Baltimore: Charm City

Baltimore, a major city in the North Eastern United States, has been nicknamed the “Charm City”, as it is perhaps the only city in the world to offers visitors a big city with a small town feel. Known all across the globe as a fine seaport, Baltimore is a major industrial and trade centre. The city has a very illustrious history and has been closely associated with American history. A vibrant and colourful city with a likable mixture of modern and colonial architecture, Baltimore is also within the vicinity of sites of great historical significance. The city was also the home of one of the oldest and most prominent railroads in the American railroad history: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The city’s fine infrastructure and easy-going residents are perhaps the most inviting of the many Baltimore tourist attractions.

Places to visit in Baltimore

Baltimore is one of the most important business tourism centres in the United States and plays host to numerous conferences, seminars, exhibitions, etc. The city’s infrastructure is well developed in the regard and Baltimore is well equipped with conference halls, convention centres, hotels, etc. The highlight of the city’s business tourism infrastructure is but of course the majestic Baltimore Convention Center.

Some of the more prominent Baltimore tourist sights include:

• Baltimore Harbor
• Maryland Science Center
• National Aquarium
• American Visionary Arts Museum
• Inner Harbor
• Locust Point
• Fort McHenry
• Fells Point
• Westminster Hall and Burying Ground
• Maryland Zoo
• The original Washington Monument
• Walters Art Museum
• Baltimore Museum of Art

Baltimore- Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine

Though the city has gained notoriety for its high crime rate, Baltimore is very safe for tourists; nevertheless, it is advisable that certain rather necessary precautions be taken including avoiding certain areas after dark, keeping valuables out of sight, etc. Baltimore is beautiful and the city’s eclectic mix of historical buildings and modern architecture is simply seen to be believed. Besides having some of the best avenues, walkways and buildings in the world, Baltimore also boasts a very vibrant and very good nightlife. The city is home to a multitude of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, bars, discos, etc.

Baltimore is also home to some of the best malls and resorts in the country. English is well understood by one and all. The local currency is United States dollars (USD). The local cuisine draws influences from a variety of cuisines and has its own unique and distinct flavour. What’s more, it is freely available at very affordable prices. Baltimore has a large number of eateries catering to all types of cuisines and suited to all types of budgets; it is also home to some of the country’s best and most prolific restaurants.

Best time to visit Baltimore

The best time to visit Baltimore is from September to January.

Best way to reach Baltimore

• By Air: Baltimore is one of the region’s most important travel hubs, and is connected to most major destinations in the world via regular flights.
• By Rail: Baltimore is connected to the American rail network. Further, as Baltimore is located in the North East Corridor, passenger rail services, unlike most of America, are rather decent. For intra-city travel, there is a light rail and metro; these, however, are very limited in reach.
• By Road: Baltimore is well connected to all national and regional destinations and popular attractions. Further, Baltimore is also one of the major centres of United States’ road transport system and as such offers comfortable transport options for almost all of the nearby United States attractions. The city is one of the hubs of intra-country bus travel in United States. The road network within the city is rather good but prone to congestion. There is also a limited intra-city bus network. Baltimore is also an excellent place for walking.
• By Sea: Some cruise ships also make a visit at Baltimore. The city also has a sea-taxi system, which is specifically meant for tourists, and as such, covers all major tourist attractions.

Accommodation

The Baltimore accommodation scene is very active and wide enough to cater to all budgets and needs. Baltimore is home of some of the finest hotels in the continent. Further, many local and international tour operators offer Baltimore vacation package tours. These tours cover most of the Baltimore tourist destinations, but do not carry the element of risk and adventure that going solo does. One might even miss out on the many hidden attractions and surprises Baltimore may hold.