Best things to do in Baltimore

Annapolis

Situated only 35 miles (56km) south of Baltimore, Annapolis is not only the small capital of Maryland but also considered the sailing capital of the USA. A huge concentration of recreational and racing yachts shelter in its marina. It's also a college town and has been home to the US Naval Academy since 1845.

The waterfront has grown in to an attractive district, having retained its 18th century appeal despite the collection of boutiques, upmarket shops, bars, restaurants and inns. These cater to the onshore sailing crowd and tourists drawn to the city's history, nautical outlook, and reputation as a party town.

Much of Annapolis's colonial past is preserved in the thousands of historical buildings scattered along the narrow streets and brick-paved sidewalks. The concentration of original colonial-style houses and grand public buildings is greater here than anywhere else in the country. Among the elite brick manors are numerous pastel-coloured rows of wooden slatted cottages that lead down to the waterfront.

At the centre of Annapolis is the Maryland State House that once served as the capitol of the country, where George Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief and where Congress authorised the treaty ending the Revolutionary War. The city is a good base from which to explore the small towns across Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore, by way of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Annapolis is also ideally situated for weekend trips to Washington DC and provides more budget-friendly accommodation for travellers to America's capital.

Ocean City

With more than 10 miles (16km) of white-sandy beaches and pounding surf, Ocean City is Maryland's number one holiday destination, with so many visitors during the peak summer months that it becomes the second largest city in the state for the season. The town is dominated by the famous old boardwalk, which is lined with shops, bars and restaurants, flashing neon signs and holiday condos.

Among the ice-cream stands and all-night fast-food franchises are hotels dating back to the 1920s. The fishing pier at the end of the Ocean City boardwalk has an amusement park with a huge Ferris wheel. There are plenty of activities including boating and deep-sea fishing, mini-golf courses, tram rides as well as the beaches.

Those who want to escape the holiday crowds in Ocean City can head to the Assateague Island National Seashore is a 37-mile (60km), which is stretch of wild and undeveloped beach and marshland that extends into Virginia. Little brown and white ponies are the only inhabitants that roam the dunes and graze in the grassy marshes. The main roads and paths can be crowded in summer with people coming to see the legendary wild ponies, but a short way off the main routes will bring the peace one may be looking for.

The Eastern Shore

The Eastern Shore occupies more than half of the Delmarva Peninsula shared between Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, protecting the towns along Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Although linked to the mainland by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, life is much slower and sleepier on this side of the bay. Miles of country lanes and Chesapeake waterways await, while old wooden farmhouses and wheat fields, waterfront towns and fishing craft, lonely wind-rusted marshes and the sound of birds give the peninsula its charming character.

On the Atlantic Coast, the summer-swollen resort of Ocean City, with its lovely beaches, amusement arcades, and busy fast-food stands, is the most visited spot on the East Shore. In contrast, the quaint old towns of Oxford, the colonial college town of Chestertown, and Saint Michaels are waterfront communities that sport old-fashioned family-owned stores and are the essence of life along Chesapeake Bay. Crisfield and Smith Island are classic old-world villages in the south and home to huge numbers of soft-shelled blue crabs that are the delicious speciality of Maryland.

Easton is the unofficial capital of the Eastern Shore and is the largest town; visitors will appreciate its picturesque downtown district of historical colonial buildings. The farmlands invite exploration by bicycle along miles of quiet back roads. Visitors can also explore the inlets and rivers by boat, stopping along the way to sample the fish, oysters and crabs found here throughout the year.

Maryland Science Center

Housed within a striking glass, steel and concrete structure on Inner Harbor, the Maryland Science Center contains five storeys of interactive exhibits, an IMAX, the world-famous Davis Planetarium, and an observatory. Dating back to 1797, the Maryland Academy of Sciences is one of the USA's oldest scientific institutions and remains focused on education. There are imaginative and hands-on displays ranging from astronomy and space travel to dinosaurs and general science experiments. The planetarium runs programs with stargazing at night and studying the sun during the day through the observatory telescope. Other popular attractions include The Kids Room and the National Touring Exhibit.

Website www.marylandsciencecenter.org

National Aquarium

The National Aquarium is Maryland's leading tourist attraction and one of the best aquariums in the world. Recently voted as one of the top ten family destinations in the USA, visitors can tour the tidewaters of Maryland, the Pacific coastland, or a tropical rainforest without leaving Baltimore. The aquarium offers more than just marine life. There are several special exhibits such as the Amazon Rainforest display with poison dart frogs, dwarf caiman, anacondas, sloths, colourful birds, and conehead lizards, as well as plants and fish. A sea cliffs habitat features puffins and other sea birds, while the Coral Reefs and Open Ocean tanks are walkthrough displays bringing visitors face to face with sharks and exotic fish. Permanent residents include seahorses, turtles, stingrays, and octopuses. In addition to the permanent exhibits, dolphins jump, wave, and flip in regularly scheduled shows at Dolphin Discovery. People can catch an underwater view from an atrium below the pool or watch the tricks from the stands. The aquarium also offers 4D films to immerse viewers in fascinating marine worlds. These shows have additional in-theatre sensory effects, such as smell, water spray, and moving seats. Films shown range from popular cartoons to documentaries, usually lasting for 15 minutes.

Website www.aqua.org

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum's roster of rolling stock, historic railway buildings, and memorabilia from stations and trains makes it a must-visit for train enthusiasts. However, even for those who are not railroad fanatics, this is one of the best sights in Baltimore and a fascinating place for the whole family. Housed in the huge Roundhouse is an enormous collection of locomotives, passenger cars, classic heritage trains, mail cars, and Pullman sleepers. A full-scale model of the first locomotive, Tom Thumb, is on display along with a red caboose from 1907. Other exhibits include posters, historic photographs, and newspaper cuttings, as well as a superb model railway and numerous interactive and entertaining exhibits. Some recreate experiments from the 1830s such as sail-powered carriages, hand cranks, and propulsion using dogs or horses. The museum was the first railroad in the US, dating from 1827, and the museum is located on the site of the first station in America.

Website www.borail.org

Fort McHenry

The Fort McHenry National Monument is forever associated with the US national anthem, written by poet Francis Scott Key while watching the British attack Baltimore during the War of 1812. After more than 25 hours of constant bombing by British naval forces, the fort stood with the flag flying high. Interestingly, it was the only action the brick fort had seen in more than 100 years of guarding the waters approach to Baltimore. A visit includes a short historical film and a guided tour, with exhibits recalling the siege as well as the fort's Civil War service. On summer weekends there are military ceremonies and drills, as well as a living history program simulating the daily activities during the battle. There's also a daily changing of the flag ceremony, with about 20 people required to fold the enormous Star-Spangled Banner. A short talk about the fort, flag and anthem concludes the ceremony. The monument and its grounds are a national park and visits to the parklands are free. From the fort, there are fine views down the Patapsco River to Inner Harbor and towards Chesapeake Bay.

Website www.nps.gov/fomc

Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame

The origins of lacrosse lie within multiple Native American tribes, for whom the game had great significance in both religious observance and preparing men for war. The Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame showcases the history of this, America's oldest sport. It also displays the top male and female players of today's game, alongside coaches and contributors. More than 400,000 people in the eastern United States and Canada play the unique sport of lacrosse. Nowhere is it more popular than in Maryland, where 'LAX' stickers sit beside decals for posh private schools on fancy cars, furthering the sport's elite reputation. Since September 2016, the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame relocated to a new location in Sparks, Maryland.

Website www.uslacrosse.org/about-us-lacrosse/the-national-lacrosse-hall-of-fame-and-museum

Baltimore Museum of Art

Founded in 1914 with a single painting, the Baltimore Museum of Art sits in the leafy neighbourhood of Charles Village. Today, the BMA is home to an internationally renowned collection of European and American fine and decorative art pieces. These range from 15th through to 19th-century prints and drawings, works by established and emerging contemporary artists as well as objects from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Its 90,000 works include the world's largest holding of pieces by Frenchman, Henri Matisse, who was one of the undisputed masters of 20th century art. Two beautifully landscaped gardens surround a grand museum building, and were designed by famous American architect, John Russell Pope. Yoga classes and jazz concerts often take place upon the lawns in the early evening. Visitors can sample signature Chesapeake Bay cuisine on the lovely outdoor terrace of Gertrude's, the BMA's restaurant.

Website www.artbma.org

Walters Art Museum

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, two Baltimore men, William Walters and his son, Henry, amassed a diverse range of artwork. Drawn from all around the world, they then bequeathed it to their hometown. The 22,000 pieces they collected span 55 centuries, including ancient Egyptian art as well as late 19th-century European pieces and decorative objects. Some favourite works on display at the Walters include seven ancient Roman sarcophagi, judged to be among the finest in the world; a collection of Japanese arms and armour; a medieval ivory casket covered with scenes of jousting knights, one of only a dozen such items remaining; and 900 illuminated manuscripts, as well as the letters of Catherine the Great and the diary of Napoleon.

Website www.thewalters.org

Western Maryland

Western Maryland is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts in every season, thanks to its beautiful scenery, thousands of acres of parkland, lakes for swimming, fly-fishing and boating, winter skiing, and white-water rafting. Visitors can climb the state's highest mountain, hike part of the famous Appalachian Trail, or cycle and hike along the popular Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which once served as a towpath for mule-drawn barges between Washington DC and Cumberland. The state's largest freshwater lake, Deep Creek Lake, is the hub of outdoor recreation in Garrett County, and offers a variety of water sports, golf, and skiing. Apart from these fine activities and the fantastic scenery, there are a number of quaint small towns. These include Cumberland, Frostville, and Lavale, which have restaurants, antique shops and bookstores in addition to their charm. The haunting plaques of the Civil War battlefield at Antietam are another popular Western Maryland attraction, and a must-see for Civil War history buffs.

Baltimore

Things to do in Baltimore

Annapolis

Ocean City

The Eastern Shore

Maryland Science Center

National Aquarium

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum

Fort McHenry

Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame

Baltimore Museum of Art

Walters Art Museum

Western Maryland

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Annapolis

Ocean City

The Eastern Shore

Maryland Science Center

National Aquarium

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum

Fort McHenry

Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame

Baltimore Museum of Art

Walters Art Museum

Western Maryland