I like Baltimore for so many reasons but mostly because Baltimore plays it cool. I adore my home of New York City, but it tends to put itself out there to everyone. Baltimore isn’t that kind of place. You don’t stroll the streets of Baltimore and wait for something to pop out, you have to do a little digging. With some basic research and an open mind, you’ll see that there are so many avenues in which to explore the city. Once you get going by finding one cool place, you’ll start to see a pattern and discover more and more. And THEN you belong to a circle of travelers who knows that Baltimore is more than “The Wire.”
1) Take Photos at Baltimore’s Graffiti Alley.
Of course such an amazing and free artistic space can be found in such an innovative, gritty city. This spot is rife with people taking photos, and why not? The bright colors and incredible designs covering just about every surface in the L-shaped alley is one of the greatest backdrops that you can possibly have!
2) Marvel at the modern works in the American Visionary Art Museum.
This is my favorite art museum in the entire world! There’s truly nowhere else like it. It’s vibrant, bright, and every exhibit has a captivating backstory. I got a total sense of Alice in Wonderland meets child’s imagination in so many parts of this museum (such as looking at the giant loofah dogs!). Other exhibits tell more serious stories such as escaping or coping with genocide, or the dire need to preserve our planet’s natural resources. When I visited, I was happy to see the stories of people from places that are typically underrepresented, such as Poland and Rwanda.
3) Order a Unique Flavor at ‘The Charmery Ice Cream.
There’s usually a bit of a wait outside of The Charmery, but it’s completely and utterly worth it. Sure, there’s flavors like salted caramel and red velvet, but Baltimore is a harbor city, so naturally you can try Old Bay flavored ice cream too. I tried it, and surprisingly it doesn’t taste like seafood ice cream — it was more of a sweet and salty combination. Whether you go with an ‘avant-garde’ choice or something more tried and true, you’ll love the creamy, decadent taste of this ice cream.
4) Pay Homage to the Father of Horror Writing.
Baltimore is absolutely crazy over Edgar Allan Poe! In fact, there’s a festival dedicated to him every October, which is appropriate considering he was the father of horror fiction. You can visit the house that he lived in for some time and pay your respects at his grave site in what is actually a very beautiful cemetery, especially in the autumn. The house is exactly as you’d expect it to be: dimly lit with creaking floors and a winding and narrow staircase.
5) Explore the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad Museum.
Yes, of course I agree that this museum is unfortunately named. HOWEVER, if you can get past the fact that it’s pretty much named the Body Odor Railroad Museum, then you’ll have a really great time. I don’t really know anything about trains, but I can tell you that it’s fun to see the variety in them and to really get a sense for the engineering genius that has gone into making them run for centuries. It’s also interesting to see how Americans used to move before commercial air travel and road trips via car. If you have a little train enthusiast at home, note that during the winter there is the Polar Express train experience as well as a Thomas the Tank one in the spring.
6) Walk around the Baltimore Harbor.
If the weather is nice, take a walk down to the harbor. It won’t be long before you notice the historic ships that are docked. You can either admire them from afar OR you can climb aboard and explore some from within. One is a submarine that used to house 80 crew members! If you happen to be around the harbor at noon and four pm you’ll get to witness the daily canon firing from the USS Constellation.
7) Eat a Crab Cake.
I thought I’d had crab cakes before…and then I visited Baltimore. Eating a crab cake in Baltimore makes you realize that you’ve been lied to your entire life. Every time I ordered one on our trip it was chock full of crab with the tiniest bit of breading. It was always perfectly cooked, and (I hate to use the word, but it’s necessary) moist and very flavorful. Crab cakes everywhere else are dry and 99% breadcrumbs. Try one for yourself and taste the difference!
8) Gawk at the Oddities at the Weird Items for Purchase inside ‘Bazaar’.
We know that Baltimore is synonymous in so many ways with Edgar Allan Poe. Thus, there’s a bit of a macabre undertone to the city. That’s especially evident at the Bazaar in Hampden. You can purchase odd and uncomfortable trinkets here, from funeral shoes to old medical devices to preserved animal specimens. I scored a prescription from 1885 for ‘ether’ which was typically used during surgeries. Also, appropriate to the COVID pandemic, I bought a so-called plague candle. The scent is derived from the types of plants and flowers that plague doctors used to keep in their beak masks.
9) Honor Baltimore’s Proud Working Class Heritage at the Museum of Industry.
This museum pays homage to the workers and entrepreneurs who transformed the city into a manufacturing giant. Baltimore is fiercely proud of its industrial history that includes many of the innovations and inventions that are still used today (such as the traffic light). Tour a belt-driven machine shop, 1920’s garment center, print shop, cannery, and more. Many cities have their own history museum, but this is such a specific and unique way for visitors to get a sense of Baltimore’s history, values, and culture as well as see how it’s contributed to our American society at large.
10) Enjoy Funky Decor and a Captain Crunch Milkshake at the Paper Moon Diner.
How would you like to dine inside of a dream? A place where brightly colored mannequins, two-tone cows, bicycle wheels, elephants, baby dolls, and moon beams just kind of, you know, hang out? Well you can, at the Paper Moon Diner. Not only is the ambiance eccentric, but the food is delicious (and will put you into a coma). I highly recommend the Captain Crunch milkshake.
11) Explore the Parks, Eateries, and Shops of Adorable Hampden.
For a real ‘neighborhood’ feel, take a walk around Hampden, especially if you enjoying visiting locally-owned places. There’s plenty of shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. In the 90’s, a bunch of artists ‘took over’ the area. This is really reflected in the bright colors of the homes and progressive social vibe. I had some of the best Thai food here at Bodhi’s Corner, be sure to check them out!
12) Drink at ‘The Horse You Came in On’ Saloon.
This bar is a popular one AND an old one — considering it dates back to 1775. It’s a perfect paradox of lively (with chattering patrons and upbeat live music) while also feeling very much like a Colonial-era building. While at the same time feeling like you’re in a saloon? It also has a riveting history. It was the last place that Edgar Allan Poe was seen before his mysterious disappearance and eventually death. Some of the menu gives a nod to Baltimore’s harbor location including wings with the option of Old Bay seasoning and Maryland crab dip.
0 comment