Baltimore bound......DC trip for sweet momma ruined
 

I am so upset. for my sweet mother!:(:( I had planned on taking her to see all the sights in DC - we tried to go several years ago and there was a tremendous amount of rain and flooding and they closed all the Smithsonian's then! She has never been to a zoo and I so wanted her to have this experience. I know that there are so many other problems in the world and that so many other people have more devastating reservations ruined, but I am sad for her. She is a great sport and is willing to give anything a try.

SO, I am now thinking of Baltimore and going to the aquarium and just visiting this city. I have never been. This is very last minute (and I usually have things planned out months in advance) as our trip is in the weekend but I would really appreciate any ideas! We love art, symphony, musicals, good food, and historical homes and tours. I was going to try to find a hotel in the Inner harbor as that looks like there is a lot going on, but I did see a place in Fell's Point. I am just not sure of the areas. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Sorry for your mother and all the others who can't access our nation's treasures.
The Cone Collection of Post-Impressionists at the Baltimore Mueum of Art is excellent and the Cone sisters themselves are a very interesting story.

Baltimore has a pretty great zoo. I haven't been there for years, but when I went, it was really nice.

Thank you both so much for the suggestions. I will put them on our "to do" list!

Annapolis is wonderful. Very close by. The inner harbor is nice in Baltimore. It is football season so probably a pro game or college game going on this weekend. I hate this shutdown. The Republicans are holding the economy hostage. So many people out of work.

Have lived in Baltimore three years now and there is lots to see and do. Yes to the free Baltimore museum of Art but not open Monday or Tuesday fyi. The Walters Museum is terrifc and the American Visionary Arts Museum is a lot of fun. Yes, aquarium is great and there is new mummy exhibit at the Science Center. There is a good vistor center by the Inner Harbir wheere you coukd find things to do.
If the weather is nice, hop on the water taxi for the day and go from the Inner Harbor to Fells Point and Canton. Lots of good restaurants in the city these days. Chexk out concerts at The Peabody Institute as well as the symphony.
The Sunday morning market under the Jones Falls Expressway is simply wonderful. Maybe take cab there and arrange pick up back if you decide to go.
Maybe stay in Harbor East atea to walk around---it is between the Inner Harbor and Fells and there is a Marriott and a couple others. Fells has some lovely historic type hotels.
Unfortunately Ft McHenry is also closed but if it were open, you woukd be in DC!
Enjoy Baltimore.

Just returned from Baltimore. Fell's Pt is a nice walk to Inner Harbor if your mom is willing and able. We stayed at Inn at Henderson Pt (or something like that). Nice furnishings, great location, had a good continental breakfast and little wine reception each day. Great outdoor market Sat morning a few blocks away (I think it was called Broadway Sq) and fantastic gelato in that same spot at Pitango.
There are several old ships you can tour and a little lighthouse. Very easy to just wander without a plan
Hope you have fun!

Oh my!! Thank you all so much for the responses. I am writing down ideas and scheduling our plans. My sweet mother walks 2-3 miles 4 days a week so she is ready to go!:):) I do realize I am lucky to get to have the "problem" of where to go for my fall break when so many others are on furlough. I guess I have to feel that I can help a local economy and have wonderful memories of a trip. Again...thanks you all so much!

I think you should take a day trip out to Alexandria and Mount Vernon! I just looked at Mount Vernon's website and it says "we're open. No shutdown here."

http://www.mountvernon.org/

We loved, loved seeing George Washington's home. Would highly recommend.


Also, I know that much of DC is shut down, but there are still things worth doing there. My friend who lives in DC tells me that I have only scratched the surface. Here are some she's told me about so that I will go back.

The Newseum is a highly regarded museum by many fodorites, and their website posts that they are open:
http://www.newseum.org/

The Phillips Collection is famous for its Impressionist paintings:

http://www.phillipscollection.org/index.aspx

The Spy Museum is supposed to be fun:
http://www.spymuseum.org/

For American History, the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum is free:
http://www.dar.org/museum/musnews.cfm

The Corcoran is another excellent art musuem in DC:
http://www.corcoran.org/exhibitions

Finally: As I understand it, we have public meetings laws in America. You can call your congressman or senator and request tickets to visit the House or Senate in session. Honestly, that is far more interesting than a tour.

We stayed at the Admiral Fell Inn in Fell's Point and loved it. However, if your Mom has any difficulty navigating narrow passages, short flights of stairs, etc., she'll have a problem.

We like Fell's Point more than the Harbor--it's quieter most of the time (although there are a lot of bars and restaurants nearby)

Baltimore is one of our favorite cities in the world with nice people and lots to do, so you both should enjoy it.

This thread has suggestions as well, some of them already mentioned above:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-shut-down.cfm

@5alive:Finally: As I understand it, we have public meetings laws in America. You can call your congressman or senator and request tickets to visit the House or Senate in session. Honestly, that is far more interesting than a tour. (That is so much fun, we did that in Dec at the end of our tour a congress women came over to our guide and asked if we wanted to see three votes. We had to go through another security check point and not take anything in with us but well worth it.
The newseum is well worth it and all the places to eat will be open. don't give up on DC.

Since you like museums and art galleries, do not miss the Walters. Also, if you are foodies don't miss
Little Italy. We like Sabatino's and Valeggio's but there are many other restaurants there. Oh,
Have some crab cakes, too. Be sure to complain to your congressperson and senators about this situation.

A couple of great farm to table places- Fork and Wrench in Canton, and Woodberry Kitchen in Hamden.

I'll second staying in Fell's Point and at the Admiral Fell Inn (while agreeing about accessibility).

Baltimore is a great city and is worth a visit. Enjoy it!

flipab--That is awesome that you went too and also enjoyed it. We were able to see part of the House arguments and preliminary full vote on the Holder Contempt case last summer and it was waaay better than the tour.

What I am not sure about is, whether the Powers That Be in Washington DC decided to suspend letting observers into the House or Senate Chambers because of the Shutdown. My feeling is that they can't because of Public Meeting Laws. I was hedging because I am just not 100 percent sure. I would suggest the OP or any others reading this thread call, email or check their congress person's website or perhaps the websites for either chamber before chasing down tickets in person in DC.

Evergreen house museum and library in Baltimore, not far from the Baltimore Museum of Art, is absolutely fabulous!

Also, Gertrude's restaurant in the BMA is really good and if the weather is nice, a lovely place to eat lunch outside overlooking the sculpture garden.

Zee Mean Bean in Fells Point is a great, reasonably priced restaurant.

Oh, as someone else mentioned, the zoo in Baltimore, though small, is very nice and well designed with pretty grounds

Sassafrass - thank you for the tip on Evergreen - it looks perfect for us! I had already planned to go to the BMA but I didn't even think to look at the restaurant there - Gertrude's looks very good! I bookmarked Ze Mean Bean for a dinner. We have booked The Royal Sonesta hotel which is on the inner harbor and I think we will really enjoy walking around that area. I have used all of these tips to plan a great little vacation for my sweet mother.
Thanks so much to all of you!

If you do eat at Gertrude's, check the menu for that day on line first. Sometimes the lovely outdoor area is closed for events. Their crab cakes are great. Also, the salmon ala bella is wonderful as is the crab quiche. The cat fish is good too and the cheese cake is great. The only thing I do not like is the cole slaw - just something funny about it.

At Zee Mean Bean, everything is great, but one of our favorites is actually a sandwhich and salad - their version of a Rubin made with roast pork and red cabbage, spicy and yummy. Sitting up stairs is quite nice.

You seem to be such a lovely person. I hope your visit is everything you want it to be.