Looking to take our two kids (6 and 4) to Baltimore for a few days in early May. Any hotel recommendations in the inner harbor? Also attraction recommendations also appreciated. Would you recommend advance reservations?

There are four nice hotels right around the harbor - Marriott Waterfront, Renaissance, Hyatt, and Intercontinental. But if you want to save a few dollars, and maybe look for a suite hotel, you could try the Residence Inn on St. Paul Street, or Springhill Suites on Calvert Street. These are both a couple of blocks north of the harbor, and they are good locations. There is also a Homewood Suites on President Street in Inner Harbor East, which is a great location.

Attractions-

National Aquarium - probably the best place to visit

Maryland Science Center & IMAX - good for kids the age of yours

Fort McHenry

If you check the Orioles' schedule you might get a game with a promotion for the kids

Port Discovery childrens' museum

Baltimore has quite a few market buildings with vendor stalls that are fun for lunch - Cross Street Market is just a few blocks south of the harbor on Light Street. There is also Lexington Market which is quite a few blocks northwest of the harbor at Lexington & Eutaw - it's much bigger and busier than Cross Street, but the neighborhood around Cross Street (Federal Hill) is nicer, and has other shops, restaurants, etc.

Federal Hill park is fairly nice for a walk if the weather is nice - it has great views of the harbor.

There is also a Washington Monument in Baltimore - on Charles Street in Mount Vernon, about 10 blocks north of the Harbor. You can climb up to the top of it for a very nice view. Right next to the monument is the Walters Art Gallery, which has some pretty interesting exhibits.

I hope it's ok that I jump in here. We'll be in Baltimore around same time and want to stay in Inner Harbor. I'm hoping that knowledgeable people can distinguish among those 4 hotels for us. Cost not a consideration, but quiet is. We're an older couple who has trouble sleeping, especially when we're traveling. Does anyone happen to know which of those hotels has best soundproofing and would be most restful?
Thank you.

Here is a link to my trip report from last May.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...0---june-1.cfm

I really enjoyed Baltimore. Would recommend Fort McHenry, the Aquarium (probably the best aquarium that I have been to)and Camden Yards.

We stayed at the Admiral Fell Inn in Fell's Point. It was great and at a good rate. Its not right at the Harbor but a quick water taxi ride away or a cab ride.

poss, I don't know the answer to your question, but the Marriott Waterfront is the newest, if that has anything to do with it. It is also directly on the water, rather than on Pratt or Light Street across from Harborplace, and so the volume of traffic around the building would probably be lower. If you can get a room facing the water, which might cost more, it would probably be quieter.

Poss - Strongly consider "The Inn at Henderson's Wharf." It is located at the Inner Harbor on the water in Fell's Point directly across from Harbor Place. Harbor Place itself is easily accessible by water taxi (buy a day pass) that is very near the hotel. The Inn is a mix of hotel and very upscale residential apartments. From outside, it looks like the historic converted tobacco warehouse that it is. Inside, it is elegant. It is as quiet as you will find - there is no nearby traffic. If you choose the Inn, ask for a room facing the water for a million dollar view and a guarantee of quiet.

Fell's Point itself is historic and abounds with restaurants and bars as well as antique shops etc - a pretty lively nightlife really but the Inn is set off a bit and not close enough to the noisy areas for them to be a bother. Depending on the time of year, you may also enjoy the Fell's Point Playhouse.

Also, The Black Eyed Susan, an authentic sternwheeler, leaves from a dock a short walk from the Inn for lunch/brunch and other cruises. If you like such things, check out their schedule - they are often booked for private parties. The food is good and you will get a very different view of the Inner Harbor then you would get from land. Bring your camera. I like the Black Eyed Susan far better than the lunch/dinner cruise big boats that leave from Harbor Place - IMO the food is better and it is smaller and more intimate.

As you can tell, the Inn is my favorite hotel in Baltimore and where I send my own guests when they come to visit and want to spend some time at the harbor. They have all been happy.

Defintely take your kids to the Science Museum (in the Harbor area). When mine were young, that was the one museum I could never get them out of. We live outside Washington, DC, and, yes, they enjoyed that museum better than any of the Smithsonian Museums.

The acquarium is great too. I also love Fells Point. Eat lunch there for sure.

P.S. Keep them out of museum gift shops or they will never see the museum.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn and would stay there again. Think it is about 2 blocks from the inner harbor. From the top floor/cafeteria, there is an outside walkway where you can see the baseball field. Parking was about $20 per night; pool; gym; business center/internet; clean; excellent customer service.

Ride the Baltimore Duck! Amphibious tour bus/boat is lots of fun.

Just a note that a room overlooking the street at the Admiral Fell Inn can be noisy on a weekend night. The inn is lovely but the party can be loud in Fells Point.

In South Baltimore/Locust Point, on the way back to the Harbor from Fort McHenry on Fort Avenue, there are a few good restaurants: Lucca for gourmet pizza/italian in a low-key atmosphere and The Wine Market for gourmet and a phenomenal wine selection. If you want a classic Baltimore diner style place with our local favs, sour beef and dumplings or french fries with gravy, try Rallo's (only open in the day time or for very early dinner, I believe. ) The surrounding neighborhood is a classic Baltimore rowhouse area and safe to walk around.

The dolphin show at the Aquarium is wonderful, and as a kid I loved the Walter's for their medieval exhibits. Fort McHenry is cool for history buffs and has gorgeous views and cherry blossoms if you hit it at the right time of year (May might be late).

The Inner Harbor itself is a great place to spend a day or two. You can tour the USS Constellation, a historic tall ship, and I think a submarine, too.

BlueS - You are right about Admiral Fells Inn. That is why I recommended The Inn at Henderson's Wharf. It is not in the noisy area of Fells Point, yet the Fells Point nightlife is nearby.

My daughter and I recently stayed at the Baltimore Hilton. We were able to get a very good rate on Hotwire and were not disappointed. It is very comfortable and has a nice indoor pool w/jacuzzi. The hotel is directly across the street from Camden Yards and not too far from the Inner Harbor (5-7 blocks).

Cherry Blossoms bloom in DC at the end of March/beginning of April. The timing would be similar in Baltimore.