DISCOVER BALTIMORE! FROM CULINARY DELIGHTS TO NEW LUXURY HOTELS!

By: Christian Stan

There’s more to see, do and explore in Baltimore than ever before. Baltimore has experienced one of the largest millennial booms in the nation and the resurgence is vibrantly visible in the city’s eclectic neighborhoods, marked by new food halls, breweries, and boutiques popping up around every corner.

The centerpiece of downtown Baltimore has always been the world-famous Inner Harbor, but 2017 brings new developments and experiences to the waterfront including the opening of the new Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Fell’s Point, the Sagamore Spirit distillery in Port Covington and Light City, a free public festival of light, music and innovation. This urban renaissance combined with Baltimore’s rich history, architecture and world-class museums makes for an incredibly authentic, yet new, visitor experience.

Baltimore’s Exploding Culinary Scene

Baltimore has a reputation for fresh seafood—especially its Maryland blue crabs—but the city’s culinary scene has transformed into a must-visit destination with high-end and inventive eateries consistently opening throughout all of its neighborhoods. There’s a reason Zagat named Baltimore the No. 2 Food City in the U.S.  With the opening of R. House and revitalization plans for Lexington Market and Cross Street Market, as well as Mount Vernon Marketplace and Belvedere Square, Baltimore’s food hall scene is booming with dozens of dining and gathering options under each single roof.

Baltimore’s Story is America’s Story

In Baltimore, you can trace America’s journey to independence through the War of 1812 when soldiers, stationed at Fort McHenry, defended the city from British attack and Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner”, which became the national anthem. Visit the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House to see the home where Mary Pickersgill sewed the flag that inspired Key. Baltimore is also home to the modern railroad thanks to the Baltimore & Ohio railroad being built here in the early 19th century and at the B&O Railroad Museum you can see the first piece of track ever laid. Tour the last all-sail Civil War ship still afloat in the United States, the USS Constellation, and climb the Washington Monument, the nation’s first monument dedicated to the first president. Whether you want to trace Edgar Allen Poe’s old stomping grounds or learn more about sports legend Babe Ruth’s birthplace, history comes alive before your eyes when you visit Baltimore.

“BMore” Fit

Baltimore has an incredibly rich sports history and has produced legendary athletes throughout the decades from Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Jr. to Johnny Unitas, Carmelo Anthony and Ray Lewis. Not to mention the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps! Back in 1995 when Michael was still perfecting his fly stroke, one man had the idea to revolutionize the way athletes perform and that idea has changed the landscape of the athletic apparel industry. 20 years later, Under Armour’s Baltimore based headquarters continues to attract health conscious millennials and creative minds whose influence is quickly turning Baltimore into an active fitness destination.

Baltimore Neighborhood Guide

Baltimore is known as a city of neighborhoods with more than 200 of them, all with a unique history and feel. Each one reflects Baltimore’s unique and quirky personality easily experienced through restaurants, historic sites and attractions, shops and architecture.

Dine Around the World in Baltimore

Planning to travel overseas to expand your palate? Save your miles and reduce your carbon footprint. Baltimore welcomes cultures from across the globe with its expanding culinary scene – take your palate on an international journey with a guide to worldly dining in Baltimore.

Family Friendly Fun in Baltimore

With so many kid-friendly attractions in the Inner Harbor, plus historic monuments and museums offering unique children’s programs, Baltimore is an ideal vacation spot for the whole family. The city’s location on the East Coast and proximity to a major airport make getting here simple, but the great deals and discounts at local attractions, hotels and restaurants are what really draw the crowds. Check www.baltimore.org/special-offers to find ways to save money and have fun, and don’t miss the National Aquarium’s Living Seashore touch pool, military reenactments at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, and the hands-on science laboratory at the Maryland Science Center among others.

African American History and Heritage in Baltimore
Baltimore derives much of its personality, history and culture from the diversity of its people. By the early 1800s, when slavery was still a legal institution in the United States, African Americans found freedom in Baltimore, forming one of the largest “freed” communities in the country.. Home to greats like Billie Holliday, Frederick Douglass and Eubie Blake, There is no better way to experience Baltimore’s deep-rooted African American story than with a visit to any one of the city’s many celebrated African American museums and heritage sites, guided tours or the annual African American festival.

Upcoming Festivals Events

HONFest

June 10-11

Towering beehives, cat’s-eye glasses, pink feather boas galore! The “Bawlmer” term of endearment, “Hon”, short for Honey, embodies the warmth and affection bestowed upon Baltimore’s neighbors and visitors alike by the historic working-women of Baltimore. HonFest is an annual celebration and local tradition in honor of these women. Enjoy live music, classic “Bawlmer” foods and Hampden’s eclectic merchants, and indulge your bouffant-craving inner Hon at the Glamour Lounge.

Artscape

July 21-23

Every summer, for three days in July, thousands of visitors of all ages flock to Baltimore to attend Artscape, the nation’s largest free outdoor arts festival. Gathering in outdoor tents, exhibition spaces and various performing arts venues throughout city neighborhoods, attendees will enjoy a vast array of visual arts as well as live arts ranging from Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concerts to dance, opera and theater performances.

Baltimore Book Festival

Sept. 22-24

The Baltimore Book Festival features hundreds of appearances by local, celebrity and nationally known authors, book signings, more than 100 exhibitors and booksellers, nonstop readings on multiple stages, cooking demos by top chefs, poetry readings, workshops, panel discussions, storytellers and hands-on projects for kids, live music, and a thoughtfully curated  food, craft beer, and wine program.

Charm City Fringe Festival

Nov. 3-13

Celebrating five years of cutting-edge, original indie theatre and arts in this 11-day long festival with a multitude of venues, artists, companies, and a whole series of “Fringe After Dark” events.

NOTE: We would like to thank for the support of our attendance to IPW 2017  to the US Embassy in Bucharest, US Commercial Service.