HELP - Planning Visit to Baltimore & Washington

theorioles

Hi Folks....I live in Toronto, but I am a long-time Orioles fan. I have finally convinced my wife to take a trip to Baltimore (she agreed if we also spent a few days in Washington). So I have 4 days in Baltimore, 3 days in Washington. I am in charge of planning the activities. We are going in the second week of July. I was just wondering if you folks could recommend the best spots to hit during my short visit. I might be able to get one Orioles and one Nationals game in. But what do you locals consider the best places to hit considering I only have a few days? My 11 year old daughter is coming along too.
Thanks a lot!
Gordon

uyu906

For starters, you should take the time and go to the Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore and the Sports Legends/Orioles Museum at the Camden Yards train station. Both are within walking distance from Orioles Park at Camden Yards.

EchoCanyon

Baltimore has Inner Harbor and aquarium -- both awesome, and a top-notch children's museum just a few blocks away.
And the Babe Ruth museum/home is pretty awesome.

thedutymon

Morning,

In DC you have got to do the Spy Museum and the Holocaust Museum. Both, my 13 year old Boys favorites last year when we went. The Washington Monument is overblown (And you have to be there at 7AM to get tickets for that day) and the Smithsonian is way too much for a 3 dayer in DC.

Neil

mrmint23

Tour Camden Yards..Cost about 11.00 but well worth it...Get to go in the dugout, pressbox, outfield...Public transit will take you from the Airport to Convention/Camden Yards...Very nice place cant wait until next year when the National returns....Have Fun

nam812

Just make sure you don't eat at Lee's ptomaine cafe.

eyebone

i suggest a short detour to annapolis, md. beautiful little place and you can take a boat tour up the potomac.

lee has a standing offer of a free shirley temple for any board member who drops in at his establishment--at least that is what he offered me
last year. he probably likes you better though.

have fun. eyebone

MULLINS5

Gordon,

I'd rather take a Greyhound from Toronto to Baltimore than to sit through one baseball game.

Take the wife out to a nice dinner or plan a picnic to show her you appreciate that she will sit through not one, but possibly two of these games

ga5150

May want to switch up your days and have the extra day in DC. There is so much to see and do there that there's no way you can see it all in one trip. The Spy Museum in DC is a good choice, but take note that there is an admission fee and it's not part of the "free" Smithsonian museums. Also, the last time (last year) we tried to walk up to the Spy Museum, we were out of luck because we didn't have advance tickets.

In DC you can get off the Metro at the Smithsonian stop and be within walking distance to some major attractions. The US History Museum is wonderful, Natural History Museum has all the cool animals/dinosaurs/gems/Hope Diamond etc, Air & Space Museum is right there, White House/Washington Monument/Capitol are all within walking distance of the museums. There is also the Korean War Memorial and Vietnam Memorial also nearby.


Sorry to ramble, but those are off the top of my head.

Rodney

ga5150

I believe Edgar Allen Poe's grave is very close to there too, if you're into that sort of thing. Not much to see but a grave, but some folks like to get pictures etc;

Rodney




<< <i>Baltimore has Inner Harbor and aquarium -- both awesome, and a top-notch children's museum just a few blocks away.
And the Babe Ruth museum/home is pretty awesome. >>

milbroco

I agree that you may want to take the extra day in Washington and one less in Baltimore. You could do a ball game, The babe Ruth house and inner harbor for shopping and the aquarium in three days. You could use that extra day in Washington as there is so much to do there.

One thing for sure, if you like seafood, look up a place about 15 minutes south of Baltimore off of I-95 called Timbuktu. Absolutely incredible seafood. The crab imperial is like a mountain.

Actually, we are vacationing there this summer with our camping trailer. We stay halfway between Baltimore and Washington and will be eating at Timbuktu several times.

Bob

TonyC

My son spent the past three years going to college in Washingtion, DC, so if you have any questions about the city, PM me. He went to at least 10-15 Nationals games and said it is a great ballpark. If you're not looking to spend a lot of money to go to the games, they have $5 grandstand tickets available on the day of the game only that they start selling 2.5 hours before the game.

CdnOsfan

Wow, another Canadian Orioles fan! I'm from Waterloo, ON. You'll love Camden Yards!!

al032184

For kids, the inner harbor and aquarium in Baltimore. In DC, the many museums and take a walk around, it's a big area full of history.

MooseDog

+1 for spending more time in DC

Baltimore:

Camden Yards tour
Babe Ruth Museum (both are close to each other if I recall)
Baltimore Aquarium

Washington is heaven for a museum lover. Depending on what you like:

Smithsonian - impossible to see all of it, even if you have a week. Place is massive beyond belief. The American History Museum will appeal to the collector in you. The Air and Space Museum is also a must-see. The Freer Gallery is good if you like"classic" art.

Ford Theatre / Lincoln Museum
Spy Museum is very cool.


I'd skip the Washington Monument, Senate and White House.

As a Canadian I'm not sure how you feel about US History here are three things that had a big impact on me as far as "standing in the footsteps of history".

1) Go see the Declaration of Independence. There is also an ancient copy of the Magna Carta there too. It's way cooler even than a T-206 Wagner.
2) Go to the Lincoln Memorial and stand on the landing in front of the monument facing the Mall. This is the place where MLK gave his "I have a dream" speech.
3) If you have time visit Arlington National Cemetery. I didn't think I would like it at all but it was sobering, educational, and inspirational all at the same time. If you go, one thing you have to do is visit the grave of JFK and the "eternal flame". After you read his headstone, turn around and check out the view to the Capitol. It's breathtaking.

JMDVM

Spend the extra day in Washington. I would add these to the list in DC: The Newseum, the American Museum of History, the Air and Space Museum, the American Indian Museum (near the Capitol) which has a terrific cafeteria serving native American food and last but not least the zoo, where you can see the pandas. Baltimore has a terrific Little Italy with great restaurants. And you can also take a side trip to Annapolis.