What NOT to Do When Visiting Baltimore
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re discussing what NOT to do when planning a trip to Baltimore. While most travel blogs will tell you what to do in Baltimore, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do when visiting the largest city in Maryland. I also brought in my friend Rob from Trip Hacks DC to help me out.
Don’t Miss the Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is one of the best places to visit in Baltimore. It’s been renovated into a really fun entertainment district with lots of attractions, including the National Aquarium. It is often recognized as the best aquarium in the country, with over 700 species housed in the seven-story building.
Other things to see at the Inner Harbor include:
- Maryland Science Center
- The USS Constellation is open for tours
- Baltimore Water Taxi is not just a tourist attraction; it’s actually a fun way to get around the city!
You can also rent the Chessie Dragon Pedal Boats and float around the harbor! After a bit of sightseeing, you can grab some famous Maryland Blue Crab at one of many restaurants, including award-winning crab cakes at Phillip’s Seafood Restaurant.
Don’t Pass Up Maryland Blue Crab
The most famous Maryland food is the blue crab. It is one of the sweetest crab meats you’ll ever try, and it’s so unique that you’ll quickly see why it’s an obsession. You can have it in many ways, including the famous Maryland crab cakes. My personal favorite is the Maryland Crab Soup, which is not a crab bisque. It’s a tomato-based soup and it’s delicious! If you want to introduce your kids to crab meat, get them crab mac n cheese or try some crab-flavored potato chips from Utz.
Don’t Think It’s Just the Inner Harbor
While the Inner Harbor is one of the best places to visit in Baltimore, it is also pretty touristy and more expensive than other Baltimore areas. There are other areas to check out when you visit Baltimore.
Fells Point is one of the more popular neighborhoods of Baltimore and is where you’ll find a ton of bars, pubs, and restaurants. It’s definitely the hub of Baltimore’s nightlife and is a safe neighborhood to hang out in.
Mount Vernon is another fun Baltimore neighborhood to visit. This is a cultural and historic neighborhood, with grand mansions dating back to the 19th century. This is also where you will find the Walters Art Museum, the George Washington Monument, and the Peabody Library.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is also a great place to visit, especially if you are a baseball fan. It’s a fantastic stadium and offers a great experience for baseball fans, even if you’re not an Orioles fan. Don’t forget to try Natty Boh beer when you attend an Orioles game! This is a great place to try the local beer, Natty Boh, or National Bohemian.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is another cool place to visit in Baltimore, especially if you are into history. The Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry was a key battle in the War of 1812, and it all took place right here. It’s what inspired Francis Scott Key to write our national anthem!
There are some fantastic Baltimore museums to check out as well:
- The Walters Art Museum
- Baltimore Museum of Art
- American Visionary Art Museum
- B&O Railroad Museum
- Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Don’t Forget to Pay Respect to Edgar Allan Poe
Poe wrote many of his early stories at a house in Baltimore, which is now the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. His stories play an important part of Baltimore’s history, and even the NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens are named after his work.
Don’t Rule Out a Day Trip to Washington DC
Maybe you don’t want to do a full trip to Washington DC, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do a day trip from Baltimore. It’s only about an hour by train, and both cities are a good size for a day trip. They’re not huge and overwhelming, but there is plenty to do in a day.
10 Shocks to Expect When Visiting Washington DC
An added benefit to visiting DC on a day trip from Baltimore is the money you’ll save. Baltimore is much more affordable than Washington DC. So save money on hotels and take a day trip to DC.
Don’t Forget to Try Old Bay Seasoning
This one’s easy; it’s hard to forget when Old Bay seasoning is everywhere. Outside of Maryland, you might use Old Bay when making seafood. In Maryland, they put Old Bay on everything! I’ve had a beer glass rimmed with Old Bay, caramel corn sprinkled with Old Bay, and chicken wings with Old Bay hot sauce!
Don’t make fun of Old Bay; it’s practically a religion in Baltimore!
Don’t Underestimate Baltimore Pride
Baltimore natives are proud of their city, and die-hard fans of their sports teams. Even though Baltimore gets a bad rap, those who live there are proud to call it home. Baltimore is known as Charm City, and they try hard to maintain that nickname.
Don’t Forget to Check Multiple Airports
BWI is the main Baltimore Airport, even used by Washington DC residents and visitors. It’s super convenient, as it’s just 15 minutes from BWI to the Inner Harbor. That said, it’s not easy to find taxis and rideshares at BWI.
It’s worth checking the other DC airports as well; if the fares are a lot different, it may be worth flying into DC and taking the train up to Baltimore.
Don’t Take Safety for Granted
Of course, we do have to mention safety when talking about a trip to Baltimore. The city has a reputation for crime, and it’s not unfounded. Even in popular spots like the Inner Harbor or Lexington Market, you do need to be careful. Take taxis or Ubers at night, and don’t flash jewelry or expensive watches. Talk to your hotel about what areas to avoid.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Baltimore is a great city with history, culture, and great food. It’s easily accessible by train from New York and Washington DC, and more affordable than both of those cities. Narrowing down what to do in Baltimore can be a challenge!
Want more tips for visiting the East Coast? Check out some of our other blog posts: