Baltimore Inner Harbor trip

Parent Cafe
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<p>My husband and daughter are planning a quick weekend jaunt to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in early Aug. She’s in grad school and all too soon, these opportunities will be gone when the work-a-day work becomes her reality. Hence this trip.</p>

<p>My question - can anyone recommend a place to stay that is somewhat near to this area? Naturally, cost is an issue. Husband looked at the area hotels, but there were no deals that he could find (but he and I are not travelers and so are awful at this). So, I am asking here for advice. Kind words. Suggestions.</p>

<p>They are planning to go to the Aquarium (of course!) and a couple other places. Maybe Ripley’s Believe It or Not (for a laugh).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>I haven’t stayed in the Inner Harbor, but I did recently stay at the Wyndham Peabody which is in the Mt. Vernon area. It is a beautiful old hotel and they had a deal for graduation. We were a block from the Walters Art Museum. You’ll probably want to stay closer to the Inner Harbor and I think there’s another Wyndham there.</p>

<p>Please get your Aquarium tickets in advance or online. You don’t want to be waiting in line in the hot sun for hours and that is what happens sometimes. Also, the Walters and the Baltimore Museum of Art are free but they are closed on Monday and Tuesday. You might want to take a boat over to Fort McHenry. There’s lots to do!</p>

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<p>We have never been able to find any “deals” near Inner Harbor. But I would definitely recommend staying near the harbor to take advantage of all of the activities. Go to kayak and do a search and then read reviews. Any place will be nice.</p>

<p>A favorite restaurant of ours was the Rusty Scupper, which is across the harbor. If they have already purchased the harbor all day boat pass, they can take the boat to the restaurant. If not, it’s just a 10 minute walk around the harbor.</p>

<p>Second getting your aquarium tickets in advance.</p>

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<p>Will they have a car? If so, sometimes it is less expensive to stay near the BWI airport. It is about 20 minutes drive without traffic and 30 minutes with traffic, on route I-95 (note there is construction on I-95 right near the city, but it isn’t bad at all.). We’ve stayed at the Staybridge Suites at BWI, which had a free breakfast, was very clean and nice. There are several nice places near BWI off Nursery Road. I like to check trip-advisor for reviews. </p>

<p>Note - the Aquarium tickets are sometimes timed entry for busy summer weekends, but they also have extended hours for summer. I double second purchasing them ahead of time; sometimes Triple A (AAA) has discount tickets.</p>

<p>Extremely worthwhile place to visit is Fort McHenry, especially in this its 200th anniversary year - so there are a lot of special programs. It is the site of the famous battle in the War of 1812 where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner while on a ship in the harbor. It is a National Historic Site, and has a new visitors’ center just opened for the 200th anniversary. (The battle was in 1814.) Park Ranger tours are excellent. Not within walking distance of Inner Harbor. Across the harbor from the Aquarium. We’ve often packed a picnic lunch to eat on the beautiful grounds overlooking the harbor.</p>

<p>As for visiting things in Baltimore, going to an Orioles game at the Camden Yards Ballpark is always wonderful. On most Friday night home games, it is Student Night: $6 for all tickets up in the Upper Reserve seats with a student ID. You can purchase tickets for both him and her by showing her student ID. There are usually seats available if you walk up to the ticket box even on the evening of the game (except for games Orioles versus Yankees or Red Sox - Check ticket prices for the premium games.) I recommend getting the tickets earlier in the day at the ticket box office at the ballpark, though, to get better seating in Upper Reserve. The Friday night student night games sometimes have fireworks afterwards that are terrific! Great place to experience a game. You can also tour the park during the day (for a fee) - interesting story as it was the first new old-style ballpark in the era of stadiums.</p>

<p>Other things to see in Baltimore all within walking distance of Aquarium (wear comfortable shoes):<br>

  • The Reginald Lewis Museum two blocks east of aquarium,
  • The tall ship Constellation (terrific! - best of the 3 ships), the Coast Guard clipper the Taney, the submarine the Torsk, are right on Inner Harbor two blocks west of the aquarium (ticket kiosk by the Constellation; you can get 1 ticket for all 3 vessels, or one for just the Constellation)<br>
  • If you like sports, the Sports History museum is near the Ballpark.<br>
  • There is a comic book museum called Geppi’s on the third floor of the Sports History museum.<br>
    These are all great, very interesting places.</p>

<p>If you have a car, these below are not within walking distance of the Aquarium, but in the city within a few minutes drive and are all excellent:
If you’re into Art, definitely recommend the Walters Museum, and its free.<br>
If you’re super into History, highly recommend the Maryland Historical Society.
If you’re into trains, B&O Railroad museum. It is NOT air-conditioned.
Something unusual but cool is the Dental Museum.</p>

<p>We love the Walters and the Maryland Historic Society. Note - please pay attention to parking on the streets near the Walters and MD Historical Society as they do not allow parking after 5 pm on weekdays on the streets to open it up for commuting traffic. You have to get the car off the street by 5 pm on weekdays.</p>

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<p>I visit Baltimore frequently and have gotten some great deals through the Priceline bidding process, but August is prime tourist season, so I think the best you can hope for is good, not great. It’s certainly worth a try. You can specify the Inner Harbor area specifically or adjacent areas. Do keep in mind that Baltimore is brutally hot and humid in August. Personally, I’d never go there during the summer at all. One of the nice parts of staying in the Inner Harbor area is that you can walk to a lot of attractions and restaurants–but walking more than a few blocks in the summer will leave you dripping.</p>

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<p>Fort McHenry is spacious and a beautiful park as well. Even if it is the 200th anniversary, it never feels crowded because of its spacious open land. You can never go wrong with a National Park or National Historic Site. :slight_smile: </p>

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<p>I’ll pass these ideas on to my husband. They will have a car. </p>

<p>They are considering touring the tall ships in the harbor. Thanks for the other suggestions. Ft. McHenry is on their list of possibilities. </p>

<p>Neither has any interest in sports, so Camden Yards won’t be on their list of places to see but thanks for the idea. My daughter’s favorite sports song is by Christine Lavin = Ballad of a Ballgame. (<a href=“Christine Lavin - Ballad Of A Ballgame - YouTube”>Christine Lavin - Ballad Of A Ballgame - YouTube)
Yup, she relates to this. lol</p>

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<p>Also keep in mind that the Baltimore Inner Harbor area convention center hosts Otakon, the largest Anime convention on the East Coast over a 3 day weekend period which tends to flood surrounding hotels with fans, convention organizers, featured guests, etc. </p>

<p>This year, it falls on August 8-10. </p>

<p>Yes, I speak with some experience being an attendee/chaperone to some younger friends with permission of their parents. </p>

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<p>Definitely agree with the Fort McHenry suggestion. Have fun!</p>

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<p>The only tall ship that I know of that is permanently in the Inner Harbor is the “Constellation.” I think this may be the only one there in August. Not sure of the sailing schedule of the “Lady Baltimore.”</p>

<p>The Coast Guard cutter Taney is a 20th century ship and the Torsk is a WWII sub. Note - None of these is air conditioned.</p>

<p>In September, 9/10/14 through 9/15/14, there will be many tall ships from all over the world, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem. Tours of the tall ships are offered that week in September. Look up the “Star-Spangled Spectacular.” The ships depart on Tuesday, Sept. 16th. </p>

<p>We watched the ships depart a few years ago at one of the tall-ship spectaculars. It was an amazing parade of beautiful ships.</p>

<p>Since your family will have a car, I would definitely look at the hotels near BWI. The drive back to Inner Harbor is just on highways, route I-195 then I-95. Very straightforward.</p>

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<p>The ride from the Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry via car, is only about 5 or 6 minutes, but far too long to walk. If they like the tall ships, they will also enjoy Fort McHenry. It is about the battle when all the British Navy attacked Fort McHenry, which was guarding the opening of the Harbor to Baltimore. Lots of people in period costume. Great visitors’ center. </p>

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<p>Last trip to Baltimore we stayed walking distance of Camden Yards and went to a ball game (along with aquarium and science museum). I know we stayed on W Lombard but can’t remember which of the chains we were at (there are three hotels there very close - Days Inn, Holiday Inn and Marriott) all three seem reasonably priced for a city hotel.</p>

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<p>The American Visionary Art museum is en route to Fort McHenry if they drive (as opposed to water taxi) and is very interesting and unusual. It can be done in less than two hours. </p>

<p>For an amazing view visit the Wit and Wisdom bar at the top of the Four Seasons. The cocktails won’t be cheap so maybe just have soft drinks, but a fantastic cool setting with an awesome view for a drink. </p>

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<p>Baltimore has decent public transportation, so staying right at the Inner Harbor might not be necessary. <a href=“http://mta.maryland.gov/”>http://mta.maryland.gov/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>One day last summer we had to be in Baltimore first thing in the morning, and didn’t want to have to fight the rush hour traffic. We stayed at the Days Inn Inner Harbor overnight. I can’t remember now where I found the rates. Kayak.com maybe?</p>

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<p>If you have a car, go out and visit Hampden. The main street there is packed with shops and restaurants and slightly off the beaten path is a great restaurant called Woodberry Kitchen. It’s in an old renovated mill. Make your reservations now - or at least 2 weeks in advance. It’s good food, but not a fancy place. </p>

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<p>There’s always this if they’re House of Cards fans - </p>

<p><a href=“http://mix1065fm.cbslocal.com/2014/02/17/house-of-cards-filming-locations-baltimore-season-two-baltimore/”>http://mix1065fm.cbslocal.com/2014/02/17/house-of-cards-filming-locations-baltimore-season-two-baltimore/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I really the Visionary Art Museum. It’s cool.</p>

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<p>Thanks Greenwitch. I had to look up House of Cards. We don’t have netflicks, so we are unfamiliar with this show.
The Woodberry Kitchen sound fabulous. Thanks for the heads up.</p>

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<p>Woodberry Kitchen is terrific!</p>

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<p>We also like Golden West in Hampden for brunch. It is sometimes called Golden Wait because it is so popular but if it’s just the two of them they can always sit at the bar. </p>