Help with one day in Baltimore

[rnorwo1]

Hi!
We will have one day in Baltimore on a road trip coming up in a week, and I still haven't worked out the details for Baltimore. It's not enough time to do much, and Ft. mcHenry is a must. I was thinking about taking a water taxi to see some of the harbour and city... Is that a good way to do it, or will we just be seeing water and industrial type stuff? We may also go to the visionary museum if there's enough time. If we park at the fort and take the water taxi, what is a good, kid friendly place to eat? They are simple eaters, nothing fancy! We prefer unique places to chains when on vacation.
Thanks for any help!

 

[JLKennedy]

There is (for lack of better words) a harbor mall, in the inner harbor, with tons of restaurants. Philips seafood and buffet, Cheesecake Factory....lots to see and do. We'll be there next month for the all you can eat blue claws and beer.

 

[Redwitch]

The visionary museum is a treat. Baltimore has one of those "Duck" land/water tours which is a nice way to see a lot of the city and the harbor area. Of course the aquarium is there and a science museum. A lot of food places. We usually check Yelp and Urban Spoon prior to a visit to see what looks interesting with positive reviews.

 

[disneygirl916]

Walk around Harbour East and Fells Point!! Also walk around the beautiful Inner Harbor. If you have children, the Aquarium and Science Center's are a must do. Also for kids the Museum of Industry and the Mary Pickersgill Flag House are awesome places. Fort McHenry. And of course you must have a good old fashion Maryland Berger cookie. For seafood try Jimmy's Seafood. If you have time catch an Orioles game!! Or at least walk around the stadium and Eutaw street. There is a cool restaurant with brewed beer over looking the stadium called "Dempsy's" enjoy!!

August 1993 offsite, July 1997 offsite, June 1998 Poly, June 2003 CBR, April 2007 CBR, July 2008 CSR, March 2010 ASMusic, August 2010 FW, October 2012 AofA, September 2014 CS

 

[eangel12]

Hopefully I can jump in! We are driving down on a Wednesday night and staying at Hilton Baltimore. The next morning we are walking to Aquarium with our 4 & 2 year old. Any recommendations on a nice place for breakfast in that vicinity?!

 

[rnorwo1]

The visionary museum is a treat. Baltimore has one of those "Duck" land/water tours which is a nice way to see a lot of the city and the harbor area. Of course the aquarium is there and a science museum. A lot of food places. We usually check Yelp and Urban Spoon prior to a visit to see what looks interesting with positive reviews.

I thought I read that the duck tours have closed? I would definitely prefer that to the water taxi for the kids, but I can't seem to find it anywhere?

Walk around Harbour East and Fells Point!! Also walk around the beautiful Inner Harbor. If you have children, the Aquarium and Science Center's are a must do. Also for kids the Museum of Industry and the Mary Pickersgill Flag House are awesome places. Fort McHenry. And of course you must have a good old fashion Maryland Berger cookie. For seafood try Jimmy's Seafood. If you have time catch an Orioles game!! Or at least walk around the stadium and Eutaw street. There is a cool restaurant with brewed beer over looking the stadium called "Dempsy's" enjoy!!

There is (for lack of better words) a harbor mall, in the inner harbor, with tons of restaurants. Philips seafood and buffet, Cheesecake Factory....lots to see and do. We'll be there next month for the all you can eat blue claws and beer.

With such limited time, we want to focus on things truly unique to Baltimore, so I doubt we will get to see the aquarium and museum. Thanks for the restaurant suggestions... If we stick with the water taxi, I know we can get off at Fell's Point and look around. By "Inner Harbour," do you just mean the land side of the harbour, in general, or is there a specific place that we need to get off the taxi to get to this area? Sorry to be so ignorant of the city!
Thanks for all of the suggestions, and now I am off to research these cookies!

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Hopefully I can jump in! We are driving down on a Wednesday night and staying at Hilton Baltimore. The next morning we are walking to Aquarium with our 4 & 2 year old. Any recommendations on a nice place for breakfast in that vicinity?!

If you'll be downtown, miss Shirley's is really good and in walking distance (right across the street) from the aquarium)

 

[marlynnp]

yes, the Ducks Tours have been gone for nearly 5 years.

 

[eangel12]

If you'll be downtown, miss Shirley's is really good and in walking distance (right across the street) from the aquarium)

great thanks!!

 

[vikster1]

Mother's Federal Hill Restaurant. Was fantastic. Lots of specials for dinner. Bogo"s.
1113 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230

We ate here last year on our last night when we were in town. This place was recommended by our hotel staff. I wish we found it our first night. We would have eaten there 3 times.

 

[disneygirl916]

I thought I read that the duck tours have closed? I would definitely prefer that to the water taxi for the kids, but I can't seem to find it anywhere?

The inner harbor is a land area surrounding the harbor in Baltimore. It is filled with restaurants and shopping. Phillips seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp, the aquarium, and science center are all there. It is really the main hub of Baltimore and is one of the water taxi stops. Another fun place for kids (just to mention) is Port Discovery. Harbour east is home to the Under Armour headquarters store and on a clear day you can see the factory across the water as you head towards Fells Point. Natty Boh is our signature beer to try. Try a crab pretzel! Lots of local Baltimore stores throughout the inner harbor and fells point including a McCormick and Shmick shop (also a Baltimore legacy). Fells point is adorable. Right along the water and full of cobblestone streets and row homes. Federal Hill and Canton are also signature Baltimore towns. Enjoy your visit!! I hope you have a great time!!

August 1993 offsite, July 1997 offsite, June 1998 Poly, June 2003 CBR, April 2007 CBR, July 2008 CSR, March 2010 ASMusic, August 2010 FW, October 2012 AofA, September 2014 CS

 

[rnorwo1]

Mother's Federal Hill Restaurant. Was fantastic. Lots of specials for dinner. Bogo"s.
1113 S Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21230

We ate here last year on our last night when we were in town. This place was recommended by our hotel staff. I wish we found it our first night. We would have eaten there 3 times.

This looks perfect! The menu looks great, and we will be at Federal Hill for the visionary art museum. Did you have coupons, or were they just specials?

The inner harbor is a land area surrounding the harbor in Baltimore. It is filled with restaurants and shopping. Phillips seafood, Bubba Gump Shrimp, the aquarium, and science center are all there. It is really the main hub of Baltimore and is one of the water taxi stops. Another fun place for kids (just to mention) is Port Discovery. Harbour east is home to the Under Armour headquarters store and on a clear day you can see the factory across the water as you head towards Fells Point. Natty Boh is our signature beer to try. Try a crab pretzel! Lots of local Baltimore stores throughout the inner harbor and fells point including a McCormick and Shmick shop (also a Baltimore legacy). Fells point is adorable. Right along the water and full of cobblestone streets and row homes. Federal Hill and Canton are also signature Baltimore towns. Enjoy your visit!! I hope you have a great time!f

So, which of these stops would we use for inner harbour?
Landing 1: Aquarium
Landing 2: Harborplace
Landing 3: Science Center
Landing 4: Rusty Scupper
Landing 5: Pier Five
Landing 7: Harbor East
Landing 8: Maritime Park
Landing 9: Harborview
Landing 10: Locust Point
Landing 11: Fell’s Point
Landing 14: Captain James Landing
Landing 16: Canton Waterfront Park
Landing 17: Fort McHenry

Thanks for all of the info, I'm already looking forward to coming back when we have more time!

ETA: Never mind the question, I just found the map on the water taxi website and see where the inner harbour is. Thanks!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We had one day last July. We did the Aquarium and watched our Red Sox beat the Orioles
You can walk from the Aquarium to the stadium.

 

[Swimalie]

If you are able to work it in the schedule, try to get to Ft. McHenry just before closing. At that time, they park rangers change the flag from the day time one to the night time one. As they are doing this, they tell the story of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. The story is mesmerizing! I loved it. But get there with enough time to see the place, too. We arrived too late and didn't get to see much since they were closing up. The story was worth it, though.

Also, in the Inner Harbor area is a 5 ships tour. You tour ships (or re-creations) from the late 1700's to Pearl Harbor time and a lighthouse. Very cool. http://www.historicships.org/index.html

 

[Alexle2007]

We were just at a Fort McHenry for my DS7's school field trip. If you get there before 9:30 am, you can watch them put the flag up. We were supposed to be there to see it but with traffic and leaving from Carroll County we just missed it but could see it from a distance. The rangers had a replica of the flag that the students got to unfold so they could see how big it was. Not sure if that is a public thing or not. And don't miss the movie they show in the visitor center. It is an incredible experience when they roll up the blinds and there appears the American flag on the hilltop.

Harbor place and Inner Harbor to a Marylander are the same so get off at Landing 2 or you get off at the Aquarium landing and walk around to the Harborplace.

If I were visiting, I would make sure to get a crab cake or venture over to Little Italy (not far from the Harbor) to Sabatino's or Chipparelli's for awesome Italian food.

You are sure to have a blast! It's funny living here (well technically Manchester, MD right below Hanover, PA and Utz potato chips) you don't even think about visiting some of the museums that were mentioned. The Ripley's Believe It or Not at Harborplace looks like fun too.

 

[puffkin]

We had one day last July. We did the Aquarium and watched our Red Sox beat the Orioles
You can walk from the Aquarium to the stadium.

We went down for the Red Sox game in June (for my Husbands bday). We ate in the inner harbor, toured the 5 ships and lighthouse (interesting and took a lot longer than we were expecting because there was so much to see) and went to the game at Camden Yards. It was a great day!

 

[sharon_wv]

We had one day last July. We did the Aquarium and watched our Red Sox beat the Orioles
You can walk from the Aquarium to the stadium.

Boo... I am an O's fan and we were probably at the same game, but I was one of the disappointed. Did it rain that day??

We love Baltimore. Until it got too difficult once we had children, we had season tickets for the Orioles. We always hit the inner harbor either before or after a game. We also love the Aquarium though it does tend to get a bit claustrophobic in there when crowded. The kids loved it (I think cuz they could crawl through legs and see things easily).

Enjoy!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Boo... I am an O's fan and we were probably at the same game, but I was one of the disappointed. Did it rain that day??

We love Baltimore. Until it got too difficult once we had children, we had season tickets for the Orioles. We always hit the inner harbor either before or after a game. We also love the Aquarium though it does tend to get a bit claustrophobic in there when crowded. The kids loved it (I think cuz they could crawl through legs and see things easily).

Enjoy!

LOl! We sat next to some unhappy Orioles fans. They told us they hated when the Sox came into town because of all the fans that take over the stadium! It was the Sunday afternoon game and I think it rained after the game.

 

[rnorwo1]

Unfortunately we won't be able to stay until closing time, but we are planning to be there when they open, so hopefully they will do a flag ceremony then! Thanks again for all of the help, I feel so much more comfortable going now!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Have a great time! I just wanted to add, be safe, especially at night. Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings. Baltimore unfortunately has high crime, even in the tourist areas....not something they advertise.