Baltimore-DC tips/suggestions

[Team Canada]

We're going to Baltimore-DC area for a few days in August. Currently planning on Baltimore for a thursday (including Camden Yards vs M's), then DC Fri-Sun. Obviously there's Smithsonian, monuments, etc.

 

If you have any other suggestions, offer them here. Thinking about doing a generic city tour of Baltimore during the day, but open to other recommendations.

[Mike Felder]

Camden Yards is amazing...get there early take in Eutaw Street and the whole atmosphere.

 

I was there back in '02....we hit up the Baltimore Aquarium (just a few blocks from Camden), which was pretty cool if you're into that sort of thing.

[JimH5]

The timing of this thread couldn't be better--for me!

 

I'm going to Baltimore next Tuesday (July 24) for an O's vs. D-Rays game--and to see Camden Yards, etc. I've never been there--and am following it up with a Phillies game vs. the Nats (in Philly) the next night.

 

I'm planning on going to the Babe Ruth Birthplace, and the National Aquarium--but I'm still looking for suggestions for more.

 

And I'll have more suggestions for you after next week. . .

 

As for DC, The National Zoo is terrific. Unfortunately, the American History Museum is closed for renovations. . .You'll be impressed by how close most of the federal sites are to each other. We were there years ago and went running in the morning, through some of the downtown, past the Washington Monument, the White House, etc. It's all very close.

[dpapo]

As far as Baltimore, I guess it depends on what you're interested in. The Inner Harbor, which includes the National Aquarium is a good tourist spot. Fells Point, which you can take a water taxi to from the Inner Harbor has some shops and restaurants. It's another popular tourist type area.

Hampden, which is more in the heart of the City and has fewer tourist, also has some small shops. For people familiar with Milwaukee, it's like a combination of Brady St. and the South Side/Bay View.

There are a couple of decent art museums. The Walters Art Museum, which is in the downtown area and the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is north of the downtown area, near John Hopkins University and not too far from Hampden.

If you are into History, there is Fort McHenry. Another place you can get to by Water Taxi.

I'll also leave a few links of the things I've mentioned in case you're interested.

 

www.baltimore.org/

www.hampdenmerchants.com/

www.fellspoint.us/

www.thewalters.org/

www.artbma.org/

www.harborplace.com/html/

www.nps.gov/fomc/

[JoeHova]

I'm going on a multi-city stadium trip this summer too, culminating at my brother-in-law's house in DC. DC is pretty weak, imo. The subway stops at like 12 which means you pretty much have to have your night wrapped up by then. OTOH, I'm sure there are some great clubs, but that's not really my thing.

[blatzlight]

The Subway now runs until 2am. That changed a few years ago. Or else just take cabs as they are everyway.

 

In my opinion, DC is one the best cities I have ever lived in and love going back to visit whenever I can.

[endaround]

I like DC. I hate NOVA. And most of the Maryland counties. That becomes a problem.

[JoeHova]

Quote:

---

The Subway now runs until 2am. That changed a few years ago.

---

 

Cool, I was unaware. I haven't been there for an extended period since 04.

[UWMike]

Those of you going to Camden, I think the upper level seats behind home plate provide some of the best views. Much better than lower level down the line, or the upper rows in the lower level behind the plate (which can be somewhat obstructed due to the overhang.

 

The Philly ballpark is quite a surprise. They did so many things right.

 

Consider swinging thru Annapolis to check out some great restaurants on the water. Take a tour at the Naval Academy to watch the future leaders of our military suffer through their Plebe Summer in 90 degree heat.

[gypcasino]

Check out the Holocaust Museum in DC if you get a chance. I had to get the tickets ahead of time but they were free. This was a couple years ago so you might want to check the website.

[bork]

There is so much to see in a small area in DC. You could spend a week and not see it all. The Air and Space museum is a must. The National Archives has the original Declaration and Constitution. The Smithsonian has so many buildings, I know we didn't see them all.

 

Of course there are all the memorials. Fords Theater is close by and an interesting piece of history. Arlington Cemetary is a short drive across the river.

 

There are lots of tours as well. The Capitol building tour is interesting. I'm not sure if they still give White House tours. I think you need to contact your congressman for tickets. Some lesser ones if you have time: FBI, Bureau of Ingraving and printing, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Supreme Court.

 

And for a break, the subway stops at Union Station. You can shop and catch a bite to eat.

[brewizard]

I love the people who designed and built Camden Yards. It is a shrine to baseball. I saw Cal Ripken hit a home run during the All-Star Game there.

 

And I didn't pay a thing for the ticket. In fact, I had no ticket.

 

http://www.johnnyroadtrip.com/cities/baltimore/images/camdenyards_pic.jpg

 

The third archway on the right. That is the ideal place to quickly climb the fence and disappear into the Camden crowd.

 

Trust me.

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[JimH5]

I just got back from my Camden Yards/Baltimore trip. I skipped the Phillies vs. Nats portion tonight, as I was tired and had a headache, and it was a sellout and I didn't already have tickets. . .

 

Anyway, I thought Camden Yards was really beautiful. The warehouse is an amazing building. The park is terrific. The fans are faithful and well mannered. It really was one of the friendlier places I can remember seeing a game.

 

Considering it's one of the signature spots in the park, Boog's BBQ is vastly overrated. Boog Powell was nowhere to be seen, and the food itself was no better than you'd find in any airport.

 

They feed a ton of people through a couple of cafeteria-style lines, so maybe I ordered the wrong thing (beef sandwich platter), but I wouldn't make a point to go there hungry, just to fill up on tasty BBQ--because it's not. That said, I walked around the whole park and didn't really see any other food that I would have rather had, so maybe it's a bigger deal to me than to O's fans. FYI--they also didn't have a huge beer selection either.

 

Anyway, the original post was about what to do in DC & Baltimore, so here's what else I did. . .

 

The Babe Ruth birthplace and museum is pretty neat. It's a very modest place, with just a couple of rooms devoted to how it was during Ruth's boyhood--but he grew up in a modest way, so it's fitting that the place is what it was. I spent about 45 minutes there, and there's a couple of interesting videos running on loops there to capture your attention. I didn't get to see the St. Mary's Industrial School, but I would like to do so the next time I'm there. I think the only thing you can really do there is see it from the outside (it's still a functioning school).

 

Right next to the ballpark is the Sports Legends Museum. I thought it was okay. The space seems bigger than they need for the stuff that they have on display. They didn't do enough with the old John McGraw & Wilbert Robinson Orioles for me, and they have a section devoted to the Baltimore Colts & Unitas, which wasn't what I cared about. It was fine I guess, but I wouldn't go back unless I knew they had an exhibit I specifically wanted to see. Upstairs from the Sports Legends Museum is Geppi's Entertainment Museum. I didn't go there, but would have liked to.

 

I also went to the National Aquarium of Baltimore. It was just too crowded for me to really enjoy. You buy time-stamped tickets, with admission at a certain time. The space is certainly built for large crowds, but many of the viewing tanks are of tiny creatures, and it was frustrating trying to spot a frog the size of your thumbnail around a bunch of slow moving fat people.

 

There were some ships anchored in the harbor, which looked to be open for touring. A Coast Guard ship, and a submarine were pretty close to the aquarium. Those looked to be interesting, and something else for the next time.

 

That's my trip report for you TC--hope you enjoy your time there.

[Principessa21]

DC has the best Ethiopian food in the country. I'd recommend trying some, anywhere. I also second the Holocaust museum.

 

PS TC,

RE: Tues

I boo because I love http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Team Canada]

You make me cry like Darryl.

[AJOHNSON104]

Any updates from you all on things to do? It looks like I'll be in Baltimore for a day (get there at noon and have a meeting the following morning) and will be checking out a game.

My thought was to just get a cheap ticket and wander around the area of the ballpark and eat/see whatever they have.

[RU Rah Rah]

I am a native of Balto., if that counts for anything.

 

I guess it depends on where you're staying. If you're right downtown, near the Harbor, there's plenty to do that's walkable, including Camden Yards and the Babe Ruth birthplace (which is nearby). Right down there are the Inner Harbor (shopping), the ESPN Zone, the Aquarium, and my personal weird favorite, the American Visionary Art Museum. (Crazy "outsider" art. Like . . . Cadillacs covered in sequins.)

 

One of my favorite places in Balto. is Lexington Market, which isn't at the Harbor but is not too far. It's slightly less touristy, and you can get real local fare. (There used to be a Polack Johnny's in there, but I'm not sure if it's still around.)

[Nader Raider Tim]

For school I am going to be going to DC at the beginning of April, during the Cherry Blossom Festivle. Most of the trip is planned out we are doing most of the generic touristy stuff, monuments, tour the White House And some others Holocaust Museum (I know im going to be crying most of the way through it). The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, that is actually the reason for the trip, the Printing Club is paying for almost all the trip. Were going to a play at the Kennedy Center.

 

Most of Saturady is open, what is something I should definetly see, and would be open into the afternoon on Saturday. I kind of want to go to the Botanical Gardens out there, don't know where about it is, just heard someone else rave about it.

 

Also, what's the deal with Ethiopian food, a ton of people have raved about it but I know, nothing about it. What would it compare to? Spicy, not? Vegetarian friendly?

[bullox]

There is a nice pizza joint on 7th and H street in downtown DC called Matchbox. Kind of a trendy, upscale pizza place if you can picture that. It was good when I was there a couple years ago.

[ewizabeff]

I used to live in DC....Haven't been there for a few years but Dupont Circle was my favorite place ever. The zoo was also pretty cool.

 

Check out the Nats in the new stadium if there's a game!

[Nader Raider Tim]

I totally forgot about the new Nationals Stadium, they play Atlanta the weekend I am there I might have to go and check out the new stadium.

 

The zoo is a stellar idea also. Friday Nationals game saturday Zoo or Botanical gardens saturday.