Parks and the outdoors in Baltimore

Parks and the outdoors in Baltimore

1. EatFells Point

   Amiccis

   It is all too easy to walk into an overpriced tourist trap in Little Italy, but that's why you brought this travel guide, right? Amiccis is one of the clear favorites, having won "best Italian restaurant" categories in various years across multiple Baltimore journals/websites. The setting seems somewhat fancy, but the atmosphere is decidedly casual and informal. Portions are enormous, wine flows plentifully, prices reasonable, and those mixed drinks are stiff. They also have a nice new bar, which is a solid after hours option in the area.

   Sun-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-midnight·$16-32

2. SeeSouth Baltimore

   Babe Ruth Museum

   This museum is actually in the house where the Great Bambino himself was born. The museum isn't huge, but should be considered a can't-miss attraction for baseball fans. There is a white baseball "trail" leading from Camden Yards straight here, so it isn't hard to find. Plan to spend about a half hour looking at the exhibits on his life, and also the neat new one on the 500-homer club.

   Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM·$6 adults, $3 children 3-12

3. SeeInner Harbor

   Christmas Village in Baltimore

   German-style Christmas market with vendors offering food, holiday gifts, a beer garden and a Santa to take photos with that is open from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve. Free admission on weekdays (admission fee on most weekend days — check website for exact operating hours and prices).

4. SeeSouth Baltimore

   Federal Hill Park

   This big hilly park is one of Baltimore's best points for picture taking, as it overlooks the Inner Harbor, with great views of both the north and south skylines. You'll note that the cannons all seem to be awkwardly pointed at the city's central business district. The cause for this was the Union troops's suspicion of the famously irascible and rebellious Baltimoreans from siding with the Confederates in the Civil War (or simply from generally rioting). They set up on this well located hill to intimidate the city into submission.

5. SeeSouth Baltimore

   Fort McHenry

   Really a must-visit for any tourist in Baltimore, this is the birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner, the United States National Anthem. The fort's military history is best known for its central role in the defense of the country in the War of 1812, simply named the Battle of Fort McHenry. At the time, Baltimore was the industrial powerhouse of the United States, and was a critical producer of ships and armaments. Fort McHenry remained relevant in future wars: a prison for captured Confederate soldiers in the Civil War, a military hospital during WWI, and again an active Coast Guard base during WWII. Since 1925 it has been designated as a National Park (and since 1939 doubly listed as a National Monument), and is today a museum, with plenty of cannons and nooks and crannies to explore. Back to the National Anthem, it was Francis Scott Key, who escaped here from British captivity in the War of 1812, and joins Edgar Allen Poe, Thurgood Marshall, and H L Mencken as a preeminent icon of the city and the eponym for dishes at restaurants, bridges, and one impressive golden statue in Bolton Hill. He might be a little sad to see that the flag is not still there. It was getting extra raggedy after all these years, and was moved to the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. for preservation.

   9AM-4:45PM daily·$15, children under 15 are free

6. SeeInner Harbor

   Historic President Street Station

   The surviving headhouse of Baltimore’s first railway station. The platforms and train shed no longer survive, but the building narrowly escaped demolition on several occasions, and has been operated by volunteers as a museum since 1997. Formerly the Baltimore Civil War Museum, it still includes some exhibits on the station’s role during the U.S. Civil War. Operated by Friends of the President Street Station, and being considered for inclusion in the National Park System.

   Daily 10AM-4PM·$3/adult, $2/student, children under 12 free

7. EatEast Baltimore

   Koco's Pub

   Koco's has as good a claim as any to the best crabcake in the city. Now that that's out of the way--it's a cheery neighborhood pub with various standard pub grub and derivations thereof: coconut shrimp, jerk chicken, garden salad with buffalo chicken strips, but also ye olde fish n' chips, burgers, and stand-out wings.

   Kitchen: Tue-Sat noon-9:30PM·$9-18

8. SeeInner Harbor

   National Aquarium

   One of the best aquariums in the nation, the Baltimore Aquarium is famous for its tropical rain forest exhibit, its efforts to saving marine mammals, and its large shark tanks. Well worth the price of admission, it's a draw for marine scientists and civilians alike. Due to its popularity, expect to be in long lines to purchase tickets and then have to wait to enter several hours later, especially during weekends or vacation times; to avoid this, plan ahead and purchase tickets early or online.

   Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM, Fri Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 9AM-6PM, seasonal hours vary·General admission $49.95, discounts for seniors and children available. Half price Fridays after 5PM.

9. EatSouth Baltimore

   Nick's Famous Rotisserie

   Nick's chicken is very very good—maybe the best chicken of any sort in the city. Beyond the scrumptious birds, roasted, smoky, spiced, juicy, succulent, the menu is a short list soul food, with the mac n' cheese and corn muffins being especially recommended (small mac n' cheese, listed as a "salad," is 99¢, so there are no excuses). They also offer subs, but it's not clear if anyone ever orders them. Nick's is not too far into Pigtown, coming from Camden Yards, and is honestly worth the walk (and putting up with the often rude staff). Carryout only, so plan to find a bench quickly.

   Mon-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-6PM·$3-9

10. DoSouth Baltimore

    Oriole Park

    Baltimore Orioles

    The local baseball team plays at Oriole Park, better known as Camden Yards. It's often considered one of the nicest in the nation, with a retro style, but modern facilities (constructed in 1992). No name is better associated with the stadium than Cal Ripken Jr., who set the world record for playing 2,131 consecutive games on 6 September 1995, (a little less well known, but still historic, was Eddie Murray's 500th home run, exactly one year later to the date). Avoid trying to park here, for the same reasons as below for Ravens Stadium. Even when a game is not being played, the team still offers tours of the ballpark starting in March (though check their website for times).

11. DoWest Baltimore

    Preakness Stakes

    The second of the U.S. Triple Crown series of Thoroughbred racing is one of the single biggest horse racing events in the United States. The crowds are pretty huge, but the numbers are not driven by the family-friendly stands in the outfield, but rather the insane orgy of drunkenness in the infield. If you want a wild experience to remember and have virtually no compunctions of any sort, the infield is the place to be. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, held the afternoon before, while not as popular as the Preakness, is an important race held for 2-year-old fillies. However, Pimlico has now closed for a complete reconstruction. All races held there, including the Preakness, have moved to Laurel Park before returning to the rebuilt Pimlico in 2027.

    Third Sat of May

12. EatWest Baltimore

    Silvermoon 1 Carryout

    This is a very easy one to reach—you can even just walk across MLK from the university. Huge portions of cheap food (that university crowd is being kept in mind)—look for the subs/cheesesteaks in particular. It's best to call ahead with your order.

    Mon-Thu 10 AM-midnight, Fri-Sat 10 AM-3 AM, Sun noon-8PM·$5-14

13. EatSouth Baltimore

    Thai Arroy

    Federal Hill's solid neighborhood Thai restaurant. It's perhaps not worth hunting down if coming from, say, Fell's Point, but if you are in the Inner Harbor west area or by the stadiums and are in the mood for Thai, it's certainly worth a walk.

    Tue-Thu 11:30AM-3PM, 5PM-10PM; Fri 11:30AM-3PM, 5PM-11PM; Sat noon-11PM·$14-25

14. SeeWest Baltimore

    The Maryland Zoo

    Large zoo set in a classic Victorian-era park. If you want to go on a weekend, purchase tickets in advance over the web to get the weekday rate; if purchasing tickets at the gate, you can save a buck by finding a Maryland Zoo flyer at the visitor's center that has a $1 off coupon.

    Daily 10AM-4PM, closed January, February, Thanksgiving and Christmas·Adults $11 weekdays and online ticketing, $15 weekends; discounted for seniors and children

15. BuyFells Point

    The Sound Garden

    Chosen by Rolling Stone as the second best record store in the country, this is a good stop. In addition to new and used vinyl, the store also carries DJ equipment, CDs, BlueRay, DVDs, and video games. Selections of jazz and hip hop are particularely noteworthy, as is the expert staff.

    Sun-Thu 10AM-10PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-midnight

16. DoInner Harbor Not mapped

    Baltimore Heritage Walk

    Guided and self-guided three-mile tours departing from the city's Visitor Center, and covering territory through Downtown, and historic Jonestown, Little Italy, and Fells Point. Free guided tours, 1 May-2 November, departing 10AM.

17. DoWest Baltimore Not mapped

    Gwynns Falls Trail

    An enormous bike trail through Gwynns Falls Park from the edge of the city straight into the Inner Harbor. This is truly "underground Baltimore" at its best. If the creek is at high water Gwynns Falls is the best whitewater run in the city. Put in at the dam in Dickeyville.

18. DoWest Baltimore Not mapped

    StoneSoul Music & Food Festival

    This festival is held every August in Druid Hill Park to celebrate African-American heritage. It usually appeals to youth but has vendors, clothing and other items for sale that can be purchased by all ages. There is also a concert, usually by a younger hip-hop artist. Past performers have included J Holiday, Tiffany Evans and Mario.

19. SeeWest Baltimore

    Druid Hill Park

20. SeeWest Baltimore

    Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore

    3100 Swann Dr

21. SeeSoutheast Baltimore

    Patterson Park

    27 S Patterson Park Ave

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Baltimore (CC BY-SA 4.0).