"The Greatest City in America." Baltimore's motto may be a little flawed (how else would you expect a Philadelphia native to respond?), but it's a town with charm that still has much to offer.
Baltimore has 72 designated historic districts traditionally occupied by distinct ethnic groups. The most notable are three downtown areas along the port: the Inner Harbor (a tourist's dream filled with hotels, shops and museums); Fells Point (formerly a favorite entertainment spot for sailors, featured in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle"); and Little Italy (a cozy neighborhood located between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point where people can dine at almost 30 restaurants, watch outdoor films, participate in bocce tournaments, etc.).
Furthermore, the city is home to a lot of cool people including: jazz singer Billie Holiday; filmmaker John Waters; musicians Ric Ocasek and Frank Zappa; writers Upton Sinclair and Edgar Allan Poe; legendary Hall of Fame baseball star Cal Ripken, Jr.; actor Edward Norton; and Puppeteer Kevin Clash.
Keep this in mind as the 2012 Print Solutions Conference & Expo wraps up for the day. According to the official tourism site for Baltimore, www.baltimore.org, there are quite a few famous places to explore. Here are just a few of them:
INNER HARBOR
Arguably one of the city's crown jewels, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the city's premier tourist attraction. The Inner Harbor was originally a rundown port area populated by sailors and dockworkers. On July 1, 1980, Harborplace officially opened and everything changed.
Today, the Inner Harbor plays host to the National Aquarium, Harborplace, Maryland Science Center and many restaurants and shops.
FELLS POINT
Founded in 1730 by William Fell, Fells Point remains true to its maritime roots. Tugboats and water taxis ply its waters, while bar-goers stroll along its cobblestone streets. Visitors often stay in Fells Point's quaint inns and shop in its eclectic boutiques.
Parking can be tricky since the waterfront neighborhood wasn't designed for cars.
NATIONAL AQUARIUM
Located at the Inner Harbor on 501 E. Pratt St., the National Aquarium features breathtaking exhibits with more than 16,000 animals including sharks, birds, frogs, turtles, dolphins and jellyfish. While you're there, check out a 4D Immersion Film that will bring you closer to the sights, sounds and smells of the action.
For more information, visit www.aqua.org.
ORIOLE PARK
Take in a ball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and watch the Baltimore Orioles in action. Tours of the park are available year-round.
For tour and ticket information, visit www.orioles.com.
Maryland's largest art museum showcases an impressive collection from ancient mosaics to contemporary art. In addition, there are ever-changing exhibitions, sculpture gardens, a museum shop and a scenic restaurant. The best part? General admission is free.
The museum is located at 10 Art Museum Drive (at N. Charles and 31st Streets).
FORT MCHENRY NATIONAL MONUMENT
Situated on a green peninsular park, the Fort McHenry National Monument features a 15-minute video on the writing of the national anthem. The entrance fee to the historic area of the park is $7.00 for adults 16 years of age and older; children 15 and younger are free.
The park address is 2400 East Fort Ave.
OBRYCKI'S CRAB HOUSE AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
After the show, you can be sure that the Print Professional staff will be taking advantage of some of Maryland's awesome blue crabs.
Obrycki's is known for a homemade peppery crab spice that some say rivals Old Bay. Put down some—actually a lot of—butcher-block paper, grab a mallet and get to cracking. Enjoy a cold beer while you're at it.