The City of Baltimore is the largest in the state of Maryland and the largest independent city in the United States. There is a huge amount of history behind this fantastic city and approximately one in three buildings is listed on the National register which is more than any other city in the country. Baltimore has the world famous Inner harbor which is a site to be seen either at day or night and a plenty of places to get your fill of live entertainment. There are countless things to do here so let’s take a look at the best things to do in Baltimore.
Contents
Best Things To Do In Baltimore
The Maryland Zoo
You’ll witness so many phenomenal animals living in habitats that recreate their home turf brilliantly. If you’re coming with your family, The Maryland Zoo is definitely one of the best tourist attractions in Baltimore. More than a thousand different animals are hosted at the Maryland Zoo.
Whether you’re craning your neck in awe of the giraffes or looking at the lovely birds, such as the blue-bellied roller, you’re prone to be stunned. The Maryland Zoo is one of the best places to visit in Baltimore for understanding and loving nature more. A day spent at this Baltimore zoo is one that’ll be full of fun. The Maryland Zoo is open from January to February from Friday to Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from March to December daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The American Visionary Art Museum
One of the best art museums in the country is in Baltimore. The American Visionary Art Museum earns its title with galleries and pieces that astound and move. The pieces housed here are ones you might’ve previously only envisioned in dreams. Curation and design make the AVAM one of the best museums. When you visit, you’ll have your pick of scores of impressive galleries, from the outdoor “A Very Visionary Star-Spangled Sidewalk” to the thousands of pieces in the permanent collection. While not all exhibitions are permanent, all of them are certainly worth browsing. There are so many breathtaking things to see at the American Visionary Art Museum. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Baltimore Orioles
The city of Baltimore comes alive when the Baltimore Orioles have a home game to play. Tens of thousands of people pack into Oriole Park to cheer on their beloved baseball team. The Orioles were at their most successful between 1964 and 1983 when they won 9 division championships, six pennants and three World Series.
The success might not have been as forthcoming since those days but that does not stop the loyal fans from getting behind their team and having a great day out in the process. Whilst at the game look out for John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” which is always played during the seventh inning stretch.
The National Aquarium
There are nearly 200,000 animals at the National Aquarium including amphibians, birds, reptiles and of course fish. For those that really want to experience the aquarium from the other side you can go on an immersion tour and see things from inside the tank itself.
There are dolphin encounters where you can get up close and personal with the dolphins in a teaching and playing session. If sharks are of interest to you then you can see how the aquarium looks after them with a behind the scenes tour, this includes seeing how the food is prepared for the sharks to eat.
The Historic Ships In Baltimore
As far as collections of military vessels go, this could just be the greatest in the world. You have the US Sloop-of-War-Constellation, the US Submarine Torsk, the Lightship Chesapeake and the US Coast Guard Cutter Taney (the last surviving ship from Pearl Harbor). The stories told within these vessels will keep many a history buff entertained and many a child enlightened. Throughout the year there are many evening events as well as overnight educational programs that are held for the local community to enjoy.
America’s First Cathedral
America’s first cathedral is officially called the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, most commonly known as the Baltimore Basilica. The cathedral was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe who is considered to be the “Father of American Architecture. Construction on the cathedral was completed in 1821 and was consecrated on May 31st 1821 by Archbishop Ambrose Marechal. The building went through a mass renovation that was completed in 2006 and cost the Catholic church $34 million. A visit around this beautiful building is highly recommended.
