Hi,

We'll be in Baltimore next weekend for 2 nights, visiting with our son who's ship is pulling into Coast Guard Yard. We're staying at the Intercontinental on the harbor and we'll have a car. Can anyone recommend some fun things to do and some "affordable" restaurants to eat at with our son? He doesn't like fancy menus, but we still want to go some place nice. We haven't seen him in 6 months so we're really excited! Thanks in advance!!

How about the Boston Aquarium? Definitely worth the visit. Or if your son isn't sick of ships, look at the Maritime Museum. Would also recommend going out to Ft McHenry.

Wow, can't believe I typed Boston. I meant to put the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Should have had my coffee first...

I agree that the aquarium is a nice place to visit. We also enjoyed just wandering around the harbor, watching people.

I was there this summer with my daughter -
We enjoyed eating crab cakes and other goodies at Bertha's in Fells Point - a short drive from the harbor. It is a cobblestonned area on the water front with unique shops and bars,etc.. There is a fabulous gelatto place right next to it!
ESPN Zone is there as well to enjoy the sports atmosphere and burgers, etc...
Enjoy your time with your son!

If you decide to go to Bertha's or any other place in Fell's Point, take the water taxi from the harbor. Definitely agree with Berthas for seafood.

Go to DC for a day. Baltimore is undesirable for more than a day.

Visit the Baltimore Museum of Art's Cone Collection, an amazing collection of post-impressionist and modern art.Its a real jewel in this city.

Thanks everyone, all good suggestions!!! How long is it from Intercontinental to CG yard???

Good suggestions above. If you enjoy history, Fort McHenry is worth a visit. HappyTrvlr's suggestion of the BMA is good too, especially if you like impressionist art - their collection of Matisse works is the largest or 2nd largest in the world. If you like modern art, though, DON'T go into their modern art wing! One other museum possibility, if you think you might like weird art, is the American Visionary Art Museum, which is on Key Highway not far from your hotel.

For food, Cross Street Market is about three to four blocks south of your hotel at Cross Street between Light and Charles. It should be pretty fun for lunch. For restaurants, Blue Agave has very good mexican about three blocks south of your hotel on Light (just before Cross St). Fells Point was mentioned above - there's an excellent casual restaurant there with outstanding new american food called Peter's Inn, on S. Ann St near Eastern Ave. One of my favorite places is The Brewer's Art, which is on Charles St., about 10 - 12 blocks north of the Harbor - it an upscale dining room with very good food, but also makes great beers, and has a nice little bar with good bar food.

Thanks smetz for more great ideas! Really looking forward to this weekend and spending time with our son!!

Hey, we're doing a few days in Baltimnore next July with our 11 year old grandson, and I didn't even have to ask what to do. Wonderful! I'm printing this for our file. Have fun, Jayneann & family.

Another idea would be to go to an Orioles game. Camden Yards is a great stadium. Yes, the team is dreadful but that doesn't matter.

Taking the water taxi from the harbor to fells point and exploring that area is fun. Are the orioles in town, camden yards is a fun time, and I am not a baseball fan.

Just spent the weekend this past spring and found The Walters Museum quite interesting.

If you go to the aquarium don't miss the new jellyfish exhibit. It is very cool. After the nearby dolphin show gets out there may be a line to get in becuase it is small room.

Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance

I second the idea of the American Visionary Art Museum: it appeals to people of all ages and is well loctaed near the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill. Here is the link: http://www.avam.org/

If you're in town on Sunday (9/27) the Italian Concours D'Elegance will be held at Harbor East and it's free. If your son enjoys cars these events can be quite fun. Enjoy your time together!

Here's a link to the event...

http://preview.tinyurl.com/l3jozq

Thank you all for the great ideas! We had a blast in Baltimore and really could have stayed much longer to do the things we didn't have a chance to get to! We enjoyed taking the water taxi to the various stops, especially Fells Point and Fort McHenry! We ate at Bertha's in Fells, ESPN, and J. Paul's, all good pub food! Service at ESPN was terrible though! Loved Barnes and Noble in the Power Plant Building!!

Also, AnnMarie, thanks so much for the heads up about the Italian Car Show! We found it, and loved checking out all those fabulous Italian sports cars!!!!

Thanks again, Fodors is the best!!!