First time to Baltimore
 

Would someone please give us a brief on what to do and where to go in Baltimore. We would also like to visit Anapolis. My wife and I will be travelling by car and we have about 5 days.

Thank you

Dave

I went to Baltimore in October, 1995. It's a pretty city. We stayed with family that lived in the city walking distance from Chesapeake Bay. I would walk along the bay downtown. There are lot's of shops and restaurants. Along the brick walk way beside Chesapeake bay is where a scene was filmed of Melanie Griffith in Sleepless in Seattle. You can also take a boat ride on the bay.

We drove to Annapolis for the afternoon. We saw the Navy Campus. We walked around and had lunch there. It's also a pretty city.

In Baltimore, we visited John Hopkins University and went out for dinners. We were there from Friday thru Sunday and didn't have enough time to do more than that. Very nice area.

Stay at one of the hotels at the Inner Harbor. You will be close to many activities. Walk to Lexington Market (I believe it is similar to Seattle's Pike's Market) and have lunch from a variety of ethnic food stands. Spend some time walking around the Inner Harbor...there are two buildings with shops, restaurants, food kiosks, etc. At times you may encounter street entertainers...mimes, clowns, musical groups on the Inner Harbor piazza. Go to the world renouned aquarium (among other things, it has a shark exhibit and on the upper level, a replicated rain forest). Also at the Inner Harbor is the Maryland Science Center, a hands on "museum", the type which seems to be the rage in metropolitan areas lately. It has a replicated planetarium and other things. Call ahead and get tickets for a Baltimore Orioles game to see The Iron Man play. Take a day trip to Annapolis to tour the Naval Academy and while there walk around the waterfront area...case out the boats at the marina...have lunch at an outdoor cafe...drive across the Bay Bridge to enjoy the majesty of the Chesapeake Bay. This should be enough to get you started. The hotel staff can direct you to other activities...parts of town and state. Oh, and don't forget...while there you must enjoy Chesapeake Blue Crabs the way the locals do...go to the Phillips stand (not the restaurant...it's too expensive) in the Inner Harbor Building, buy some crabs and ask someone standing around to give you a crab eating ettiquette lesson:-). By all means, enjoy! I've lived in this area more than 30 years and I am never bored. Also, there are good Baltimore & Maryland web sites. I can't remember them off-hand, but you should be able to find them thru some search mode.

Stay at the Hyatt or Sheraton in Baltimore. Visit the Inner Harbor area including, National Aquarium ( Get there early), Science Center (IMAX Theater), Newly opened Hard Rock cafe, Tio Pepe's restaurant, Little Italy, Bay Cafe and The Galleria. In Annapolis (Take Rt 97 South from the Baltimore Beltway, merge onto Rt. 50 East then take Rowe Blvd exit into Annapolis) go to McGarvey's restaurant or eat lunch outside at Middleton's. Have lunch or dinner at Pusser's Landing in front of EGO ALLEY (where all the boaters cruise in and out so they can see and be seen). Chart House across the creek is nice but over priced. Eat crabs at Buddy's or venture out to Cantler's restaurant if you can find it. Visit the Naval Academy (walk there from Annapolis, 3 minutes tops) and see the Chapel (John Paul Jones's crypt is under it), Bancroft Hall (Middie dorm) and walk along the seawall starting from the new Visitor's Center. Walk up and down Main Street and Maryland Avenue to shop. If you go across the Bay Bridge eat some seafood at Harris's Crab House on Kent Island
(Ten minutes from Annapolis) then go next door to Red Eyes Dock Bar (Cool outside waterside bar with a band at night).

The replies so far pretty much say it all, but let me add a few things. If you want to see the Orioles (and I urge you to do so), you may not be able to get tickets except from high-priced ticket agencies. However, there is an authorized "scalping" area outside the Camden Yards stadium where you can get tickets just before game time. The good news is it is illegal to sell tickets for more than face value in the City (strictly enforced). For a unique restaurant in Baltimore, try Hausner's on Eastern Avenue, a few miles from the harbor. If you are a fan of the TV show "Homicide", go to Fells Point - lots of nice shops and pubs. In Annapolis, take one of the walking tours (Three Centuries Tours is one of the operations). Very entertaining. If you go to the Eastern Shore, check out the town of St. Michaels. Several nice inns and B&Bs and an excellent Maritime Museum.

I agree with what everyone has said in the previous messages. Definitely do a little excursion to Fell's Point. Take the water taxi, since it gives a good, inexpensive tour, and a great way to get around.
For a nice drink or dinner away from the main crowd, go to the Rusty Scupper on the other side of the harbor(just follow the path all the way around). It sits directly on the other side of the harbor, giving a great view of the entire city. Awesome happy hour.
One word of caution. Stick to the harbor area and avoid downtown. In my opinion it is very shady and not real safe.