the restaurant even if you are checking out the museum.

Saturdays and Sundays, Mr. Rain’s Fun House serves brunch until 4 p.m. 

We ordered the Bibb and Apple Salad and the Chorizo Burger (with the salsa rojo on the side). The salad was a perfect brunch size and perfect for a light lunch. Served with bibb lettuce, baked apples, walnuts, and dressed with a creamy thyme dressing, and there was a caramel dressing on the side of the plate, which complimented the salad very well. The apples were cooked perfectly and were seasoned very lightly with cinnamon.

The Chorizo Burger was huge, a nice sized burger made from chorizo sausage, so it also had a natural spice to it. The burger is topped with a fried egg, which really brought a creaminess to the meaty, spicy burger. We ordered the rojo salsa on the side, as our waiter suggested it might be a little on the spicier side. The sauce was spicy, but not over the top. Had a nice mellow, smoky flavor with an after burn that lit up the back of your throat. It definitely complimented the burger.

The burgers are also served with house cut fries, which are fried crispy and then seasoned and are irresistibly addictive.

Instead of bread, the restaurant serves homemade, warm, pretzel bites and are served with a spicy mustard. The pretzel bites are warm and this amazing comfort food is so much better than warm bread, and the mustard is grainy with just a hint of spice, the perfect compliment to the warm, buttery pretzel bites.

SpringHill Suites BWI Airport by Marriott

Written by Matt Rosenfeld
The SpringHill Suites BWI Airport by Marriott is a pretty decent hotel for a weekend trip to Baltimore.  The pricing is significantly less than the Downtown/Inner Harbor hotels, especially when you consider the free parking at this hotel. (However, we found it wasn't difficult to find parking downtown in Baltimore within a block or two or our destination, the biggest obstacle was the 1 or 2 hour parking limits on some blocks, especially near the Inner Harbor area.)  It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to drive into the center of Baltimore City or the Inner Harbor area, so this is a prime location for a cheaper hotel for most visitors to this city.

The hotel itself has a friendly staff for those we encountered.  The breakfast is also plentiful (and free).  It contains the usual continental items, plus a waffle maker, cold cuts, sausage or bacon, etc.  The pool area is nice and is overseen by a lifeguard.  We made use of the hot tub and it was quiet and peaceful there.

A complaint we had is when we first checked in, the first room we were given had a musty smell and the couch had a large stain on it, however, our room was changed a without problem.  However, the housekeeping during our stay proved a little lacking.  I definitely noticed stains on the shower curtain in the new room and markings on the walls and mirror.  While not a big deal, it does show that the housekeeping staff should be re-trained to identify these issues and fix them immediately instead of letting guests notice them.

Address: 899 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

Wifi: Free

Parking: Free

Restaurant: No

Bar/Lounge: No

Smoking: Non-smoking

Hidden Fees: None

Breakfast: Free

In-room safe: No

Megabus Mega-Discount!

Megabus is running a promotion right now where it is giving away 10,000 free tickets on trips from Philly (30th Street Station) to 10 different destinations:

• Atlantic City
  
• Baltimore
  
• Boston
  
• Buffalo
  
• Harrisburg
  
• Pittsburgh
  
• State College
  
• Syracuse
  
• Toronto
  
• Washington, D.C.
  

To get these free tickets, go to megabus.com and use promotion code LUVPHL. Be aware that for some of these routes they may charge $1 or $2, but still it is a great deal to travel this summer. We've already booked a trip to Pittsburgh and State College.