I am going to see Balitmore Vs. Sox

[drowninginflame]

Any reccomendations for Balitmore?

[whitesoxin']

Be sure to go to the inner harbor I think it is. Lots of good food, shops, and entertainment. When I went to Baltimore, it was the weekend before opening day and Maryland was in the final four, so it was a happening place. I liked it when I was there, but there are also some bad spots. The aqarium seemed to be really popular, but we didn't go because the wait was too long.

[Guest JimH]

Any reccomendations for Balitmore?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, ok. I will take a stab at it. Really guys, there just happen to be questions about cities I've spent a lot of time in.

 

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Camden Yards is a gorgeous park, and of course I always recommend you take a tour of the ballpark itself. Almost all teams offer tours of their newer stadiums, they'll have info on the Orioles website.

 

The area where the stadiums (baseball and football) are located is called the Inner Harbor. There's a huge number of stores, shops, restaurants, bars, etc. right there on the water, it is a prime tourist attraction. You'll have no trouble whatsoever picking out a good place to eat/drink/spend money.

 

Also within walking distance of Camden Yards is Babe Ruth's boyhood home, they charge a small entrance fee but it's very cool and well worth it ... lots of baseball memorabilia, etc.

 

One thing you should definitely do is take the water taxi from the Inner Harbor area over to another neighborhood called Fells Point. Fells Point is the old historic harbor area and there's no better way to get there than by water taxi, which costs about $4. You'll travel right by the huge new National Aquarium, which is also very interesting, sort of like Shedd Aquarium on steroids. Over in Fells Point, you'll find a very eclectic selection of bars and restaurants, with an emphasis on fresh local seafood. Try a place called Bertha's Mussels, everyone will know where it is. They have a great beer selection and the seafood isn't too expensive and it's very good. Fells Point is an excellent nightlife area too ... a personal favorite is a place called the Wharf Rat, you won't miss it, everyone and anyone can guide you. Fells Point is limited in hotel choices and it'll be kind of pricey. Just put Fells Point into Google, I believe that area has its own website.

 

Downtown Baltimore is nothing special and I would describe it as kind of gritty, but there's one place maybe about six-eight blocks from the Inner Harbor area you really should go to, it's called the Lexington Market, go there for breakfast or lunch. If you like seafood, fresh and cheap, this is the place to go. We had oysters, clams, soft shell crab sandwiches, and crab cakes ... the best I've ever had. Go all the way in the back of the Lexington Market to a place called John Faidley Seafood ... that's the best place. It's a slice of Baltimore and a wonderful place for lunch, and not too expensive as I said.

 

There are numerous downtown hotels which should offer weekend deals, and actually that's your best bet. You really do not need a car if you're confining yourself to the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, etc. Just get a cab from the airport or other suitable transportation.

 

Oh, another area in between Inner Harbor and Fells Point that's a great place to go is Little Italy (seems like every city has one). It's about a 6 block square stretch and just stick your nose in a few places, and choose accordingly. They all post their menus outside anyways. In Little Italy, there's a good brewpub called Baltimore Brewing Co. (go figure), we liked it. There's also a huge sports bar in Little Italy, can't remember the name but it was quite the place.

 

When we went, the Orioles and Colts old stadium, Memorial Stadium, was still standing, it's about a 15 minute cab ride uptown, there's not too much else around there as it's basically in a residential neighborhood ... or should I say "was". Memorial Stadium has been demolished, I don't know if they have some sort of historical marker, etc. but I suspect they do ... the people of Baltimore really loved Memorial Stadium. It might be worth checking with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to see if it's worth going there ... if you're just paying for a cab ride to see a vacant lot, well, it's probably not worth going.

 

Now that I think about it, we stayed at the Days Inn downtown Baltimore, we got a weekend deal and it was a clean, basic place ... and we were pretty much able to walk the 5-6 blocks to the Inner Harbor and took the water taxi to Fells Point. Then, late at night we would just cab it back to the Days Inn, about a 10 minute ride, not too steep.

 

If you plan to go to Washington DC or venture outside Baltimore, you will of course need a car. DC is about 40 miles away.

 

Hope this helps ... enjoy!

[jackie hayes]

A lot depends on where you'll be staying, how long you'll be there, if you'll have a car, etc. So more details would help. Recommendations for what?

 

The Inner Harbor is the city's tourist trap, which isn't entirely a bad thing. Restaurants are okay, but it's kind of the same old same old -- except they serve crab cakes. Little Italy and Fells Point are both pretty close, there are some good restaurants/bars there. If you have a car, then you could go to Matthew's Pizzeria (Patterson Park area) or the Brewer's Art (Mt Vernon -- upstairs restaurant is pricey, bar downstairs is good barfood, beers, best fries in Baltimore), both of which I love.

 

Mt Vernon is a nice, very old area in mid-Baltimore. Worth a visit if you have free time.

[drowninginflame]

We're leaving early thursday morning by car to hit Cleveland to see the rock and roll hall of fame; it's only five hours from Chicago.

Then on to Baltimore for the night, which is only another five hours away from Cleveland. The Friday night we're going to the game, which I got badass tickets off stubhub for a reasonable price.

Then we plan on spending sat & sun in DC then leaving monday and back to work on tues or weds.

[YASNY]

JimH is the Soxtalk resident travel advisor.

[elrockinMT]

JimH is the Soxtalk resident travel advisor.

 

 

I was impressed. JimH have you ever been to Denver? I am going June 7-8 to see the Sox.

[Guest JimH]

I was impressed. JimH have you ever been to Denver? I am going June 7-8 to see the Sox.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes, Denver is great. The Coors Field area is where you want to be , that's called LoDo (lower downtown) http://www.lodo.org . That area is fun, all sort of restaurants and bars at every price level. Two great places guys like: LoDo's Bar and Grill, and the Sports Column. Both are great sports bars in the shadow of the ballpark. I also highly recommend the Breckenridge Brewery right across the street from the ballpark.

 

The Larimer Square area is nearby http://www.larimersquare.com , more of a short cab ride but you can walk it if it's nice ... which I'm sure it will be. It's about 6 square blocks and there's a bit of an upscale feel to it, both in terms of shopping and restaurants (the wife loved it). Of particular note is the Wynkoop Brewing Co. - they have great happy hour deals and several of their beers are tasty. It is one of the oldest brewpubs in Colorado, I recall going there for the 1st time in 1991.

 

You'll probably drive thru Boulder on the way down ... great university city, just stroll up and down the main drag and soak in the atmosphere and scenery ... natural and otherwise . Even if I were staying in Denver I'd spend a whole day in Boulder, it's fantastic. In addition to several great brewpubs, Boulder is also home to a thriving wine industry ... there are a few you can taste/tour.

 

I think the U.S. Mint in downtown Denver has started doing tours again http://www.usmint.gov , if you're with a youngster or a teenager it's a great place to go. The Coors tour in Golden (suburban Denver) is free and informative, that's maybe 20-25 mins. west of the ballpark area. There's a gorgeous old hotel in downtown Denver called the Brown Palace Hotel, great place to have a drink in the well known Ships Tavern, which opened right after Prohibition in the 30's. Good place to take a woman, there's piano entertainment most nites and it's nice but not too upscale. It's on 17th St. not too far from Larimer Square.

 

Another great place I recommend for dinner is a Denver original (can you tell I don't like chain places?) called the Buckhorn Exchange http://www.buckhorn.com . This place has been around for over 100 years and is loved by Denverites. They have kind of an old west set up, and great food like ribs, buffalo burgers, and even some interesting things like elk, etc. Not dirt cheap but not that expensive either. A real slice of Denver. I think they are also open for lunch, can't recall for sure.

 

Another fun activity for kids (old and young) is to take a tour of the Hammonds Candy Factory http://www.hammondscandies.com , as I recall it's outside the main downtown area but their chocolate is fantastic.

 

As for places to stay, you have every choice there is. Personally I would stay near the LoDo / Larimer Square area, but you'll have a car so anywhere on the outer thruways would be fine too. I loved the Brown Palace, I got a deal somehow someway, can't remember, but it wasn't cheap. If you are taking a wife/girlfriend though ... you will be a hero, it is well known and well loved by people in Denver.

 

If you want more specifics, just PM me. I'm trying to remember all the restaurants and such but I more clearly remember the areas of the city, and a few of the historic places which I tend to favor.

 

Hope this helps you out.

Edited May 28, 2005 by JimH