While you may want to stay in the city longer than a weekend, sometimes it’s not possible. If your group only has 48 hours to spend in Baltimore, you definitely want to get the most out of this exciting waterfront city. Here is a suggested itinerary that may give you an idea of what Baltimore has to offer.
Day 1:
Breakfast: Start off your first day in the city with a laid back gourmet breakfast at Miss Shirley’s Cafe. This quaint yet exciting cafe is perfect for any meal of the day but is best experienced first thing in the morning to wipe away the sleepiness and get you ready for a day of fun and touring the city. Share their Funky Monkey Bread with friends or hog a plate of coconut cream stuffed French toast or a breakfast banana split all to yourself.
Marine Life and Maritime History: Now that you’ve to whet your whistle, work off those calories by walking from Miss Shirley’s Inner Harbor location to the National Aquarium, one of the absolute best aquariums in the country. Here you can touch the wildlife in the new Living Seashore exhibit. Run your fingers over the slippery backs of Atlantic stingrays or even touch Moon jellyfish. You can also find Nemo, a percula clownfish, watch as Sand Tiger Sharks swim around their tanks, and visit the bottlenose dolphins at the aquarium’s largest exhibit.
When you’ve seen all the animals, walk over to the Baltimore Maritime Museum where you can see the only Civil War naval vessel still afloat, the U.S. Sloop-of-War Constellation. The museum and the beautifully preserved ships trace history from the mid-19th century until the late 20th. Historic artifacts fill the museum galleries including personal possessions from the crewmates of the many ships. The USS Torsk was a WWII submarine credited with sinking three Japanese ships while the Lightship 116 Chesapeake was commissioned in 1930 and used as part of the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Climb aboard the ships, explore the cabins and galleries, and participate in the events of the day.
Live Entertainment: What better way to end out your first day in Baltimore than to relax in comfort while you’re entertained by an award-winning cast of performers? Baltimore’s Broadway and theater district is a growing entertainment circuit with dozens of venues to choose from. Get tickets to see musicals, opera, concerts, Shakespeare, and more. Beauty and the Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, and Pippin are but a few of the brilliant productions on the docket for this year.
After the show, stop by the Alewife for a post-theater cocktail or coffee. Talk over the show with your group mates, share a plate of the herbed duck fat fries or fried artichoke hearts, and unwind after a full day of touring the city.
Day 2:
Inner Harbor: Now that you’ve become acquainted with Maryland’s largest city, you have a taste of what she can do. For your second day in the city, the Inner Harbor might be what you need. This waterfront district has everything you might ever want from a city from historic sites to high-end shopping to excellent restaurants and museums. The shopping centers of Harborplace and The Gallery are highly recommended with beautiful venues and familiar shops with luxury neighbors that you will want to window shop in at least.
Fine Art, Literary History, and Pop Culture: After a morning of shopping and touring, head over to the Baltimore Museum of Art, an internationally acclaimed collection in a historic building. Highlights include Renoir, Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cezanne, and collections of ancient artifacts from all over the globe.
Literary-inclined individuals will certainly enjoy visiting the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum. The troubled author lived in Baltimore in the 1830s and died mysteriously in the city in 1849, his body buried at a nearby cemetery. The House was saved from demolition and turned into a preserved historic landmark, the museum added later with collections from Poe’s possessions including his portable writing desk and chair, a telescope, and china and glassware used by the author.
Finishing up your touring, end with an amusing stop at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. This odd attraction is dedicated to vintage pop culture artifacts. Star Wars trading cards, G.I. Joe’s, comic books, and Howdy Doody exhibits are but a few of the nostalgic artifacts you are liable to see.
Dinner by the Sea: To commemorate your last night in Baltimore, you’ll want a special and delicious meal. Thames Street Oyster House, located in the historic Fells Point district, is the quintessential seafood restaurant offering reasonably priced meals with a gourmet taste. With an à la carte raw bar and contemporary take on traditional New England recipes, you have the opportunity to try their five-pound baked stuffed Maine lobster, Icelandic Arctic char, or the grilled New Bedford swordfish. Finish it off with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and a semisweet chocolate torte topped with blood orange sorbet, blueberry compote, or candied orange zest.
Baltimore has more than meets the eye with excellent off-the-beaten-path attractions and restaurants but for those of you who can only stay in the city for a couple of days, you don’t want to miss out on these highly acclaimed destinations. Whether you’re in town on a group trip, graduation getaway, family vacation, or a business trip, Baltimore has it all with you in mind.
P.S. Check out the scheduled programs that the city puts on in the summer like outdoor movies at the Inner Harbor and Friday Fireworks.
