After hearing about logistics for the ball park and the Aquarium and Inner Harbor, what else do you think may be a possible use for a weekday- all day within the Baltimore area. We are thinking about the Walters Art Museum.

Is there a zoo? Any other favorites of yours- especially re a walking path or route?

Thanks!

I really enjoyed the Fells Point area, it would be great around happy hour time, great pubs and food. Take the water taxi over, which is cool.

Fort McHenry via the water taxi is a pleasant scenic trip and the Fort is a must see for a trip to Baltimore. The Visionary Art Museum is a quirky and interesting spot not far from the Science Center. Also, walking around the interesting Federal Hill neighborhood and seeing the view from the top of Federal Hill (next to Visionary) is nice too, although the monstrous new Ritz has taken away a healthy section of the view eastward.

www.artbma.org

The campus of Johns Hopkins University is very nice for a walk. This not the same area as Johns Hopkins Hospital--which can be dangerous.

Thin

Yes, there is a zoo. Google "The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore". Lexington Market is nice.

Zoo- I saw something the other day that they have a new baby elephant at the zoo. I bet he/she is a real cutie!

You've have helped me decide.

We are going to stay within Baltimore for the extra free day.

This is exactly what I wanted. I'll Rand McNalley these spots from the hotel and other logistics.

We will definitely go to Fell's Point, Ft. McHenry, and Thin's Art Museum link.

It also looks like for once I am not going to bring my dastardly rotten Chicago weather with me when I go East. So I hope all venues are operational.

Lexington Market and the zoo, we will try to fit in. Who knows, we may get to either early on the other weekday that ends at Camden Yards.

THANK YOU, this is my first time in Baltimore.

I have a feeling that it will be familiar, because I've just read three different Laura Lippmann Baltimore anchored books, and they seem much in the manner of my past urban Chicago neighborhoods.

Thin, dare I ask- would you shop anywhere that I might hit in these environs?

If you are walking in Federal Hill neighborhood you may want to stop in at "Spoons" coffee shop where Laura Lippmann often writes. Also, across the street is the Cross Street Market where you you can have crabs and oysters at Nicks.

fyi, I believe the Inner Harbor water taxi is no longer running. There was a very bad accident several summers ago, high wind and the water taxi boat turned over and almost everyone on board drowned, couldn't get out of the indoor part of the boat.

If you are a baseball fan, Babe Ruth's house/museum is in Baltimore, a few blocks from the baseball stadium. There is also a Sports Legends Museum next to Camden Yards park. Both are described here:

http://www.baberuthmuseum.com/

Water taxis are indeed still running, I live on the harbor and see them all the time. They go to Ft. McHenry starting this month through Sept. weather permitting. The schedule is on their web sight

Do you have kids w/you? The MAryland Science Center (walkable from Inner Harbor, there is a walkway around the harbor to get there) is GREAT, even without kids really. I still love it and our kids are teens now. You can catch good IMAX movies there, and on weekends they show IMAX at night there too. There are 3 IMAX movies showing now- The Alps (GREAT movie!), and also Sea Monsters, and U2 3D (a U2 concert in 3D!) Highly recommend this museum.

Thanks polaris for clearing that up. I think they didn't run the season after the accident. That was so tragic and scary, as I, like so many other tourists, has taken that water taxi so many times and coudl only imagine the horror. Glad they are running and I assume they have better safety considerations and strict procedures for high winds now.

JJ5, I used to teach high school in Baltimore--over 10 years ago. I really don't have any recommendations for shopping. There is a mall at the Inner Harbour that has some nice shops. My mother used to love the Aerosoles shoe store int the mall.

If you like Lilly Pulitzer prints, you would like the Pink Crab in Ruxton.

I usually go shopping at the Towson Mall or White Marsh Mall when visiting friends in Baltimore.

The last time I was in B-more, hon, was April, 2006.

Now, don't forget your beehive hair-don't and your plastic shopping tote for walking around B-more, hon!

Ya gotta look cheap to make it in Baltimore.

Thin

I don't have enough hair for a beehive. It's dense but short! But I can spike it out.

Don't worry I have my old plastic Wiebolt's shopping bag that will do most perfectly.

Thanks for the tips. I may just get to that mall near the Inner Harbor.

Thanks all of you, one more time.

I think we are going to do that Science Museum too, as it is so close to other venues.

Now I will press for any extra time to go to Federal Hill, because I will get to "Spoons".

You know, I'm not agog at authors, and used to go to book reads, so have meet some few- but I absolutely ADORE the way Laura Lippmann writes. I would rather write like she does, instead of like a Russo or someone who is considered more "literature" with the big L, and not my little l.

Her descriptions and flow are just awesome. And she is one of the very few authors in mystery genre or in her psychological study novels, that pave a path that I can't see coming. I do know what she looks like. LOL!