Back in December 2016, I took a quick two day trip to Baltimore to run a half marathon and check off the state of Maryland.
Baltimore is the most populous city in Maryland and is located about 40 miles northeast of Washington DC.
Baltimore is known as “Charm City”. This nickname goes back to the 70s when the mayor was trying to improve the image of the city by focusing on the charm tucked away in quiet corners of the city which created the marketing slogan for the city, “Charm City”.
Living in Boston, Baltimore is one of the easiest places to fly to and I honestly don’t know why I don’t go there more often. It’s a quick non-stop flight on Southwest.
BWI is located 20 minutes from the Inner Harbor area. When visiting cities, I prefer to skip the cost of renting a car if possible and luckily the Light Rail in Baltimore goes right from the airport to downtown. It doses take longer than driving, about 40 minutes, but it costs less than $2 each way and it was a very pleasant and relaxing ride.
I got off the train at the stop at Camden Yards. I’m a pretty big baseball fan and really enjoy seeing the different stadiums across the country.
What I loved about this stadium is that you could walk right up to it and take a peek inside. Despite it being December and me wearing a heavy coat I got all excited to think that baseball season was only a few months away.
Did you know that Baltimore has more statues and monuments per capita than any other city in the country? Some of these statues are located just outside of Camden Yards. The honor Orioles legends such as Cal Ripken Jr., JIm Palmer, Eddie Murray and Frank Robinson to name a few.
Nearby Camden Yards is the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum. As a big red sox fan, I just couldn’t bring myself to go in there, but I’m sure it’s a great place to check out!
From Camden Yards, I headed over to the main entertainment district in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor. This area includes a beautiful walkway along the water with lots to see and do. There is the civil war era ship the USS Constellation, National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse and many restaurants and shops. There seemed be lots of restaurants with outdoor seating for the warmer months, so it’s definitely a great are to enjoy a meal by the water.
There are many great areas to check out that are close to the Inner Harbor. The Federal Hill neighborhood is located south of the city and features Federal Hill Park at the top of the hill. The long walk up the steps is definitely worth the effort as you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the city! I decided to head up shortly before sunset and was definitely not disappointed!
For the history lovers, there is Fort McHenry. This fort is located in the Locust Point neighborhood of Baltimore. It’s best known for it’s role in defending the Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. This victory at Fort McHenry was what inspired the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner” File this under things I never knew until I visited Baltimore! I love learning new historic facts while traveling!
I ran the Race 13.1 Baltimore race on the Saturday morning, it started and finished in Camden Waterfront Park which has beautiful views of the Inner Harbor. It was a flat course that was mostly along the water so the views during the race can’t be beat. They did not offer this race last year, but there are many other great races in Baltimore such as the Baltimore Running Festival in October each year which features a 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon and Relay. They even have a challenge called the Baltimoron-a-thon where you run the 5K and Half Marathon on the same day! I’m always up for a challenge, I may need to try that one some day.
One of my favorite neighborhoods in Baltimore that I ventured over to after the race was Fells Point. Fells Point is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Baltimore and ilocated along the water. Here you can find waterfront restaurants, cute boutiques, coble stone streets and some artsy vibes. It’s home to the oldest bar in the city, The Horse You Came In On Saloon which is rumored to be Edgar Allen Poe’s last stop before his mysterious death. I had brunch at a really great restaurant, Bond Street Social. I can’t recommend this place enough, the food was delicious, great friendly service and just an overall fun vibe in the restaurant, definitely check it out.
I had a great but quick couple of days in Baltimore and I’m still trying to get back there some day during the warmer months to be able to fully enjoy the outdoor splendor of the Inner Harbor and attend a Red Sox vs Orioles game. I think I need to stop saying some day and add this to my list for 2021!
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