We do Baltimore!

On our latest adventure, we chose to experience urban camping in Baltimore, Maryland. Despite the city's reputation, which is often marred by its less favorable neighborhoods, our decision to proceed with the trip was well-informed. Our research indicated that the concerns about crime were localized to specific areas. Fortunately, we followed our instincts rather than the apprehensions of our friends. The result was a delightful discovery: Baltimore is a vibrant, pristine, and enjoyable city to explore.
Forgoing our Nissan Titan and camper, we opted for my wife's Nissan Pathfinder and checked into the Pier V Hotel on the Inner Harbor.
thepier5.com/
Our adventure began at the National Aquarium, a marvel since 1981, with over 2,200,000 US gallons of water housing 17,000 specimens across 750 species, ranking as the fourth largest aquarium in the U.S.
aqua.org/
Next, we delighted in Rash Field Park's unique play areas, situated opposite the harbor.
www.waterfront...
A short walk led us to Federal Hill Park, offering a playground and breathtaking vistas.
www.federalhil...
Meandering back, we browsed local shops and visited the historic Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, Maryland's oldest screw-pile lighthouse, erected in 1855.
historicships....
A photo stop at Under Armour HQ on President Street, then on to the solemn National Katyn Memorial Statue.
www.katynbalti...
The following day, we ventured to the Old Town Mall, a relic from the 1800s, now a ghost of commerce past.
Our spirits lifted at the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon, where one can ascend 227 steps to the summit. Directly across, the George Peabody Library awaited, an architectural gem with a 61-foot ceiling, safeguarding rare 18th and 19th-century tomes.
www.library.jh...
Driven by hunger, we headed to Fells Point for lunch at America's oldest bar, "The Horse You Came In On Saloon." Established in 1775, the bar is renowned not only for its uninterrupted operation but also as the last known location of the esteemed author Edgar Allan Poe before his death.
www.thehorseba...
I strongly suggest visiting this city due to its manageable size, which allows many of the attractions to be explored over a single weekend. Despite concerns about high crime rates, we encountered none; the areas frequented by tourists were notably clean and well-maintained.
#pier5 #innerharbor #aquarium #nationalaquarium #Baltimore #maryland #rashfieldpark #federalhillpark #lighthouse #sevenfootknoll #oldtownmall #washingtonmonument #georgepeadbodylibrary #edgarallenpoe #thehorseyoucameinonsaloon

[@TenguTalks]

Right next to the monument is the Walters Art Museum, which is one of the nicest museums in the city. Even nicer than the Baltimore Art Museum (at least I think so- I used to live like a block away and spent a lot of time there literally chilling on hot days). And a few blocks down is both the Enoch Pratt main branch, and the RCA museum on Park Ave. Both worth seeing in the area.
Harbor is nice, but not as nice as it was 10 years ago. The Power Plant used to have more in it (including the most amazing Barnes and Noble I've ever seen), there were fountains by the promenade, and the Galleria and Harborplace Malls were at their peak. Its still nice to walk around down there (and onward to Federal Hill), but its a shadow of what it once was.

[@matthewbernard9233]

Yes we were told about visiting the Art museum but sadly we didn’t have the time to do so.
Your comment about the inner harbor makes a lot of sense. When we were there, I felt like that area was lacking, the two small malls were empty, they maybe had one or two stores in them. Hopefully one day it does return to its former glory.