Should we stop for a Saturday night in Baltimore?
 

Driving from Boston to DC in a few weeks, for the 3rd time in as many months, and I'm contemplating a stop in Baltimore Saturday afternoon for a night to break up the trip. (I know NY is the halfway point but don't have much interest in stopping there.) I visited the Inner Harbor about 25 years ago and remember a very fun restaurant with cold drafts and mallets to smash your crab on the table, then wandering some very cool shops. I'd love to do something similar, to give us a low-stress break in the trip. Low stress meaning drive into the inner harbor area, find a nice hotel on the water for around $150 where we can easily park the car, sit at a nice restaurant / pub for a nice dinner and drinks with a view of the bay (anything under $150 for 2 would be great), and leave in the morning refreshed and ready to arrive in DC.

Any thoughts / suggestions would be appreciated. I don't mind researching the hotels and restaurants - I'm really just looking for a sense of whether what I'm looking for is possible on a Saturday night in May in the Inner Harbor

Thanks!!

I'm also interested in this. I'll be flying into BWI before taking the train back home (in NC) and will have just spent four days in Washington. I could spend a couple of nights in Baltimore instead of going back to Washington, would there be enough not just for a Saturday afternoon but also a Sunday?

"I don't mind researching the hotels and restaurants - I'm really just looking for a sense of whether what I'm looking for is possible on a Saturday night in May in the Inner Harbor"

The only way to find out if your budget is possible is to look for hotels. I don't know what other "possible" you are referring to.

"would there be enough not just for a Saturday afternoon but also a Sunday?"

Yes.

Saturday nights are popular at the Inner Harbor complex. I would book the hotel as soon as I decided. I am assuming there would be no baseball game although if there is that might make things even more crowded than usual.

There's plenty to see and do in Baltimore, etc., but not knowing what one's specific interests are it is a bit harder to answer the question IMO.

My question is really what Dukey's post is alluding to: is the Inner Harbor on a Saturday night so busy that it would be a hassle driving in and finding a restaurant to have dinner and then stroll around. I'm just interested in a general idea of the level of crowds. If someone has a particular restaurant or hotel recommendation in that price range, great. If not, I can check myself. Good point about the baseball game - I will check.

@Dukey - sorry, of course you're right. I'll put up a separate post instead of hijacking.

"find a nice hotel on the water for around $150".

I'm not sure this budget is realistic. There are some chain hotels that might do, if they are running specials or if you have points to use. Like the Marriott waterside:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Maryland.html

We liked Kali's Court in Fell's Point. It's pricey, and not on the water, though.
http://www.kaliscourt.com/

For waterside, we have eaten at McCormick & Schmick's, but thought it was way over-priced and servings were small.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/...ernavenue.aspx

For relatively inexpensive dining, the Rusty Scupper is on the water and it's where we would take our college student and some friends. The views are unbeatable, and parking is free. My food was always fine, usually I'd order scallops. It's not the best food you'll find, and the restaurant could use a facelift (we haven't been there in 4 years). But it's good enough, for those views.
https://www.facebook.com/RustyScupper

Thanks for the info Tabernash

My pleasure.

Please let us know where you choose to stay and eat. I think it's a very good idea for stopping at a half-way point to spend the night.

I double-checked the menu at McC & Schmick's. Its not as expensive as I remembered. We did have horrible service and small servings, it was DD and I. We were there for a late dinner, close to closing time, amd we felt unwelcome and rushed.

You should check to see if the O's are playing an afternoon or evening game in Camden Yards. Available hotel rooms might be the most expensive ones.

Would Annapolis be an option, if there's no good room rates in Bmore?

I would not expect Annapolis to be cheaper than Baltimore on a nice spring weekend, worse of course if it happens to be USNA graduation!

Have you been to Longwood Gardens outside Wilmington? The Brandywine Valley? New Castle, DE (like Nantucket or Williamsburg on a small scale). Delaware Water Gap?

Of course, Washington to Boston isn't a long day's trip.

alley, you shouldn't have any trouble whatsoever with traffic, and I think you should be able to find a good hotel room for $150. If you go onto priceline and look for the Inner Harbor 4* hotels, they are all very nice, though not necessarily on the water - some are, some aren't. The Hyatt, The Renaissance, Royal Sonesta, and Marriott Waterfront would all fit your bill. If the advertised prices are an issue, just look at the priceline express deals, and if there is an Inner Harbor 4* at a good price it should be fine, again if not on the water.

There are plenty of very nice restaurants downtown, though with apologies to Tabernash2 I would not recommend M&S or Rusty Scupper unless the only thing you cared about was a water view. Kali's Court was a good suggestion, and another good waterfront place is Thames Street Oyster House. The best outdoor waterfront dining is Waterfront Kitchen if the weather is good enough. But there are many more excellent places if it doesn't need to be on the water.

Based on what you said you were looking for, I think it's entirely doable.