Things to Do in Baltimore

One of the oldest scientific institutions in the US, the Maryland Science Center has been attracting visitors of all ages since 1976. Also known as the MSC, the site features three floors of exhibits, hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to get folks excited about science. Highlights include more than a dozen full-size dinosaurs, a unique journey through the human body and an exhibit on blue crabs that focuses on the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay.

A mix of educational flicks and Hollywood blockbusters play daily on the 400-seat, five-story 3D IMAX Theater. The Davis Planetarium offers programs featuring everything from the night’s sky to shows aimed at young kids featuring popular Sesame Street characters.

Its prime location makes Baltimore’s Federal Hill a popular spot for visitors. Located just south of Inner Harbor, a large selection of the city’s attractions is within walking distance. Park your car and stroll to the National Aquarium, Harborplace, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and the Maryland Science Center along with numerous other destinations.

Federal Hill’s Main Street is the heart of the neighborhood, home to more than two dozen businesses. Restaurants and taverns, antique shops, art galleries and an assortment of merchants attract locals and visitors alike.

Baltimore’s National Aquarium is the star of the Inner Harbor and home to close to 20,000 creatures and more than 700 species. See slithering reptiles, a giant octopus, and all kinds of fish, from rays to sharks, in habitats including reef, rainforest, ocean, marsh, and beach. The aquarium also promotes conservation initiatives.

Baltimore is known for its offbeat attractions, and the American Visionary Art Museum is one of its most idiosyncratic. The museum specializes in showing the work of outsider artists, those who typically have had no formal art education and work outside the mainstream art world. The museum taps guest curators for all its shows.

Offering sweeping views of the Inner Harbor, the Hard Rock Café Baltimore is one of the city’s most historic and popular places for dining on the water. Though the restaurant itself was only established in 1997, it’s located inside the Pratt Street Power Plant that was built in in 1900. With its Neoclassical, terra cotta construction, the building is a famous Inner Harbor landmark that in 1987 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Enjoy your meal on the outer deck with views looking out at the harbor, where Francis Scott Key, in 1814, was inspired to write America’s national anthem while imprisoned by British forces. The Americana lives on today through burgers and rock n’ roll, and memorabilia hangs on the walls from some of the country’s best artists. See one of Prince’s custom-tailored outfits or a flask belonging to Jimi Hendrix, as well as clothing from British rockers like Elton John and The Who. Pair the view and memorabilia with American food and live music, and the Hard Rock Café Baltimore becomes an experience and sight unto itself.

Cobbled streets and a waterfront setting make Fell’s Point a must-see location in Baltimore. This charming neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintains much of its maritime past. Dine on local crabs at the area’s seafood eateries, and don’t miss the nightlife—Fell’s Point is known for its bar scene.

A visit to the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum is a journey into the mind of the famous American writer. Built in Baltimore in 1930, the unassuming 5-room row house is a shrine to Poe, who lived here for two years. The museum showcases Poe’s daily life and writings he penned in the home, while his grave is at nearby Westminster Hall.

Baltimore’s revitalized Inner Harbor features a scenic waterfront promenade and pedestrian district replete with shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Heralded by urban developers as a model for post-industrial waterfront land use, the area sits along the Patapsco River at the mouth of Jones Falls.

Baseball fans won’t want to miss a visit to the birthplace of George Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth in Baltimore.

The well-preserved, humble rowhouse includes the upstairs bedroom where the famous baseball player was born, plus displays of family memorabilia, sports paraphernalia and Ruthian records.

The museum also highlights the history of the Baltimore Orioles, and you’ll find more batting history at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards, 301 West Camden Street.

History buffs and train lovers won’t want to miss a visit to Baltimore’s B&O Railroad Museum, the world’s biggest museum devoted to locomotives.

There are historic trains galore at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad collection, along with artifacts, railroad buildings, railroad track and 250 examples of rolling stock.

The country’s first passenger train service rolled out of the roundhouse here in 1830, and you can learn more about the Birthplace of American Railroading on a tour of the immense complex.