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The largest city of Maryland, Baltimore, houses one of the essential trading seaports on the Patapsco River.
Its inner Harbor surrounds pavilions, shops, museums, promenades, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Moreover, several historic ships welcome thousands of tourists from over the State.
Baltimore’s most distinctive neighborhoods include Mount Vernon, Fell’s Point, Hip Hamden, and Little Italy.
Between these places are unique landscapes, a renowned symphony orchestra, cultural activities, art centers, and historical sites, among many more for tourists and locals.
Baltimore became prominent in American history in 1814 when the British forces invaded Fort McHenry for 25 hours without registering its surrender.
The event inspired the inhabitants to open shops paying tribute to the civil war era, alongside the USS Constellation and the National Aquarium, displaying thousands of unique marine creatures.
It is also the hometown of Francis Scott Key, whose poem, The Star Spangled Banner – referring to the American flag, inspired the American national anthem.
The rich cultural significance is just one of the critical elements that make Baltimore a must-visit city. With that said, let’s look at some more exotic places to visit if you’re exploring this magnificent city.
1) Inner Harbor and Historic Ships
While in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor and the warships are the first things you must visit. Stay at exotic hotels surrounding the Harbor.
If you’re traveling in your car, it would be best to park your vehicle near the Inner Harbor. The Harbor Park Hotel Parking Garage is the ideal place to do that.
For just $24 a day, you’ll have a spot guarded 24-7, making it easy to check out all the main attractions nearby.
The USS Constellation, on the other hand, was a ship that witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Tour the historic vessels and learn about the old warships and their crucial role in the civil war.
Besides that, take a guided tour into Lightship Chesapeake and USS Torsk, a Coast Guard Cutter, during your visit.
Visit the Harborplace, a large complex filled with various shops, restaurants, cafes, and street artists displaying their skills on the Promenade in the Amphitheater.
Located at 201 East Pratt Street, the Inner Harbor is not a place to miss. You will find a variety of historical mementos and souvenirs here.
2) Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Baltimore Orioles is the city’s baseball team in the Major League. Visit the Oriole Park at Camden Yards to witness the team strike in the playoffs.
It is only around two blocks away from the birthplace of baseball legend George Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth, whose statue stands tall just outside the park.
After the game, tour the park for backstage access to the press box, dugouts, and club levels.
The park attracted over 72 million baseball fans in 30 years from all 50 States and more than 100 countries. Moreover, the ballpark hosts concerts, meetings, festivals, tours, and community events yearly.
Do not forget to explore Eutaw Street between the ballpark and the Warehouse. It is a festive area with brass baseballs screwed to the spots where home runs cleared landed on Eutaw Street.
Local artists also contribute to the mural architecture of Oriole Park in collaboration with PNC Bank. Its purpose is to give credit to artistic talents and highlight them to baseball fans.
3. Maryland Science Center
Visit the southwest side of the inner Harbor to visit the Maryland Science Center, which houses a planetarium.
It is a perfect learning spot for young individuals and science enthusiasts who want to explore space travel, physics, biogenetics, marine life, and more.
Take kids to the Dinosaurs Mysteries Exhibit, where full-sized dinosaurs roam around, allowing visitors to be paleontologists for a day.
There is a field lab and various excavation sights for the curious ones. Visit the Baltimore-inspired street-style storefronts for engaging activities and challenges.
Learn how gears work in the innovative and immersive bike shop, visit the music store to experiment with sound effects, and fly paper airplanes at the airports.
Located at 601 Light Street, the Science Center is the ultimate science experience for kids and adults alike.
4. Maryland Zoo, Baltimore
Take your family to see over 2,000 creatures at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. With upgraded park grounds and animal enclosures, the place is safe and fun for a family-friendly day.
Feed the penguins, walk a goat, feed the giraffe, or visit the petting area to pet a farmyard animal. The zoo also features a carousel and a miniature Jones Zephyr Train to ride for the kids.
Since 1873, the Maryland Zoo has been able to foster a harmonious relationship with nature by sustaining the endangered African penguins, giraffes, and rare marine creatures in the aquarium.
You can have a close encounter with alpacas, mountain goats, and donkeys. It helps kids learn more about these creatures by interacting with them in a fun way.
5. Fell’s Point
The old harbor quarter alongside the waterfront, Fell’s Point, is like a historic marketplace filled with meet and greet spots, cigar lounges, shops that sell local foods, and restaurants and cafes.
Back in the day, it was a shipbuilding district with entertainment places for seamen and anglers. It is a lively marketplace filled with tourists and taxis connecting to the inner Harbor.
It is the best place to meet and have fun while you enjoy local cuisines, sitting outside on a clear sunny day.
While you dine, you can roam around the area, talk to shopkeepers and pedestrians, and involve yourself in other activities taking place all around you.
6. National Aquarium
Another unique attraction overlooking the inner Harbor is the National Aquarium. It features open ocean environments with coral reefs, kelp forests, Australian aquatic life, river forests, and much more.
Explore the hidden sea life and witness hundreds of aquatic species in the Atlantic Coral Reefs Exhibit.
The Tropical Rain Forest is a stunning five-story spot that allows tourists to visit from the forest floor to the tree-top canopies to witness sloths, birds, frogs, and other mammals.
It is located at Pier 3 and 4 and is the perfect family spot to explore coral reefs and learn about sea life in an immersive environment.
Conclusion
Baltimore, the capital of Maryland, is the perfect visitation spot for families. You don’t want to miss out on anything with so much history, cultural heritage, and unique places to explore.
While in Baltimore, consider attending a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. After the game, explore the ballpark for its artwork for a few minutes.
Visit the science center with kids and science enthusiasts for a fantastic experience. The zoo and the aquaria are other fun and learning activities to immerse in if you have kids.
Lastly, don’t forget to visit Fell’s point and explore the marketplace to buy souvenirs and decoration items.
