BillyM

Friends and I will be in Baltimore on a Satuday in August. We will be concentrating around the Inner Harbor area, but would like to expand our visit to "real" Baltimore neighborhoods like Little Italy and Fell's Point. Any tips on sights, good affordable restaurants, bars, or coffee houses for our group to enjoy in those areas? Our ages range from 20 to 50.

bardo1

Get there early and go ahead and park.Plan on 1-2 hours looking at the Inner Harbor area. It's mostly stores and restaurants and has the usual buskers for the tourists and such. After seeing the Inner Harbor, get some water taxi tickets (they are 'hop-on, hop-off, good all day) and head HERE for lunch. It's right on the water taxi route:

http://www.captainjameslanding.com/

http://www.baltimorewatertaxi.com/

Eat at the outdoor deck, NOT the indoor restaurant (which has a different menu, is over priced, and not that good. The crabs and such at the outdoor deck, however, are wonderful. Plan on 2 hours eating crabs and drinking beer.


From there, it's less than a 10 minute walk to Fells Point. Fells Point is chock full of coffee houses, bars, cafes, shops (including VERY good record stores), a market, and such. You'll know the right one for your group when you see it - just don't stop at any of the establishments right next to the dock, too "touristy". Fells Point is good for as long as you want it to be, minimum 2-3 hours. At night there's lots of good live music. If your plan on staying in Baltimore into the night, make Fells Point your last stop.

http://www.fellspoint.us/

From Fells Point, you can continue walking to Little Italy, get on another water taxi and head to other areas or head back to the Inner Harbor.

The main attraction of Little Italy is the restaurants, not so much for shopping. Less than 1 hour, unless you go for a 2-3 hour Italian meal.

http://www.littleitalymd.com/main_page.htm

pat

You could try the Duck Tour. It was fun, we saw a lot, and then knew what we wanted to go back and see more of.

RainyDay09

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DCAreaMom

If you go to Little Italy, get some gelato and dessert at Vacarro's. It's where all the restaurants in Little Italy get their desserts from. It's been around forever.

http://www.vaccarospastry.com/

sludick

Great information - we'll also be spending a day/overnight in Baltimore Inner Harbor, and this helps a lot.

flirtinfilly

I hope when bardo says "park" they meant in a garage. Rates are usually reduced on the weekend (unless there is an event such as a game/concert). Most street parking has a 2 hour limit and why chance a $50 ticket or worse getting towed. The further away from the IH, the cheaper the parking. There is also a free bus called the Circulator that you can ride around:

http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/content/about

Agree that the water taxi is also fun. Try the Cross St Market in Federal Hill for a brew and oysters! Enjoy your visit

Lolo12

Vaccaro's is a wonderful place in Little Italy for dessert.

I had lunch at Bertha's in Fells Point. Also wonderful - especially if you like mussels.

If you have time, a nice visit is Ft McHenry - you can reach it by water taxi (or drive there yourself).

The aquarium at the Inner Harbor is certainly worth a visit.

I just came back from spending 3 days in Baltimore and was very impressed. The little neighborhoods are interesting and the harbor area was fun to stroll and people watch.

You will enjoy yourself, I'm sure.

gardendiva

If you still find you have an hour or so after all these great suggestions, visit the American Visionary Museum at the foot of Federal Hill. Take the water taxi to the Rusty Scupper dock. The museum is just across the street. The museum displays works for all self-taught artists. I am not one for art museums but this one is great. Don't miss the three story pink poodle.

sludick

Any spots for good steamed clams? Some years ago we sat for an entire afternoon in the Inner Harbor, eating steamed clams from a metal steamer pot and drinking gin and tonics. It wasn't Phillips, and we went there on a subsequent visit to our vast disappointment.