Sports

• Baltimore Orioles, [21]. The local baseball team plays at the Camden Yards.
• Baltimore Ravens, [22]. Football.
• Charm City Roller Girls, [23].
• Chesapeake Women's Rugby, [24].

Tours

• Urban Pirates, [25]. A highly recommended swashbuckling adventure!
• Fells Point Ghost Tours, [26]. A one hour walking tour of historic Fells Point in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Also has a 2 hour haunted pub tour.
• Water Taxi. Circumnavigates the harbor.
• Ride the Ducks of Baltimore
• Baltimore Heritage Walk

Performance

• CenterStage, [27].
• Theatre Project, [28].
• Everyman Theatre, [29].
• Baltimore Shakespeare, [30].
• Hippodrome Theatre, [31].
• Toby's Dinner Theatre. A great musical theatre which has presented the musicals Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Ragtime, It's A Wonderful Life, The Full Monty, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, and is currently presenting Dreamgirls. It will present Holiday Hot Nostalgia, La Cage aux Folles, The Wizard of Oz, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, A Christmas Carol, and Sophisticated Ladies in their 2008-2009 season. [32].
• Lyric Opera House, [33].
• Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
• Morris A Mechanic Theatre
• Creative Alliance, [34].
• Single Carrot Theatre,[35].
• Vagabond Players,[36].

Music

• Baltimore Symphony, [37].
• Ram's Head Live, [38].
• 8x10 Club, [39]

Events

• Maryland Film Festival, May [40].
• Artscape, July [41].
• Baltimore Book Festival, September [42].

LGBT

• GLCCB,[43] Gay and Lesian Community Center Baltimore
• FrontRunners, [44]
• Pflag [45]
• Lesbihons, [46] Guide for Baltimore Lesbians
• Baltimore Pride, [47] in June
• Lambda Rising Bookstore, [48].
• Grand Central [49].
• Club Hippo, [50].
• Charm City Kitty Club, [51]

LGBT media

• OutLoud, [52]
• Out in Baltimore,[53]

Miscellaneous

• The Book Thing [54] Free books. Take as many as you like, leave as many as you like, do anything you like with them (except re-sell them). Every Saturday and Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm, at 3001 Vineyard Lane in Waverly.

• Harbor. The harbor area is the busy center to the city, a major tourist attraction, a must-see, often featuring live music by jazz groups and crooners and plenty of eating and shopping. However, locals scorn the Inner Harbor as a pre-fabricated tourist mecca devoid of true Baltimore culture.
• American Visionary Art Museum, Inner Harbor, [2]. Tu-Su. The most eclectic and interesting collection of contemporary art from professional and amateur artists alike. Adults $9 / Concessions $6.

• U.S.S. Constellation, [3]. The last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy and the only Civil War-era vessel still afloat.
• Fort McHenry, [4]. Birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner
• Federal Hill., A historic neighborhood containing several bars and restaurants, named after the ratification of the Federal Constitition.
• Hampden. An eclectic, recently gentrified area in North Baltimore that boasts an ice cream soda fountain, many restaurants, several antique stores, unique shops, and hosts the two-day 'Honfest' each Spring. John Waters filmed "Pecker" and "Crybaby" here. During the weeks before Christmas, the residents of 34th Street put up amazing light displays.
• Fell's Point., Historic maritime neighborhood in Baltimore's Inner Harbor area that contains many bars and restaurants.
• Port Discovery - The Children's Museum, Voted one of the top 5 childrens' museum in the US - directly off of the Inner Harbor, [5].
• Baltimore Maritime Museum, [6]. At the piers near the National Aquarium is a genuine Chesapeake Bay lighthouse and a collection of historic ships that you can tour on your own. The ships include the USS Torsk (a World War II era submarine), the USCGC Taney (a coast guard cutter that survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor), and the Lightship Chesapeake (a floating, mobile lighthouse).
• Maryland Science Center, [7]. Great family outing, full of hands-on, interactive science exhibits for kids of all ages.
• National Aquarium, [8]. 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.
• Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, [9]. Located in a beautiful historic railroad roundhouse is a large collection of locomotives and railcars dating back to the very earliest railroads of America. Train rides are sometimes available. Very kid friendly.
• Baltimore Museum of Art, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, [10]. W-Su. Fantastic collection with surprising breadth. Free.
• The Walters Art Museum, in mid-town, [11]. Excellent museum with a large, diverse collection, though it is best known for its collection of 19th century European masterpieces. Free.
• Johns Hopkins University, [12]. The Homewood campus was a property purchased in 1800 by Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a wedding present for his son, who designed and oversaw the building of the outstanding federal style country house. The Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States. Tourists will enjoy the Homewood House, a historic home built by Charles Carrol for his son, now a history museum, and the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame.

• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture 830 E. Pratt Street, (410) 333-1130, [13]. Tues-Sun 10am - 5pm, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. This new facility is the largest museum on the East Coast that is devoted to African American history and culture. Admission $8, seniors and college students $6, 6 and under free.

• Top of the World. An observation deck in the I. M. Pei-designed 31-story "World Trade Center". It is located directly on the water front and is the tallest pentagonal building in the world. It is about 5 dollars a person to go up and it is a great way to view downtown,the inner harbor and bay, and all of the little neighborhoods surrounding downtown. It is on the 27th or 28th floor and it provides amazing views.

• Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum [14]. An early home of the American author of mystery and the macabre. Located on Amity Street in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by public housing. Admission fee, limited hours.

• Westminster Hall and Burying Ground Corner of Lafayette and Greene Streets, burial place of famous Baltimore residents including Edgar Allan Poe, James McHenry (signer of the U.S. Constitution), former city mayors, and others.

• Maryland Zoo (formerly the Baltimore Zoo) Druid Hill Park, I-83 Jones Falls Expwy, exit at 28th Street/Druid Hill Park. Large zoo set in a classic victorian-era park.

• Mount Vernon Cultural District, [15].

• Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower [16].
• Enoch Pratt Library [17]. An excellent free library with a one-of-a-kind archive of rare books and documents, including many related to Edgar Allan Poe and H.L. Mencken, and an extensive 16mm film collection including many avant garde rarities. The children's department has a goldfish pond.
• Patterson Park [18].
• Gwynns Falls Trail [19].
• Jewish Museum of Maryland, [20].
• Power Plant Live!
• Shot Tower

By bus

Greyhound serves most major cities, and the stop in Baltimore's downtown is a few blocks south of the Inner Harbor

Also check out Apex Bus if you're travelling from New York. They offer pretty competitive rates especially if you are travelling on a shoestring budget.

Megabus Now do a very cheap service to New York for around $8 return (but can be as cheap as $1 each way if you book early)

By car

Car parking is expensive in the inner city, roughly $5/hr around the harbor area. The 395 turn-off from the I95 will take you right into the harbor area, but traffic can be slow in the center of the city at rush hour and on game days.

By train

Amtrak offers frequent services into Baltimore. The main station (Penn Station) is on Charles Street in the center of the city, but a considerable distance from the harbor area. However, a spur of the light rail system connects to the train station, and you can ride it to the convention center, three blocks from the harbor. Some Amtrak trains also stop at the BWI (airport) station which is a few miles south of the main Penn Station.

The MARC train system provides inexpensive service between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (and from Washington to Frederick, Maryland and Martinsburg, West Virginia). It is, however, meant to be a commuter system, and runs mostly during work days/hours. Check to be sure it is available when you need it. MARC trains operate through the Penn Station (designated the "Penn line" on MARC schedules) and through a station at Camden Yards (the "Camden line"), near the Inner Harbor.

By plane

The Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located a few miles outside of the city and is accessible by car or light rail. Shuttles connect BWI to an Amtrak train station just off the airport grounds.

BWI has a somewhat unique car rental system. Car rental facilities are located in a centralized facility located away from the airport. Airport shuttle buses must take travelers to and from the facility and it is advisable to plan an extra 10 to 15 minutes to get out of the airport. Also, if heading to Washington DC, the signage from the airport's car rental facility is very poor and confusing, especially to Route 495. However, all roads ultimately lead to highway access in either direction (North or South).

Public transportation in Baltimore is nothing spectacular. Fares to ride light rail, buses and subway are $1.60 each way, and $3.50 buys you a day pass that gets you unlimited rides on all three. However, most sights you'll probably be seeing can be walked to.

The light rail system is far more useful for getting into the city than getting around it. You may wish to park outside the city (for free!) and take the light rail in. The only worthwhile sight the light rail passes is Camden Yards.

There is also a single line subway [1] which runs from Johns Hopkins hospital, through downtown, and out to the northwest suburbs of Pikesville and Owings Mills. The subway does not pass many tourist destinations and is mostly used by commuters.

Parking is plentiful near all major sights, usually with pay lots and garages charging parking rates commensurate with most major cities. The harbor area and the public transportation systems are safe and patrolled.

One of the most popular (and unique!) modes of transportation in Baltimore is the water taxi system. The water taxi is an especially nice way to get around during the warmer months, and offers unique views of the Baltimore skyline. $9.00 buys you unlimited rides all day long, and you can hop on and off at any of the stops throughout the harbor area (which covers areas like Fort McHenry, Fells Point, Little Italy, the Science Center and Aquarium). Hours of operation vary throughout the year; check the schedule for details.

Cabs can be expensive, but are safe.

A wide variety of dining options can be found in Baltimore, but no visit to Maryland is complete without a sampling of the local favorite: steamed crabs! Though by and large the crabs no longer come from the Chesapeake Bay (they are shipped from North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas due to overfishing of the Bay), it remains a popular summertime activity to spend the afternoon with family and friends at a crab feast. Often crabs are accompanied by steamed shrimp, corn on the cob, and beer.

If steamed crabs are too adventurous, you should at least sample a crab cake, crab bisque, or vegetable crab soup.

The excellent market place, near the harbor, is full of fresh seafood and great food bars. But for a more local experience, head to the neighborhoods surrounding it: Little Italy, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Canton, Mount Washington, etc. all feature both local and international cuisine.

Lexington Market is an especially popular lunchtime destination, with countless vendors selling all kinds of food imaginable. There are standing tables in an open area on the ground floor, as well as a large seating area on the upper level above that.

Canton Square offers a diverse selection of good restaurants, but one of the standouts is Nacho Mama's (2907 O'Donnell St). Fun atmosphere, good Mexican food, and many "priceless artifacts" representing everything Baltimore.

Vaccaro's in Baltimore's Little Italy is a place to die for when it comes to desserts. This intimate Italian bakery is a little on the high side but features a wide variety of traditional Italian pastries. Located two blocks from the inner harbor area at the corner of Albemarle and Stiles street. They also have a location in Canton Square.

Don't miss the Helmand Restaurant in Mt. Vernon. The cuisine here is from Afghanistan and delicious! The prices are inexpensive (around $15.00 for an entree), and they boast 4 star quality service. Try the pumpkin appetizer.

In Hampden, there are several dining options, including Suzie's Soba (Asian fusion), Cafe Hon (featuring kitschy retro decor and a blue plate special menu), Loco Hombre (a dark, hip margarita-and-burritos place) and Golden West (featuring eclectic Southwestern cuisine in equally eclectic surroundings, known for excellent food, a laid-back bar scene, and family-friendly seating. Be warned: it's nicknamed "Golden Wait" by locals for the lacksadaisical service.)

Baltimore recently passed a smoke-free ordinance, so be aware that all restaurants and bars are completely non-smoking.

The two neighborhoods with the largest concentrations of drinking establishments and clubs are Fells Point and Powerplant Live!/Inner Harbor. Other areas are Canton Square, Mt. Vernon, Federal Hill, Hampden, and the Station North Arts and Entertainment District. Baltimore is also the home of the oldest Irish pub in the United States, Patrick's of Pratt Street, established in 1847.

A highlight for beer lovers is Mahaffey's pub in Canton. The owner is almost always there to answer questions and rotates his taps weekly with hard to find beers from around the country and from around the world. The atmosphere is cozy and the people are all friendly, it is truly Baltimore's version of "Cheers"

Fells Point has dozens of options for both eating and drinking, it is located about a 15 min walk from downtown, or a short cab ride. Many bars in this area feature live music and most have excellent selections of Maryland and imported craft beers. The Full Moon Saloon on Aliceanna Street brings outstanding blues artists to the stage, while the Cat's Eye pub on Thames has jazz and blues. Also be sure to visit Bertha's on Broadway, John Steven Ltd. on Thames, and Max's Taphouse for the widest beer and shooter selection plus Quiz-a-ma-jig trivia every Thursday night.

The DuClaw Brewing Company has an excellent selection of locally made craft beers, with rotating styles depending on the season. The Greene Turtle is an acceptable sports bar. Max's on Broadway has one of the best selection of beers from around the world. Dozens of beers on tap and even more in bottles. If you are looking for a hard to find beer, Max's is your place in Baltimore.

Powerplant Live! is an area just off of the harbor in downtown that has two blocks of nothing but bars, clubs and restaurants. It has an outdoor area that has music and other events during good weather.

Brewer's Art on Charles Street specializes in Belgian ales. Cross Street Market in Federal Hill has a sushi and raw bar, and an excellent happy hour on Friday.

Please note that all bars in Baltimore are completely non-smoking.

Coffee

Baltimore has lots of great independent coffee shops to choose from:

• Carma's Cafe, (on 32nd between Charles and St Paul in Charles Village) Well known for their sandwiches and excellent coffee, Carma's offers indoor and outdoor seating just blocks away from Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Museum of Art.
• Donna's, [55] multiple locations including Mt. Vernon (800 N. Charles Street) and Charles Village (3101 St. Paul Street).
• Red Emma's, 800 St. Paul St. (near Spotlighter's Theater and CenterStage) [56] Bookstore and Coffeeshop.

Run by an anarchist collective, this coffeehouse features lots of radical literature and vegan menu options.

• Patterson Perk, 2501 Eastern Ave, across from Patterson Park.
• Common Ground, 819 West 36th, on The Avenue (36th St) in Hamden
• Daily Grind, [57] 1720 Thames St, Fells Point
• Zeke's, [58] sells beans only, but they are the BEST coffee beans money can buy!
• Red Canoe, 4337 Harford Road, Lauraville, NE Baltimore, [59]. Bookstore and cafe in sells Zeke's coffee by the cup.