Baltimore has come a long way, baby. The capitol of Maryland used to be more renowned for its high crime rate than for its tourist offerings. But after years of cleaning up its image, this trendy city now boasts a wide range of activities to please all ages.
It's also become a popular embarkation port for an economical cruise, as I recently learned when we went on a seven-day cruise to the Bahamas from Baltimore. Although I booked our cruise directly through Carnival, you can often get last minute cruise deals online.
We went to Baltimore a day before our cruise to check out the sights and centered our activities near the Inner Harbor. Baltimore's National Aquarium, once considered the top aquarium in America, has lost some of its luster thanks to stiff competition from Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium and the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. And it's not cheap: Basic tickets (no IMAX or dolphin feedings) were $90 for our family of four.
If you do go, don't miss their breathtaking new exhibit, "Jellies Invasion: Oceans out of Balance," which features luminous jellyfish ranging in size from a dime to a dinner plate. It's hard to believe these amazing creatures have no brain, with the exception of the muffin-sized Upside-Down Jelly, which seems stuck in reverse at the bottom of the tank and clearly seems to be a few cards short of a full deck.
Another highlight is the "Wings in the Water" pool where you can watch a boogie-board sized turtle scarfing down lettuce, as well as sharks and sting rays (see if you can spot the one with the curly tail). Another highlight is the "Animal Planet Australia" exhibit, featuring caimans, parrots, and lizards lurking around a recreation of an Australian rain forest.
Afterward, step next door to catch some lunch and a little shopping at Power Plant Live, a shopping/restaurant housed in a converted power plant building. (Be sure to stop in the Barnes and Noble to see how they've converted the former smoke stacks into creative display areas.) Other attractions within a short walk from the Aquarium include the Port Discovery Children's Museum, the Maryland Science Center, the Sports Legends Museum, and of course, Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles.
But since I love travel deals, our two favorite sights in Baltimore were free or inexpensive. The first is Fort McHenry. It was here, during the War of 1812, that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star . Spangled Banner "After the strong against a British bombardment kept the Visitor's Center is a stirring 15-minute film about the battle when the film ends, the curtain opens and -. To the tune of" The Star Spangled Banner "- is get your first look at the stars and stripes flying over the fort. It 's a very emotional moment that makes us proud to be Americans.
The castle houses the same barracks includes shows how the fort was used during the War of 1812, civil war, andeven World War II. On weekend mornings during the summer you can see costumed re-enactors perform military drills and fife and drum concerts.
A must for the kids? The free Junior Ranger program. It offers a workbook full of puzzles, mazes, and scavenger hunt activities designed to teach kids about the fort while having fun. Kids who successfully complete the workbook get a Junior Ranger badge and official park pencil. Entrance to Fort McHenry is $7 for adults. Kids 15 and younger are free.
While the Baltimore Museum of Art is widely known for its excellent collection, we prefer the more family-friendly Walters Museum. It's a short cab ride ($7-$8) from the Aquarium, and it's free. They have a packed-to-the-gills collection of ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Renaissance, and European art.
Plus, in what's undoubtedly the best program for kids I've ever seen in an art museum, they offer special carts on weekends where kids can borrow art books, pick up free art scavenger hunt cards...even borrow a quilt with pockets full of things to read, touch, and hunt for.
Where to stay, eat, and park:
The Holiday Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor-Downtown is a ten-minute walk from the National Aquarium and major shopping. As at all Holiday Inns, kids under 18 stay and eat free with a paying adult. Rooms range from $129-$189 for a double, while secure parking at the hotel is $19 per day. In addition to a full service restaurant, they have a snack shop in the lobby which sells breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and drinks.
If you visit Baltimore for the day, parking is available in a number of lots near the Aquarium. Only four blocks from the Aquarium, the Harborplace 55 Market parking lot offers a flat rate of $13 per day on weekends. If you're willing to walk a bit further, you can find parking for as little as $8 per day on weekends.
If you love good Italian food, be sure to check out the restaurants in Little Italy, a short cab ride from the Aquarium. Top-rated Aldo's Ristorante is a long-time Baltimore favorite known for impeccably top-notch ingredients. For died-in-the-wool Italian food gourmands, it's worth the steep bill (@$130 for two for dinner).
Long-term parking at the cruise port is $15 per day. Or, if you stay at the Holiday Inn Express Inner Harbor you can get a stay-cruise rate that includes free parking during your cruise and a free shuttle to the cruise dock.
