Maryland Discount Hotels - Baltimore Travel Guide

Travelers looking for a smaller city that has lots of unique and interesting attractions should not miss Baltimore. This city has it all: great local cuisine, a beautiful waterfront, and lots of great sites for the whole family to visit. From crab cakes to the Edgar Allen Poe House to the new Camden Yards and Fort McHenry of "Star Spangled Banner" fame, Baltimore has both history and fun for all.
The new waterfront and Camden Yards are part of one scenic stretch of downtown Baltimore that has become the center of city life in recent years. Camden Yards is the home of the major league Baltimore Orioles, and the surrounding streets are lined with small cafes, microbreweries, and stores.

Following the street to the water, visitors can enjoy the new Baltimore waterfront. The biggest attraction at the waterfront is the National Aquarium, a world-renowned aquarium packed with fish and animals from Maryland coast and the Atlantic Ocean. Look out for some great big crab legs!! If you want to sample some of Maryland's famous seafood cuisine, try the open-air mall that sits on the waterfront. It is filled with arcades, shops and restaurants catering to all tastes. This area is the gateway to the Inner Harbor, featuring boat rides and tours of the surrounding waterways.

Baltimore's culture scene mixes traditional museums with interesting historical diversions. The Baltimore Museum of Art featuring a very large and impressive collection of art from all periods and places.

 

The Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Visit the first and largest wax museum dedicated solely to black heritage. View full-sized wax replicas of figures in historical settings and attire that depict the trials, tribulations, achievements and contributions of Africans and African-Americans throughout history. There are many intriguing and thought provoking scenes from early American history illustrated. Included are scenes showing a full-scale ship similar to those used to transport Africans to the New World as slaves and scenes depicting later years in the segregated South. Some of the more noted "residents" of the museum include Dr. Charles Drew, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and General Colin Powell.

Inner Harbor
If you have full day, or even part of one, to spend meandering and sightseeing in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor should be at the top of your list. With food markets, boutiques, and restaurants in abundance, the Inner Harbor is a must visit. In the mood for a walk? Take a stroll down the outside pavilion and see the myriad activities that are going on in the harbor. You may see large cargo ships loading and unloading or elegant privately owned vessels moored dockside. Are your interests more geared towards being entertained? Never fear! Nearly year-round you will find acrobats, street musicians and magicians ready to amuse, delight, and entertain. One thing is guaranteed: there is something at the Inner Harbor for everyone.

National Museum of Dentistry
This is definitely not a visit to your dentist. In fact, this is one trip you will enjoy, and it won't hurt a bit! Geared towards entertaining as well as educating, the National Museum of Dentistry has collections of tools and gadgets of the trade, a variety of dentures (including George Washington's), a photo collection of famous smiles, and videos of a variety of dental feats. For the interactive folks in the crowd, the museum holds a variety of events, such as story-telling sessions, a discussion of animal dentistry, and a program on women in the field of dentistry. With all of the fun sights and activities, the Museum is definitely a place to take the kids, and it may even make that next visit to the dentist a little easier.

Pier 6 Concert Pavilion
Located right at the Inner Harbor, the Pier 6 Concert Pavilion is a venue that hosts all kinds of musical events. Whether you come to see a rock, jazz, classical, or R&B show, you are guaranteed to enjoy the view. Before, during, or after your show, take a look out at the water and enjoy the view. The close proximity of the Pavilion to the Inner Harbor makes a day or evening of shopping, dining, and entertainment an enjoyable and convenient package.

Top of the World Observation Level
While most of us won't ever get a chance to soar with the eagles, at least we can take a glimpse of the world from their perspective. For a mere two bucks, a trip to the observation tower at the World Trade Center is exactly that. The four sided glass-enclosed observation deck is the perfect vantage point from which to see almost any area of the city. Need some convincing that those little "ants" down there are people and cars? Not a problem. For a few cents one can employ the use of a telescope for closer views of the sights. For anyone wanting to get a different perspective on the world or just see some downright amazing views, this is definitely the place.

Insect Zoo
Sometimes they have six legs, sometimes they have eight, but most of the time, you just want to get away from them. We're talking about creepy crawlies. That's right: insects and spiders. Good news…now it's our turn to go to their house and visit. Rest assured however, that all of the residents are safely encased in glass tanks or cages. That alone makes being up close to them rather intriguing. Take a tour with a professional bug-rustler, or entomologist, and see displays and exhibits filled with cockroaches, spiders, flies, and a variety of other insects. You'll hear a detailed explanation of a variety of ways in which insects benefit the world around us, including crafts made from bugs! You will even have an opportunity to feed a Tarantula! The tour will leave you a little wiser to the beneficial aspects of our smaller friends and maybe even a touch attached to some of them. Don't worry though…the staff will make sure no one "accidentally" goes home with you.

Baltimore Maritime Museum
Located at the National Historic Seaport of Baltimore, the main attraction of the Baltimore Maritime Museum consists of three historic vessels. The first is the United States Coast Guard Cutter Roger B. Taney, veteran of WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and subsequent duty as a drug enforcement vessel. The second is the USS Torsk, a WWII submarine that saw action during the Lebanon Crisis of 1960 and helped enforce the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Rounding out the museums collection is the Lightship Chesapeake, which served to make the Chesapeake Bay safe for sailors in ill weather. From a simple tour to entertain the casual sailing buff to the small library and extensive photo collection for the serious maritime historian, there is enough history packed into these three historic vessels to keep anyone intrigued.

The Baltimore Museum of Art
The Baltimore Museum of Art features a mix of historic art and modern. From the longstanding Cone Collection, featuring the works of Cezanne, Gauguin, van Gogh, Renoir, and Picasso to contemporary works by local artists as well as international exhibits, the Museum's collection is extensive. Whether you come to see the works of modern painters or visit one of the largest collections of Matisse's work in the world, there is something in this collection for everyone.

Baltimore Museum of Industry
From the meticulous works of a seamstress to the blacksmith's works in fire and iron, see the development of industry as it was in Baltimore's past. The various segments of the museum are divided into different industries, each giving visitors a glimpse of Baltimore's industrial history and achievements.

Fort McHenry National Monument
Standing near the Patapsco River, there are few structures that contain as much history or are as well known as Fort McHenry. In turn, the fort has served as a Coast Guard training facility (WWII), a hospital (WWI), and prison camp for Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Perhaps its most noted moment in history was the fort's ability to withstand bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the 'Star Spangled Banner.' Visitors the site where that historic handmade flag flew. See a film that depicts the entire history of the fort or simply explore the unique architecture and let the fort tell you its own history.