Sight-seeing suggestions for Baltimore, MD

Hi, y'all in the north :) Looking for some sight-seeing info for the Baltimore area. I'm traveling with a friend to a town NE of Baltimore called...North East LOL. Anyway, my friend is going for training and I'm side-seat driving hoping to do some sight-seeing or meet some DG'ers while I'm there. Will arrive Monday the 9th in the afternoon and will leave sometime Thursday the 12th probably noonish depending on what we find to get into, her training ends Wed evening. This will be my first trip to that area. I'm googling tourism for Baltimore but always go to DG for the best information ;)
Would especially like historical spots/areas, indoor botanical gardens or the like, and great places to eat of course! Thanks bunches for any info.

BTW, we'll be in a van so I can take plants home if there are any good gardening spots I need to check out while I'm there...sigh, too bad it isn't spring. I'm checking out GoGardening, too. Gotta love DG!!!

Lana
daisypatchrabbits.homestead.com

I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses, but I am a BIG fan of the National Aquarium. It's on the Inner Harbor, which is just a nice place to putter around on a sunny day. http://www.aqua.org/

Yes, definitely the aquarium. They have a really nice zoo too and, as Gita told us, there's a wonderful botanical garden right next to the zoo.

Just wanted to mention if you're an Edgar Allen Poe fan, you won't want to miss the Poe House.

If you're a Food Network fan, don't forget Charm City Cakes of Ace of Cakes fame is in Baltimore.

Thank you both for the ideas! I'm definately going to the aquarium. Sure wish the zoo was open, it's closed till March. Will check out the other things hart suggested. Haven't had time here at home so will do it on the road tomorrow or in our room tomorrow night.

Lana

Lana, Yes the National Aquarium is wonderful and the whole Inner Harbor is full of interesting things to do and places to eat. They have water taxis that will take you around to different spots and drop you off. You can pay a small fee and hop on and off the water taxis at different spots around the harbor, a trip out to Fort McHenry and Fells Point for lunch are just two suggestions.
The Rawlings Conservatory, is a very nice place to spend a couple of hours, it's not big but very nice. Let us know when you are in town. Check out this link for a peek at the Conservatory.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/671852/

Food - best Italian in Little Italy area - Phillip's Seafood in inner harbor for seafood :-)

Lots to see & do in & around the Inner Harbor. Here are some great places to visit:

Besides the Baltimore Aquarium, be sure to check out the Maryland Science Museum, which has a wonderful planetarium, http://www.go-maryland.com/Maryland-Science-Center/ the U.S.S. Constitution http://www.go-maryland.com/USS-Constellation/ and Fort McHenry. http://www.nps.gov/archive/fomc/home.htm

This message was edited Feb 9, 2009 2:15 PM

Lana should have arrived by the time my post hits the thread. It's been many years since I've been to Baltimore. The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was, I wonder if Charm City Cakes is open to the public. Ummm, cake!!!

Pam: Unfortunately visiting Charm City Cakes is a "no-no", but drooling is permitted.
http://www.charmcitycakes.com/noflash/index.cfm?rd=faq

This message was edited Feb 9, 2009 11:59 PM

Shirley, Thank you for the link. I can just imagine Mary Alice having written that web page. I guess I won't be getting that valentine cake for my DH. Even if I could get on the list, it would be a minimum of $1000 for the cake plus $1050 delivery, plus I'd probably feel obliged to give them a tip. I did wonder how they could possibly pay their uber-talented staff. They probably need a guard at the door to keep people away.

$1000 cake? no wonder they have so much fun

Chef Duff certainly carved his own niche in the cake decorating world. He can charge these outrageous prices because people are willing to shell out that kind of money. It helps to have very exclusive clients like the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Crayola Crayons, Cabbage Patch Kids, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Macy's, Port Discovery Children's Museum, Super Bowl XLI and the list goes on & on.....

Duff is such a likeable personality. I like his laugh. They all look like they love what they do. I think his new show begins tonight on the Food Network.

My Hobby Greenhouse club is organizing a trip to LaDew Topiary Gardens & the The Botanic Garden of Baltimore. Never been to either but looking forward to it.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2009 8:56 AM

La Dew is neat--Which Arboretum? didn't think they had one at LaDew