Baltimore, MD

Inner Harbor
DESCRIPTION: You can’t find a better example of urban redevelopment in America yet, city officials almost ran a freeway through it in the 1970s; since this natural harbor is where the city began in 1729, civic leaders finally got it right by making the Inner Harbor a destination again; this enlightened approach to urban redevelopment led to creating a red brick promenade lined with picnic areas, a yacht harbor, restaurants, shops, historic ships and hotels that are widely emulated around North America; the centerpiece attraction is Harborplace, which consists of Light Street Pavilion & Pratt Street Pavilion that sit cate-corner in the northeast harbor; Harborplace features many of restaurants, bars and gift shops and is connected by overhead pedway to The Gallery, an upscale shopping mall across Pratt Street
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: the red-brick Harbor promenade is open 24/7; Harborplace Mon-Thu 10a-9p, Fri-Sat 10a-10p, Sun 11a-7p
ADDRESS: Pratt Street, Light Street and Key Highway  MAP
PARKING: on premises, street and nearby garages
TRANSIT: Charles Center Metro Station
PHONE: Harborplace 410-332-4191   
WEBSITE: http://www.harborplace.com

Maryland Science Center
DESCRIPTION: Three floors of exhibits featuring the Chesapeake Bay, Hubble Space Telescope, Energy and various live demonstrations; the IMAX 3D five-story theatre sells out during new screenings and the Davis Planetarium is also popular; facility includes a restaurant and gift shop
ADMISSION: Adult $14.50, Ages 3-12 $10, Ages 60+ $13.50; add $4 for IMAX show
DAYS & HOURS: depending on season, hours vary around these "average" times: Mon-Wed 9a-6p, Thu 9a-8p, Fri 9a-8p, Sat 9a-8p, Sun 9a-6p
ADDRESS: 601 Light Street  MAP
PARKING: street and Light Street garage
TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station & Howard Street Lightrail
PHONE: 410-685-2370
WEBSITE: http://www.mdsci.org

USS Constellation
DESCRIPTION: This Navy battleship was launched in Baltimore in 1797; exhibits on board explain that when slavery was outlawed before the Civil War, the ship was used to capture slave ships and free enslaved people; it’s also a cool place to let your kids handle the steering wheel while you take in some the best Inner Harbor views -- don’t worry, the ship is securely ported; Apr-Oct 10a-5:30p, Nov-Mar 10a-4:30p
ADMISSION: Adults $9.50, Ages 60+ $7.50, Ages 6-14 $4.75, Age 5 & under FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Apr-Oct 10a-5:30p, Nov-Mar 10a-4:30p
ADDRESS: 301 East Pratt Street, Pier 1  MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-539-1797
WEBSITE: http://www.constellation.org

National Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: Start on the 4th floor Rain Forest, then walk down the spiral staircase to see world-famous sharks, dolphins, rays, tropical fish, and 11,000 other creatures from more than 600 species of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals in naturalistic exhibits; this 3-building portside complex includes an experience in the 4D Immersion Theater that bring you closer to the sights, sounds and smells of the action
DAYS & HOURS: July-Aug 9a-8p; Mar-Jun & Sep/Oct Sat-Thu 9a-5p, Friday 9a-8p; Nov-Feb Sat-Thu 10a-5p, Fri 10a-8p
ADMISSION: $16 adults, age 3 to 11$9.50, and $13 for age 60+
ADDRESS: 501 East Pratt Street, Pier 3  MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-576-3800
WEBSITE: http://www.aqua.org

U.S. Submarine Torsk
DESCRIPTION: Commissioned in 1944, it was the last American naval vessel to sink a warship in World War II and was part of the American Submarine offensive Pacific Campaign; today it is part of the Living Classrooms Foundation's Maritime Museum
ADMISSION: Age 60+ $6, Age 15-59 $8, Age 6-14 $4, Age 5 & under FREE
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 501 East Pratt Street, Pier 3  MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
TRANSIT: Shot Tower/Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-396-3453
WEBSITE: http://www.usstorsk.net

Port Discovery, the Children's Museum in Baltimore
DESCRIPTION: When you need the kids (ages 2-12) to blow off a few hours of fun without worry, take them to this exciting museum in the Inner Harbor; Enjoy three fun filled floors with a variety of hands-on exhibits and activities; Disney Imagineers designed most of the exhibits
ADMISSION: Ages 2 and above $11.75, under age FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Oct-May Tue-Fri 9:30a-4:30p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun Noon-5p; Summer Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 12 Noon-5p; Friday Fun Nights (July 8-August 26) 10a-8p
ADDRESS: 35 Market Place  MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-727-8120
WEBSITE: http://www.portdiscovery.org

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards
DESCRIPTION: First opened in 1856, Camden Station served as the grand passenger terminal for the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad; at one time it was the city’s tallest building; the first Civil War battle was fought just one block north on Pratt Street and many presidents have passed through the building doors; with the decline of passenger railroads in the 20th century, B&O vacated the building in 1971; today this neo-classic, spired structure hosts baseball exhibits featuring Babe Ruth, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles; another baseball exhibit features Baltimore’s Negro Leagues Baseball team, which if sometime tended by a NLB star; football fans enjoy Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis and Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas exhibits; Babe Ruth Museum, the former (restored) home of Babe, is located at 216 Emory Street, three blocks west of Oriole Park
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Ages 3-12 $6.50; for both museums Adults $14, Seniors $11, Ages 3-12 $9
DAYS & HOURS: Nov-Mar Tue-Sun 10a-5p, Apr-Oct 10a-6p, later during baseball games
ADDRESS: 301 West Camden Street next to Orioles Park  MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station and Howard Street Lightrail
PHONE: 410-727-1539
WEBSITE: http://www.baberuthmuseum.com

Orioles Park at Camden Yards
DESCRIPTION: Home to MLB’s Baltimore Orioles; when it opened in 1996, this mesmerizing palace to the game of baseball triggered a revolution in how future baseball parks would be designed; it features fantastic sight lines from every seat, a picnic area in the outfield before games and lots of eye candy for casual fans that makes the game an interesting outing, win or lose; seats about 45,000
ADMISSION: pro baseball ticket price range, see website
DAYS & HOURS: April-September, depends on Orioles schedule
ADDRESS: 333 West Camden Street  MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station and Howard Street Lightrail
PHONE: 888-848-2473
WEBSITE: link
 
M&T Bank Stadium
DESCRIPTION: Home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens; designed by the same architectural firm as Orioles Park; completed in 1998 for $220 million, the stadium has 119 suites, 8,196 club seats for a total capacity to host 70,100 rabid fans during football season; they have a lot to cheer about since there isn’t a bad seat in the house, very wide concourses to access abundant refreshment stands, 2 huge SmartVision screens and plenty of restrooms
ADMISSION: pro football ticket price range, see website
DAYS & HOURS: September-December, depends on Ravens schedule
ADDRESS: 1101 Russell Street  MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station and Howard Street Lightrail
PHONE: 410-547-8100
WEBSITE: http://www.baltimoreravens.com

Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
DESCRIPTION: Opened 1876, it is the 3rd oldest zoo in the country, behind Philadelphia (1873) and Cincinnati (1874); it name-changed to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in 2004; among many habitat exhibits, the 160-acre zoo features Polar Bear Watch, a state-of-the-art exhibit of Arctic life with an authentic Tundra Buggy® from which visitors can safely watch the bears jump in and out of the water; the camel ride exhibit lets visitors get up close with our those friendly long-distance animals for a short-distance ride; Baby Elephant Samson on exhibit daily 10a–Noon; Giraffe Feeding Station Sat & Sun 10:30a– 3p; the zoo is completing two construction exciting projects for visitors
ADMISSION: Internet prices Adult $11, Ages 2-11 $9, Ages 65+ $10; walk-up prices are higher
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-4p
ADDRESS: Druid Hill Park  MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
TRANSIT: None nearby
PHONE: 410-366-5466
WEBSITE: http://www.marylandzoo.org