Things to do in Baltimore

The aquarium at Baltimore inner harbor is very nice. The original Natty Boh brewery is in Baltimore.

Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum is a short walk from the B & O.

Hungry, try Chap's Pit Beef. http://chapspitbeef.com/

To me the best thing to do is what you're already doing which is visiting the museum. You have all those restaurants at the Inner Harbor. One other thing to do is take a ride to Ellicott City which is a 15 minute ride from the city. They have a train museum there at the station and the town has a old look to it. Right next to the museum is the old B&O mainline. I think a couple of trains run through there in a day. Many shops and restaurants in the town there. 

Our ticket includes the Mount Clare museum and Elliott City.  That's a good thing.  

We'll be sure to catch babe Ruth's birthplace.

The National Aquarium brings back a funny memory.  We took the kids there in the late '80s, I think it was.  My youngest daughter wasn't impressed.  She said, "We came all the way down here to see a fish".  

If you happen to be going after Thanksgiving, you can visit any number of holiday train gardens, an old Baltimore tradition that is largely unique to the area and is slowly dying out.  Most of the ones my wife and I used to visit when we lived there were hosted by fire companies, usually with a free-will offering of a few dollars.  They are truly worth seeing.  The ones that come to mind the quickest are Glen Ave. on the north side, Arbutus VFD on the west side, Ellicott City company #2 a few miles to the west of that, and Wise Ave. in Dundalk.  The Shops at Kenilworth on the north side has had a large display for years that was featured in the PBS special Clickety Clack Christmas Trains (sp?); also worth a trip.  A good website that will help you learn more about these displays is http://www.wvmgrs.org/TrainGardens.htm#Baltimore, which has been updated for 2017.

Historic Ellicott City is worth a visit.  It was the original western terminus of the B&O.  The original station has been made into a museum and there are several train layouts.  There's good antiquing there as well, and good restaurants.  From the west edge of Baltimore City, where we lived, Ellicott City isn't much more than 10 minutes away.

I forgot about Ft. McHenry which is cool. 

In Ellicott City I here the food is good at the Trolley Stop  and if you want a good beer go up the hill in town and stop at the Ellicott Mills brewery. 

If you’re looking for a good crabcake; try G&M Restaurant while you’re in town. Cross Street Market is a good place to go for some big beers and fresh oysters. Thames Street Oyster House is a good more upscale dinner spot. 

Ah yes, the Trolley Stop.  We used to eat there regularly, and for years (even before we lived in Baltimore) we went to old Ellicott City for antiquing on the weekend before Christmas, ending with lunch at the Trolley Stop.  They offer a nice variety of sandwiches and entrees.  If you go there and happen to get something that comes with French fries, ask for a side of beef gravy to dip them in.  We hadn't heard of "gravy fries" until we first went there, but from then on we always got them that way.  Now, 3 years after leaving the area, we still miss that place.

If still open, their is a Tall Ship in Inner Harbor, a World war II submarine nearby, and don't forget MTH in Columbia, MD about 45 minutes away.

I will second G&M Seafood near Linthicum.  Great crab cakes with minimal filler, or fried clams the size of your little finger.  Check out the dessert selection too.   

One more thing to see: the botanic garden near downtown.

Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Park.  

Dan -  Great you are coming to Bmore!  You will love the B&O Museum!

Yes G&M crab cakes are tops for sure!  You might also check out Fells Point which is the oldest part of the Baltimore harbor ( cobble stone streets etc ).  There is a seafood restaurant in Fells Point named Berthas which has great muscles!  Fells Point has a charm all its own, however, parking your car is not so easy.  Fells point streets still have some of the old railroad tracks with tight curves where Docksiders were used at one time. 

There are many nice restaurants on N. Charles Street just south and north of Mt. Vernon Circle ( which hosts Baltimore's Washington Monument ). Lots of beautiful architecture in this area.   While you are on Charles you can visit Penn Station, Amtraks own.  A few blocks away,  in the Mt. Royal neighborhood why not visit Mt. Royal Station of B&O fame.  This station is now part of the Maryland Institute of Art, however, the outside architecture is as beautiful as the day it opened.  The train sheds are still there as this is the entrance to the famous Howard Street Tunnel built by the B&O and now owned by CSX.  

Also take a ride on the Baltimore Light Rail.  You can ride it from end to end if you wish and see lots of cool stuff.  Part of it traverses the old Northern Central Railroad line which ran from Baltimore to Harrisburg. 

If you want to check out the Thomas Viaduct you may do so.  It's located in Elkridge, Md. just off Rt. 1on Patapsco Ave. ( about 20 - 25 minutes outside Balto give or take a few traffic lights )  which you can pick up in Baltimore, somewhat close to the inner harbor.   This bridge, built by the B&O in the 1830's?, is still in use and carries the CSX - MARC Camden line across the Patapsco River.  

If you are a concert goer check out the Baltimore Symphony at the Meyerhoff Concert Hall located in the Mt. Royal neighborhood.   Great acoustics!  Other artists ( not just classical ) play there as well.  There is also the Rams Head Live which brings in national and local artists.  

Ellicott City is about 35 - 45 minutes away, depending on traffic.  It has the first terminus of the B&O.  The old stone station still stands and is part of the B&O museum, however, not for long .... Howard County Parks  is taking it over from the museum soon.... so check with the B&O museum to see how long you ticket is good.  

Oh yes - by all mean check out Camden Station which is now a sports museum and part of the Orioles Camden Yards complex.  Camden Station is still in use by Baltimore Light Rail and MARC.  Of course the interior of the actual station is not used for railroad purposes.  All ticket transactions etc. are out of a baggage car and automatic machines. 

As for train stores: MB Klien in Cockeysville ( about 25 minutes from downtown ) is really the only game in town ( or in this case out of town ).  There is not much of a retail show room any longer as they are using what used to be retail space for their surging internet business: modeltrainstuff.com   At least they seem to be doing well financially.  There is a small retail area within the store.  

I hope this helps in some way.

Do enjoy your stay! 

trumptrain posted:

 

As for train stores: MB Klien in Cockeysville ( about 25 minutes from downtown ) is really the only game in town ( or in this case out of town ).  There is not much of a retail show room any longer as they are using what used to be retail space for their surging internet business: modeltrainstuff.com   At least they seem to be doing well financially.  There is a small retail area

 

 

Can't emphasize this enough. I swung by there yesterday to pick up a few items and Klein's is a shadow of its former self. They downsized when they originally moved out from the city and this latest remodel reduced the "retail space" even more.  

Don't get me wrong. It's still one of my go-to train dealers. Fantastic inventory and pricing. I just don't recommend driving out there (Cockeysville) as you have lots of other great suggestions for things to do in and around Baltimore.

Pretty much everyone has mentioned the big ones.

The Baltimore Streetcar Museum is also an option. I've never been but have heard many good things.

If you have a weekday available, and are willing to drive a bit, call up MTH and make an appointment to see their showroom and layout. I do not believe it is open on regular hours for drop in and one must call to make an appointment.

Depending on when you plan to visit, the museum may be closed to the public because of their "Polar Express" program.

Check before you go

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 

November 17-19, 24-26 - ALL DATES - SOLD OUT!

Event hours: 8am - 5pm

Showtimes: 9am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 12:45pm, & 2:00pm

Jim M Sr posted:

Depending on when you plan to visit, the museum may be closed to the public because of their "Polar Express" program.

Check before you go

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ 

November 17-19, 24-26 - ALL DATES - SOLD OUT!

Event hours: 8am - 5pm

Showtimes: 9am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 12:45pm, & 2:00pm

Good point. The B&O Museum has been known to completely close to the public during, prior, and after large events and only be open to ticket holders. This includes the Polar Express, Thomas event, etc. Check the website and call to confirm.

The waterfront is nice if you like boat tours. The retail stores are not all that great.

A nice clean town. Cons being there are people at every major traffic light asking for money, don't look at them or they will come to your car. The other, be ready to move when the light turns green a split second hesitation and horns will blow. I'm not knocking Baltimore, we had a good time there. Just telling you what to expect.

Jim

Little different this one.  But I've done it -- and enjoyed it.  Requires some up and down on steep-ish steps. http://www.historicships.org/historic-ships.html

The immediate area around the b&o seems a bit sketchy to me at least -- i believe it's called pigtown, or was called it.  Any train rides go out maybe 1 mile, then back.

They are not allowed to connect into the rail network.