Baltimore Travel Guide

Baltimore, Maryland is one of those places not many people seek to visit. In fact, my time here was not travel-related but was to attend the national convention of the National Council of Teachers of English. I flew in the week before Thanksgiving, staying in the hotel connected to the convention center. I spent most of my energy networking, presenting, attending literacy seminars, standing in line to meet my favorite authors, and amassing suitcases full of books. So, although I was in Baltimore for a week, my guide could be accomplished in a day’s time. Though there are more exciting attractions to visit while in Baltimore, some listed in my 1,000 Places to See Before You Die book, I stayed the course with literacy giants like Edgar Allan Poe sites and visiting the inner harbor area where I was staying. Since I was alone and quite tired from the conference you’ll see a limited number of entries. Know that I would visit here again in a heartbeat to see more! I look forward to visiting again and hope you enjoy your trip too! Brandy

Baltimore Washington Airport - BWI Flying solo on this trip, I wanted to fly directly into Baltimore. Even during the Thanksgiving holiday, it wasn’t super busy and I was able to navigate the terminals easily. I almost came too early. I also loved the holiday decor! The full name is the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Marshall was a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the USA. This is also one of Southwest’s hubs so you might be flying into here rather than Dulles or Ronald Reagan depending on your carrier. The ease of air traffic here is a huge appeal.

Ronald Reagan International Airport Many travelers to Baltimore come through the DC area because of its close access. If Baltimore flights are too expensive, check out the ones to Reagan International in Alexandria, VA. It’s a beauty! I love turning the corner from the gates and seeing the giant USA flag with its stars and stripes!



Edgar Allan Poe Grave & Memorial As a self-proclaimed literacy nerd, I had to take some time away from my conference to visit the resting place of Edgar Allan Poe, revered American poet. It has a certain kind of calm and quiet energy, but there was lots of wind in the trees and leaves blowing. Make sure you use your phone navigation as it’s a small church gate that leads you to the memorial. Visiting in November was perfect as the leaves were vibrant. It’s also a nice walk from the harbor area, moderately done.

Make sure you walk throughout the church cemetery, coming to this back area. Poe was originally buried in an unmarked area in 1849 but with the rise of fame from his stories, came advocates calling for a stone that you can find in the back of this lot made in 1913 (pictured on the next page). The larger monument at the front of the church was erected in 1875. The church gates weren’t added until 1910. Check out the Poe Society for more facts!



Edgar Allan Poe House One of my most anticipated stops but maybe my biggest disappointment. Seeing Poe’s Baltimore home is telling, but also a much shorter stop than I thought it would be because of the space. I was also hugely disappointed in the “gift shop” items. I was expecting to walk out with a book or literary treasure. The home is extremely tiny in modern comparisons, though 3 floors. I was standing on the stairs to get the shot of the first floor here. It was extremely dark inside and the lights didn’t make for good photo opportunities. Climbing stairs is required and the spaces are narrow, but doable.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Third Floor Bedroom Perhaps the most creepy part of the tour is the final climb done while bending over to his bedroom area. Only one person at a time. There is a volunteer sitting in the area to help facilitate the crowd but almost makes it feel like you’re being watched in such small surroundings. It helps you imagine HOW Poe wrote what he did. I spent more on the Uber rides here and back that added to an expensive hour.

Camden Yards Home of the Baltimore Orioles One of the biggest surprises of my Baltimore stay was being across the street from Camden Yards and the Orioles’ baseball complex, that’s free to wander and explore!

Orioles Baseball Field and Legends Park There was a very friendly staff member at the big gate who keeps an eye on everything but you’re free to wander about the field. What a beautiful view, even in November! Near the big gate and the outfield section of the stadium is Legends Park. They have beautiful statues of famous Orioles players but I was highly distracted by the fall foliage! I thought visiting in November would be too cold, but it seemed to be the perfect time. I loved how red these trees were inside the park.

Jackie Robinson & Cal Ripken Jr. In front of the entrance to the stadium you’ll see these beautiful numbers and plaques of famous players in Oriole history. My favorite was 42, the number of Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in MLB. A childhood hero of mine is there too, #8, Cal Ripken Jr.

At the entrance you’ll also find this lifesize statue of Babe Ruth, most famous for his home runs. He spent most of his baseball career as a New York Yankee but was born in Baltimore so they’re proud of this hometown hero. In fact, you’ll find other Babe Ruth places of interest, including his childhood home, available for tours.

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower formerly The Emerson Tower Dominating your views of the downtown area is the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower which houses studio art spaces. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places, constructed in 1911, and is modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. A beautiful structure!



Staying in the Inner Harbor area was very convenient and I felt safe at all times. Though I didn’t get to explore very much because of my time in November (cold weather and other obligations) I really enjoyed this area. I think it’d be the ideal place for a family or solo trip. It’s a great place for running or exercise as well. What fun views of Baltimore! In this section, I’ll show you what I found on my visit to the area.

Barnes and Noble This national chain isn’t new to many travelers, but the Barnes and Noble store in the old Power Plant building in Baltimore Inner Harbor is a fun stop. Upon entering you’ll see some of the original structures, modified for bookshelves & shopping. I also really enjoyed their local author & stories section in the front along w/ some accessories that I’ve never seen at other stores before.

Ships of the Baltimore Inner Harbor Baltimore, and really this entire part of the Eastern coast, loves their maritime activities and history. Baltimore has a range of ships you can explore - the US Navy’s only sail-only warship, a WWII submarine, and a 1930 lightship. Tour all of these historic ships for just $15 (adult) with no expiration date for each ship.

Baltimore World Trade Center While walking along the beautiful harbor, you’ll come upon the towering Baltimore World Trade Center. On the streetside is a memorial of 3 22-foot steel columns from NYC remembering the 69 Marylanders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. After paying your respects, you can also go to the Top of the World Observation Deck for $6 to get some good views (and photos) of the city and the harbor.

Chessie Dragon Paddle Boats What better way to explore the Baltimore Harbor than paddle boating in a giant dragon?! “Scotland may have ‘Nessie’ but only at the Inner Harbor will you spot a Chesapeake Bay ‘Chessie’ monster!” Great for some exercise and/or family entertainment. Sadly I missed this attraction as I visited in November and the boats were all docked. It still makes for a fun view of the harbor though! These dragons commanding the waterway will definitely put a smile on your face.



Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls I had my first lobster roll in Connecticut and have been a fan since then. As I was walking around the harbor area this place caught my eye. There was no one in the restaurant but found great service and great lobster. This East coast chain’s bread is nice and buttery and you get tons of lobster in your sandwich - soft, buttery, and chewy in the right bites. There’s outdoor dining if you want views of the water and more atmosphere. A quick lunch spot with good food!



Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor I was attending a conference at the convention center adjoining the hotel and absolutely loved the convenience of this modern hotel. It had great views, friendly staff, and was perfectly situated near the harbor and Camden Yards. I felt safe inside the hotel, though there were a number of homeless individuals outside in the evenings asking for money. I loved the keyless entry using my phone, though the elevator key was annoying at times. I also loved all the local touches like the bathroom mirror that says, “Why be less… when you can B’more.”



Edgar Allan Poe Grave & Memorial As a self-proclaimed literacy nerd, I had to take some time away from my conference to visit the resting place of Edgar Allan Poe, revered American poet. It has a certain kind of calm and quiet energy, but there was lots of wind in the trees and leaves blowing. Make sure you use your phone navigation as it’s a small church gate that leads you to the memorial. Visiting in November was perfect as the leaves were vibrant. It’s also a nice walk from the harbor area, moderately done.

Make sure you walk throughout the church cemetery, coming to this back area. Poe was originally buried in an unmarked area in 1849 but with the rise of fame from his stories, came advocates calling for a stone that you can find in the back of this lot made in 1913 (pictured on the next page). The larger monument at the front of the church was erected in 1875. The church gates weren’t added until 1910. Check out the Poe Society for more facts!



Edgar Allan Poe House One of my most anticipated stops but maybe my biggest disappointment. Seeing Poe’s Baltimore home is telling, but also much shorter than I thought it would be because of the space. I was also hugely disappointed in the “gift shop” items. I was expecting to walk out with a book or literary treasure. The home is extremely tiny in modern comparisons, though 3 floors. I was standing on the stairs to get the shot of the first floor here. It was extremely dark in and the lights didn’t make for good photo opportunities.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Third Floor Bedroom Perhaps the most creepy part of the tour is the final climb done while bending over to his bedroom area. Only one person at a time. There is a volunteer sitting in the area to help facilitate the area but almost makes it feel like you’re being watched in such small surroundings. It helps you imagine HOW Poe wrote what he did. I spent more on the Uber rides here and back that added to an expensive hour.

Barnes and Noble This national chain isn’t new to many travelers, but the Barnes and Noble store in the old Power Plant building in Baltimore Inner Harbor is a fun stop. Upon entering you’ll see some of the original structures, modified for bookshelves & shopping. I also really enjoyed their local author & stories section in the front along w/ some accessories that I’ve never seen at other stores before.



Alexandria, Virginia Travel Guide Click HERE

Washington, D.C. Travel Guide Click HERE

About the Author Brandy Alexander is an educator in the Houston area. Her passions include reading, training teachers across the country, going to dog parks with her rescue pup Ellie, and exploring this beautiful world. Where is Brandy began as a blog in 2009 when Brandy traveled across the country to New England, from Texas, on her own adventure. Her posts were merely to prove to her family that she was still alive. Now, she loves chronicling her journeys to help others maximize their own experiences when traveling, regardless of their circumstances!

Thanks for reading! Want more? Visit my website.

Thanks for reading! Want more? Visit my website.