Baltimore, Maryland

Things to see in Baltimore

Hit the Inner Harbor: Considered the heart of Baltimore, the Inner Harbor is home to the shops and boutiques of Harbor Place, Fells Point and Harbor East, amazing restaurants and renowned attractions like the National Aquarium, The American Visionary Art Museum, The Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and The Baltimore Museum of Industry. Explore the area by water taxi or walk the 7-mile brick Waterfront Promenade that connects all the action.

Get in Touch with Maryland’s African-American History: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture, just steps from Baltimore Harbor, is more than just a museum: it is a celebration of Maryland’s African-American experience and a home for cultural exploration and expression. The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, another top place to explore, combines amazing artistry with compelling history. 

Nighthawk schooner in Fells Point: The British Navy called Baltimore a “Nest of Pirates,” and the Fells Point neighborhood still likes to let its pirate flag fly. The three-day Privateer Festival has slides for kids, a grog tent for grownups and a nautical pet costume contest for everyone. Throughout the year, set sail with Urban Pirates Family and Adult Cruises for a swashbuckling harbor adventure.

Catch an O’s Game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Just a long fly ball from Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor, with a retro design that keeps fans close to the action plus the best food in baseball—with options like legendary Boog’s Barbecue and The Baltimore Chop House—there is no better place than “The Yard” to catch a game.

Marvel at the American Visionary Art Museum’s Kinetic Sculpture Race: The first museum of its kind in the country, the AVAM celebrates the artist in everyone. Once a year they get that art out on the street—and the water—for the Kinetic Sculpture Race, a day-long adventure where racers pilot home-built, human-powered dragons, chariots, crabs and even an enormous pink poodle across the city and through the harbor.

HonFest is an annual festival held in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. HonFest takes its name from the word "hon" - a slang term of address or endearment. Hang Out in Hampden, Hon. One of the top 15 Hipster Neighborhoods in America according to Forbes magazine, funky Hampden is home to unique boutiques, daring restaurants and pubs and a vibrant arts and music scene. Hampden’s Honfest, Hampden Fest and the holiday Miracle on 34th Street are how Hampden does its part to keep Baltimore weird.

Car art pops up often at the art-tastic Artscape in Baltimore. Take a Pilgrimage to Artscape, America’s Largest Free Arts Festival: Artscape is a mindboggling display of the creative spirit. Art cars, aerialists, marching bands and more are just the tip of this amazing iceberg. Hundreds of vendors, thousands of performers and more than a dozen stages with some of the biggest bands in the country electrify the city at the largest free arts festival in the country. 

The National Aquarium in Baltimore: Experience Fintastic Fun at the National Aquarium. With its revolutionary architecture and dedication to conservation, the giant National Aquarium is one of the most influential aquariums in the world. With stunningly beautiful exhibits like the Animal Planet Australia, Blacktip Reef, Shark Alley, the Amazon River Forest, plus the immersive 4-D theater, the National Aquarium makes exploring our ocean planet fun.

Be inspired at this important War of 1812 site and birthplace of The National Anthem. Picnic at Fort McHenry, Home of the Star-Spangled Banner. Now a National Monument & Historic Shrine, during the War of 1812, Fort McHenry repelled the British, saving the city and inspiring Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem. A picnic on the fort’s sprawling, waterfront lawns is a great way to get in touch with history and to see the skyline of Baltimore. 

B&O Railroad: Ride the Rails at the B&O Railroad Museum: Stand under the soaring cupola of the B&O roundhouse then board one of the museum's historic trains for a ride down the rails. With working trains, model gardens and rides for the kids, the next stop is fun at the B&O Railroad Museum and, as a bonus, you get to cross off a spot on your Monopoly board bucket list.