Inner Harbor-Downtown

The Inner Harbor has come a long way in the past 30-odd years. Before it was transformed into the city's biggest destination, the harbor consisted mostly of run-down warehouses. Now it includes the National Aquarium, Harborplace shopping centers, the Maryland Science Center, fountains, and high-rise offices. Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, where the NFL's Ravens play, are only a couple of blocks away. The harbor is still a working port, and visitors can get on the water with sailboat tours, water taxis, and boat rentals. Just south of the Inner Harbor and best accessed by car or water taxi, Fort McHenry was bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Despite a long night's siege by cannon and artillery the fort never fell, and the sight of the American flag flying above the walls inspired Francis Scott Key to pen a poem that became the national anthem.