Choose from 7 Fun Things to Do in Maryland
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Maryland Science Center
One of the oldest scientific institutions in the US, the Maryland Science Center has been attracting visitors of all ages since 1976. Also known as the MSC, the site features three floors of exhibits, hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to get folks excited about science. Highlights include more than a dozen full-size dinosaurs, a unique journey through the human body and an exhibit on blue crabs that focuses on the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay.
A mix of educational flicks and Hollywood blockbusters play daily on the 400-seat, five-story 3D IMAX Theater. The Davis Planetarium offers programs featuring everything from the night’s sky to shows aimed at young kids featuring popular Sesame Street characters.
Practical Info
The Maryland Science Center is located at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. If you are coming by car, the MSC is accessible from numerous highways including I-95 and I-295 from the south, I-95 and I-83 from the north, and I-70 to the west. The Maryland Science Center also validates at two nearby garages. If you are looking for public transportation options, Light rail and MARC Trains stop four blocks away at Camden Yards.
Address: 601 Light St, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, USA
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Admission: Adults $18.95-$22.95, Child $15.95-19.95
From $ 15
Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore
Offering sweeping views of the Inner Harbor, the Hard Rock Café Baltimore is one of the city’s most historic and popular places for dining on the water. Though the restaurant itself was only established in 1997, it’s located inside the Pratt Street Power Plant that was built in in 1900. With its Neoclassical, terra cotta construction, the building is a famous Inner Harbor landmark that in 1987 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Enjoy your meal on the outer deck with views looking out at the harbor, where Francis Scott Key, in 1814, was inspired to write America’s national anthem while imprisoned by British forces. The Americana lives on today through burgers and rock n’ roll, and memorabilia hangs on the walls from some of the country’s best artists. See one of Prince’s custom-tailored outfits or a flask belonging to Jimi Hendrix, as well as clothing from British rockers like Elton John and The Who. Pair the view and memorabilia with American food and live music, and the Hard Rock Café Baltimore becomes an experience and sight unto itself.
Practical Info
There are parking garages located within walking distance of the Power Plant building and the harbor. The nearest metro is Shot Tower station, which is .4 miles from the restaurant.
Did You Know? The view from the deck looks out toward Fell’s Point, which was the second largest point of U.S. immigration after Ellis Island in New York.
Address: 601 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
From $ 32
Medieval Times Baltimore
Serfs, wenches, knights, horses, lances, swords, and falcons - they’re all a part of an action packed outing to Medieval Times in Baltimore. Leave the modern city behind as you travel to the 11th century, enjoying the show as a guest of the King inside of his lavish castle. Prior to sitting down for the feast, wander the gruesome Torture Museum and learn about hunting with falcons, before settling in for a four course meal that you literally eat with your hands. When it’s time for the evening’s main show to begin, choose a knight you think will win the series of jousts and combat, where swordsmanship and horsemanship are impressively put on display. Join the crowd in raucously cheering - or booing - depending on the knight, and experience the thrill of a night on the town in the spirit of Medieval Spain.
Practical Info
Medieval Times Baltimore is in the town of Hanover insider the Arundel Hills Mall. There’s a full service bar for adult guests, and vegetarian or vegan meals are available upon request. Since seating around the arena is first-come, first-serve, arrive early about an hour prior to the scheduled start time of the show.
Address: 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, Baltimore 21076, USA
Hours: Most easily accessed by car and there is free parking in the mall. Opening hours: Show times are at 11am, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, and 7:30pm, depending on the day of the week.
Admission: $60 for adults and $37 for children
From $ 60
Baltimore Little Italy
This cozy neighborhood is located in downtown Baltimore in between the Inner Harbor and historic Fells Point. Millions of people visit Little Italy every year, and when they come, they eat well. The neighborhood is loaded with family-owned restaurants, serving dishes, they say, just like mamma used to make.
Little Italy is also known for its festivals and neighborhood events. From bocce ball games and tournaments to outdoor movies and pasta dinners, the neighborhood calendar is always busy. Don’t want to worry about a schedule? Its narrow streets are nice for strolling without a plan.
Practical Info
Baltimore’s Little Italy is a short walk from the Inner Harbor. Visitors can also come by water taxi, subway or car. Along with free street parking (three-hour limit), there are many parking lots for those who plan to stay longer and many restaurants offer free parking.
Address: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
From $ 15
Annapolis
There’s colonial flavor and heritage 18th-century buildings galore in Maryland’s capital, Annapolis. Sailors flock to dock at the city’s 17 miles (27 km) of waterfront, and the US Naval Academy was established here in 1845.
Take a walking tour of 3 centuries of history, past grand historic buildings like St. John’s College, the 1735 Old Treasury Building and the African-American history displayed at the Banneker-Douglass Museum.
With scores of sailing schools, Annapolis is a better place than most to learn how to crew a yacht, and the array of cruises on offer includes schooners and dinner sails.
Practical Info
Annapolis is on Chesapeake Bay, 28 miles (45 km) east of Washington D.C. and 31 miles (50 km) south of Baltimore.
The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail is a recreational route linking the two cities, following the line of a former railway.
Address: USA
Hours: Open daily
Admission: Free
From $ 29
Baltimore Inner Harbor
Baltimore’s revitalized Inner Harbor features a scenic waterfront promenade and pedestrian district replete with shopping, dining, and entertainment options. Heralded by urban developers as a model for post-industrial waterfront land use, the area sits along the Patapsco River at the mouth of Jones Falls.
The Basics
Highlights include the Harborplace shopping center, waterfront restaurants serving up fresh seafood and other specialties, and Baltimore’s pyramid-shaped National Aquarium—home to jellyfish, dolphins, and sharks. You can also learn about the city’s seafaring history at the Maritime Museum.
Whether you want to stroll along the promenade or cruise above the city in a helicopter, there are multiple options for exploring Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. Dinner cruises and yacht charters are a good way to explore Chesapeake Bay, while ghost tours and walking tours typically depart from the Inner Harbor area and include visits to sites such as Key Bridge, Fort McHenry, and the Federal Hill neighborhood.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Inner Harbor is great for kids, as many of its attractions are within easy walking distance.
- Most of the Inner Harbor is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, with ramps and elevators throughout. Limited parking at the Visitor Center is specifically designed for visitors with disabilities.
- Dogs are allowed along the waterfront promenade.
- Many Inner Harbor restaurants serve up Baltimore's specialty: crab cakes and other crab-based dishes.
How to Get There
The Inner Harbor is bounded by President, Lombard, Greene, and Camden streets. Water taxis are a good way to get around; from the Inner Harbor, you can cross the Bay to Little Italy, Fells Point, and Canton. Day passes are also available for the Metro Subway and bus systems.
When to Get There
The Inner Harbor typically hosts events during spring, summer, and fall. Although summer can be hot and humid, the breeze off Chesapeake Bay cools things off a bit. Baltimore has milder winters than most Northeast cities, so this can still be a pleasant time to explore.
Haunted Baltimore
Baltimore's (and Maryland's) history is long and complicated. Learn all about it—and mingle with paranormal-activity buffs from all over the world—on a ghost tour or wicked-history tour, which includes stops at the city’s most haunted spots.
Address: Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21202, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 21
Fell's Point & Canton
Cobbled streets and a waterfront setting make Fell’s Point and Canton must-see locations in Baltimore.
Fell’s Point’s focus is Market Square, its 18th-century buildings now home to boutiques and restaurants. Historic pubs are a particular feature of this inner-city enclave, numbering more than 120, and the waterfront here has a salty maritime flavor for promenades and city views.
Neighboring Canton also has a central square, Canton Square, a patch of green surrounded by more sophisticated restaurants, galleries and shops.
Practical Info
Fell’s Point and Canton are on the eastern side of the Inner Harbor. Water taxis run to Fell’s Point and Anchorage, a few streets west of Canton.
Address: Market Square, Baltimore MD 21231, USA
Hours: Open daily
Admission: Free
From $ 21