Want to catch a baseball game? How about a football game? A horse race? Or, for the more interactive types, want to play in a two-story arcade? This city has all of them.
Or, is shopping more your thing? It has hundreds of stores and dozens of restaurants all within walking distance of a beautiful waterfront.
How about museums? Try 11.
Don't want to drive too far? It's only about three hours from Charlottesville.
This city boasts the first U.S. umbrella usage in 1772, the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's 1814 hit, "The Star-Spangled Banner" and claims the first commercial U.S. ice cream factory, established in 1851. You guessed it -- it's a city that has been called the "gastronomic capital of the universe:" Baltimore.
The 'Crown Jewel'
Tourist activity in Baltimore revolves around the Inner Harbor, a cluster of shops, restaurants, museums and activities on the Patapsco River. Often referred to as the "crown jewel" of the city, the Inner Harbor is the best place to eat, shop and play.
Harborplace, an anchor of the Inner Harbor, is actually two buildings directly on the waterfront, consisting of restaurants, less well-known shops and tons of souvenir stores.
From the short-order seafood stands, you can sample delicious Chesapeake Bay cuisine from which Baltimore claims its fame as the gastronomic capital of the universe. Although they may look dubious, the Maryland Crab Soup and various steamed seafood -- especially the shrimp -- are delicious.
For sit-down meals, Harborplace has restaurants for every taste, from Hooters to Tir Na Nog, an Irish restaurant and bar, to the gourmet Phillip's Seafood Restaurant. A good, middle-priced pick is the M&S Grill, which features seafood but has a little bit of everything.
Another something-for-everyone pick is the Hard Rock Café, around the corner from Harborplace. The restaurant is usually packed, though, so be prepared to wait.
If shopping at mainstream stores is what you're after, check out The Gallery, directly across the street from Harborplace. Its four stories have about 50 shops, such as J. Crew, Forever 21 and Banana Republic.
Another draw of the Inner Harbor is the National Aquarium in Baltimore, home to more than 16,000 creatures, aquatic and otherwise. In addition to sharks and stingrays, land animals such as monkeys, sloths and iguanas call the aquarium home as well.
The current exhibit is Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes. Housed in its own wing of the aquarium, attendees have to dodge lizards and birds, which roam freely in their indoor habitat. But don't worry -- the Australian freshwater crocodiles are behind a thick acrylic barrier.
If you want to take it easy for an afternoon, water lovers can rent a paddle boat, take a water taxi or eat lunch or dinner on a yacht cruise for a view of the Inner Harbor from the river.
Other activities include tours of two ships built in the 1930s, a submarine from 1944 and the 150-year-old top of a Chesapeake Bay lighthouse.
Touchdowns, Runs, Races and Games
Baltimore is a haven for sports fans. During football season, Baltimore catches Raven spirit. Although the team went 5-11 in 2007, it holds the 2000 Super Bowl Championship title. The Ravens' M&T Bank Stadium is not within walking distance of the Inner Harbor, but there are plenty of parking options near it.
During the spring and summer, Baltimore comes alive with baseball fever, and with good reason. Even with the Orioles' less-than-stellar performances the last few seasons, an afternoon or evening at Camden Yards, their home ballpark, is worth even an Orioles loss -- especially for $10 a ticket in the cheap seats. Just remember to yell the "Oh" in the "Star-Spangled Banner." And if the game gets boring, stop by the Sports Legends Museum or take a quick, two-block walk to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum.
Tired of football and baseball? Take a 15-minute drive to Pimlico, a horse racing track just outside the city. Races run seven days a week April to June, but the most exciting day to visit Pimlico is the third Saturday in May.
Pimlico is home to the Preakness Stakes, the second race of the Triple Crown, the championship series for three-year-old racehorses. Sandwiched between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness is a weekend-long celebration in Baltimore.
Ticket prices start at $25 for standing-only tickets. Tickets for the infield -- think Foxfield -- are $60, and grandstand tickets start at $75. Admission is much cheaper on normal race days: $3 for grandstand seats.
If you want to get in on the games, on the other hand, try ESPN Zone back at the Inner Harbor. It is a two-story arcade, restaurant and bar. The food is mediocre -- burgers and other American fare -- but the arcade is outstanding.
ESPNZone has all the standard race-car games, but the beauty of such a big arcade is its ability to house more impressive games, like a hockey shooting game in a huge, ice rink-like room and a virtual batting cage in which a video of the Major League Baseball pitcher of your choice throws a ball, which is shot through a hole in the wall to your awaiting bat.
You could spend hours testing out cross country skiing, golf and white-water rafting, but it might cost you. The games operate on points and $20 buys you about five or six of the moderately pointed games.
The Logistics
The three-hour drive is not too far for a day trip, but it would be a little grueling. There are plenty of lodging options both inside and just outside the city. The hotels in the city, especially those within walking distance of the Inner Harbor, are fairly expensive, but there are cheaper alternatives a few minutes outside of Baltimore.
Driving into the city from a hotel isn't a huge problem, either. There seem to be parking decks on almost every corner, and there are a few pricey lots close to the Inner Harbor.
If you want to keep the car out of it, both Amtrak and Greyhound can get you there, too.
Regardless of how you get there and where you stay, you'll be guaranteed a good time. Whether you catch an O's game, head for the stores or take a whirl though ESPN Zone, enjoy yourself -- it won't be too hard.
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