Can anybody give me some information the Inner Harbor? We will be going for 2 nights in the fall with our two children ages 6 and 10. We already got tickets for an Orioles game and have heard to definitely go to the aquarium. Any good restaurants not to miss? What about hotels? Thanks.

Just got back from Baltimore. We bid for a hotel on priceline.com and spent $60 on a Marriott. The Renaissance Hotel looked really nice, too, and is in a great location, right close to the inner harbor. For your kids, they would enjoy the Duck tour. You can get tickets at the inner harbor. They give you quaker whistles, play music, and have you wave to everyone from a little bus. You go around the city, then drive right into the harbor, where they put a propeller down, and then off you go. They let the little kids drive the boat/bus for a short distance, and they seemed to get a kick out of that. We sure to have Maryland crab cakes. We had maryland crab soup and didn`t care for it. Phillip`s is supposed to be a good place to eat. Have fun!

You can tour the USS Constellation - which is a wooden warship, with sails, from the Civil War era. There is a submarine from WWII you can tour. If you want to see Fort McHenry (my boys at those ages enjoyed the Fort) you can take a water taxi from the harbor over to the Fort.

There is a Cheesecake Factory. (long waits)Best is to go really early and put your name down. Then wander around the Inner Harbor for a while.There is also a good Science museum.

See if you can do a tour of the Orioles stadium. I found it fascinating adn I hate baseball!

I would skip Phillips and the Cheesecake Factory and go somewhere authentic to Baltimore. Sisson’s in Federal Hill is outstanding – great cajun/creole food and a brewery as well. Your kids would probably enjoy Italian food in Little Italy. Amici’s is very casual (jeans acceptable) and kid friendly, and they have great food. Go to Vacarro’s for dessert. Little Italy is a very short cab ride from the Inner Harbor, and could also be walked. Fell’s Point also has some good restaurants like John Stevens and Piccalo’s. The aquarium is a must – its phenomenal. ESPN Zone is also there, which your kids may enjoy. Baltimore is a great city. I went to school at Johns Hopkins and it was a great way to spend 4 years.

There's a great museum just off the inner harbor called Port Discovery. Your kids are the perfect age for this hands-on museum. I can't wait to go back with mine this summer.

Lori--
Here is a link to a lot of information regarding Baltimore.
http://www.eastplaza.com/search/index.htm
There are plenty of things your children will enjoy:
Port Discovery , the Babe Ruth House and museum,the Maryland Science Center, the Aquarium, Fort Mchenry --all of these are in the Inner Harbor area.

We were there this summer. Take the water Taxi to Fort Mchenry, it was interesting. We did a water taxi tour that included Fort Mchenry. Stay away from Hard Rock cafe for meals. There food is terrible.

My friend and I are going to the Harbor a week after the 4th of July and staying for 3 nights. No children!! I heard that it is beautiful. Got tix for the Orioles. Staying at the Hyatt. What restaurants to go to that's not expensive?

The stadium is really nice but the Marriott hotel across the street is so-so. If you can get something closer to the INner Harbor it may be nicer. There's a ferry ride to restaurants and lots of food court places to eat there.
If ESPN is still there the kids will like it, the food was better than expected. A trip to Ft. McHenry is a good idea for the kids. It's a good place to talk about in school and say you were there...Take photos of the kids there and they will end up taking them to school when they go over American History.

http://www.avam.org/index.html
Website for the Visionary Museum at Federal Hill; not your run of the mill museum. Also, a trip to Lexington Market or the Cross Street Market might be fun; again not your usual "grocery" store. Top of the Trade Center for the view.

Lori,
You will have a great time in Baltimore. There is a Cheesecake Factory, Hard Rock Cafe and ESPN Zone right at Inner Harbor to eat, and with kids this might work well. As for more authentic food try Orbrecki's or Mo's Seafood & Pasta. I agree that Phillip's is way over rated and priced.

Oh, your kids might enjoy a ride on the tall ship Clipper City. We hosted a cocktail party on it 2 years ago and the crew is great!

If you have some time to club try Howl at the Moon !!!


Lily

Baltimore Restaurants: I agree with the previous poster on Amicci's in Little Italy, and John Stevens in Fell's Point, but definitely NOT Piccolo's in Fell's Point--pretty bad food. For mexican, try Nacho Mama's in Canton.

Pete,

Has Piccolo's gone down hill? I haven't been there in about 4 years. I used to love the food there when I was in college (and my parents were in town paying for dinner). Its a shame to hear the food isn't good - its such a nice setting.