Shopping
The Inner Harbor
Harborplace & The Gallery is the Inner Harbor’s extensive shopping mall located within a four-story glass building overlooking the harbor. It offers a variety of national retailers as well as one-of-a-kind vendors spilling out into two waterfront pavilions. Nearby Power Plant also features live entertainment, restaurants, bars, a Barnes & Noble, and the ESPN Zone.
Antiques
You’ll find a cluster of 15 antiques stores within five blocks in Antique Row in the National Register Historic District Mount Vernon, as well as more than 100 other nearby shops, including hip bookstores and boutiques. There is also an abundance of antiques shops in historic Fells Point, especially along Fleet Street.
Thames Street
Fells Point’s Thames Street is a fun place to stroll around exploring some of Baltimore’s locally owned and operated shops. Accessible by water taxi or a short walk from the Inner Harbor, Thames Street offers a little of everything, including gifts, fl owers, home furnishings, and award-winning CD/DVD store The Sound Garden.
The Avenue in Hampden
The vintage stores, art galleries, and souvenir shops on 36th Street offer a more eclectic local experience than the Inner Harbor. You won’t find any chain or department stores, but there are more than 150 smaller shops, including Galvanize, a vintage boutique at which Julia Roberts has been spotted. The Avenue is great for a daytrip.
Baseball at the Yards
At its heart, Baltimore is a baseball town. The city has rallied around the Orioles for more than 50 years and is home to one of baseball’s fi nest ballparks, Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Come enjoy America’s pastime on a budget: promotional tickets are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays for as little as $8 apiece. (333 W. Camden St., 888.848.2473; www.orioles.com)
Sports Legends Museum
Located adjacent to the stadium, this 20,000 square-foot museum is home to 17 exhibits honoring the best in Baltimore sports, from Babe Ruth to Johnny Unitas. (301 W. Camden St., 410.727.1539; www .sportslegendsatcamdenyards.com)
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
Located above the Sports Legends Museum, Geppi’s is a pop culture tour through American history, with exhibits featuring celebrities and characters such as Superman, Betty Boop, and more. (301 W. Camden St., 2nd fl oor, 410.625.7060; www.geppis museum.com)
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
Located just a few blocks from Camden Yards, fans from around the country come to pay homage to baseball legend Babe Ruth at this renovated row-houseturned- museum. (216 Emory St., 410.727.1539; www.baberuth museum.com)
The Art Scene
Home to one of the nation’s premier art schools, the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore has an active and vibrant art scene. Check out these local museums to get in on the action.
The Baltimore Museum of Art
The BMA has more than 90,000 works of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art, including the world’s largest collection of works by Henri Matisse. (10 Art Museum Drive, 443.573.1700; www.artbma.org)
The Walters Art Museum
From pre-dynastic Egypt to 20thcentury Europe, the Walters is home to art from around the world. Best of all, admission to both the Walters and the BMA is free. (600 N. Charles St., 410.547.9000; www.thewalters.org)
American Visionary Art Museum
Three buildings, two sculpture plazas, and a garden make up this unique celebration of artwork by nontraditional, selftaught artists. (800 Key Highway, 410.244.1900; www.avam.org)
Tours
Baltimore Ghost Tours
Formerly Fells Point Ghost Tours, the company has recently expanded to include a Mt. Vernon GhostWalk. Tours are an hour long and run every Friday and Saturday evening — a great way to see the “other side” of Baltimore. Tickets are sold online or at the Baltimore Visitors Center in the Inner Harbor. (410.522.7400; www.fellspoint ghost.com)
Ride the Ducks
Tour historic Baltimore by land and sea in one of these amphibious vehicles that have become a regular sight on the city’s streets. (25 Light St., 877.88.QUACK; www.baltimoreducks.com)
Getting Around
There are a number of easy ways to get downtown from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), located about 10 miles south of the city.
Cab fares to the Inner Harbor cost close to $30; the airport Super- Shuttle ranges from $14 to $21 per person, depending on the number of passengers. A ride into the city on the MTA Light Rail system, which leaves the airport every 30 minutes, costs just $1.60 and takes about half an hour [see map for Light Rail routes in the city].
And, to get around the city, taxis are always abundant near downtown hotels, or you can jump aboard Ed Kane’s Water Taxi (410.563.3901; www.the watertaxi.com).
A great way to get around the harbor, the water taxi costs just $9 for an all-day pass and stops at or near most major tourist destinations in the area, including Fort McHenry and Fells Point. To see all the water taxi landings, [look at the map].