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[odessa]

I will be traveling to a conference in the Baltimore area later this month and I will have most of Saturday and Sunday morning available to look around.  (My return flight leaves BWI mid-afternoon on Sunday.)

Does anybody have any suggestions for how I could use that 24 hour period for a little R&R?

Some parameters: 

I'm not particularly interested in going into DC.  I'm willing to rent a car for the day.  I'm a history buff (although most definitely not a historian.)  I spent a few hours in Annapolis many years ago and thought I might like to try and get back there.  Also, I'd enjoy spending Saturday night in some neat Inn or B&B and am willing to spend some money to do it.

I am open to suggestions.  Thanks in advance.

[anisogamy]

Apparently I have food on the brain:
Peter's Inn (Fell's Point): Beautiful steaks and grits, thoughtfully-prepared meals, great bathroom art
Pazo (Fell's Point): Tapas, including great steak tartare and sunflower seed crackers
Jack's Bistro (Canton): Fare on the funky and playful side, nice mac & cheese & chocolate + lavender peppercorn ice cream
Brewer's Art (Mt. Vernon): Well-prepared American food, treasured local brewery
Blue Agave (Federal Hill): Excellent Mexican food & Tequilaria
Club Charles (Station North, a little north of Mt. Vernon): If you still need a cocktail after any of the above

For sleeping:
Admiral Fell Inn (Fell's Point): I've never stayed there, but apparently it's a nice place to sleep if you're willing to lay out the dough, and you'll be right in a cobblestoned historic district.

The Inner Harbor is a tourist trap, but the Water Taxi has nice views.

[madhatter]

I second the rec for Pazo's. Or, if you want to do the crab thing, Bo Brooks is a nice choice. The water taxi is a good ride, and the Inner Harbor (though overrun by the usual chain stores and restaurants) is worth visiting. Skip the stores and visit the National Aquarium instead, or just go to the area for lunch -- it's an easy walk to Pazo and Fell's Point from there.

[onthefringe]

The water taxi is nice, and the aquarium is great.

I loved the Walters Art Museum (http://thewalters.org/about/) which has some great stuff, and all the earmarks of having started life as a personal collection (actually two).

Baltimore has some great quirky museums as well : National Great Blacks in Wax; the National Dental Museum (which is a Smithsonian affiliate). I've heard good things about the American Visionary Arts Museum (which features art by "self taught visionaries") though it is after my time, and I didn't make it there last time I visited.

Last time I was there I fell in love with the gelato at Pitango in Fell's Point. And I still dream about grad student breakfasts at Pete's Grille In Charles Village, though I don't know if they'd hold up to a more adult perspective...

[docmama]

I really love the American Visionary Arts Museum.  Greg's Bagels is awesome, as is Matthew's Pizza.  Second the recommendation for Brewer's Art, too. 

I really miss Baltimore.

[stickball]

This won't be in any tour guide you might read, but for the best steak and cheese (buried in fried onions, of course...) sub outside of Philly, make your way to Dundalk and find Captain Harvey's.  It's take-out only, but you can sit by the docks there and eat.  A true hole-in-the-wall dump, but great greasy subs.  If you're into that kind of thing.

[stickball]

And here's their website!!  Who knew...?  http://captainharveyssub.com/

[bioteacher]

The National Acquarium at Baltimore is very very good. And the harbor area has a lot of other stuff, too.

[nanoputian]

For history-related sites, there is Hampton National Historic Site near Towson, as well as some other historic houses/sites downtown (Mount Claire and Homewood House Museum come to mind, but I'm sure there are others). Fort McHenry National Historic Site is a fun half-day adventure, and if you want to explore history on foot there is a 3ish mile walking tour all around Baltimore that takes you past some of the old buildings and sites. Google "Baltimore Heritage Walk" and you should be able to find the website. The walk can be self-guided or I think on weekends there are free guided tours as well.



 

[quotiazelda]

I agree that the Walters is amazing. Right now, the Archimedes Palimpsest is there, and that is so, so cool. I'm also rather fond of the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the restaurant at the museum is quite good.

I know many people say that The Helmand has declined in quality over the years, but I've had some truly delicious meals there. From a DC perspective, Woodberry Kitchen is the hot restaurant right now. And onthefringe is right - the gelato at Pitango is fantastic.

[onthefringe]

I know many people say that The Helmand has declined in quality over the years

This makes me sad if it's true -- I loved The Helmand and remember the pumpkin with garlic sauce and the Aushak (Afghani ravioli) with great fondness.

[odessa]

Oh my, you people are serious foodies!  This is wonderful.  Thank you.  I need to Google some more of these places.

Madhatter, I completely forgot about doing "the crab thing" in that part of the world.  Thanks for the reminder and the recommendation.  And fabulos gelato at Pitango - got it, thanks, Onthefringe.  Stickball, I love hole-in-the-wall type places.

The Baltimore Heritage Walk looks like a possibility and I'm intrigued by the Admiral Fell Inn.  I need to check into that. 

Bioteacher, I think I need more time.  I've been so focused on the idea of the history that I haven't considered other options like the Aquarium.  Hmmm.

[lotsoquestions]

If you were looking to go somewhere, look around and spend Saturday night, why not Williamsburg, VA?  Not that far away by car and lots of relatively cheap hotels -- certainly lots of history, and good food!

[anisogamy]

If you were looking to go somewhere, look around and spend Saturday night, why not Williamsburg, VA?  Not that far away by car and lots of relatively cheap hotels -- certainly lots of history, and good food!

Williamsburg Virginia is nearly 4 hours away from Baltimore.  In good traffic, Williamsburg Brooklyn is closer.  I'm confused by the suggestion.

But I'll third (fourth?) the earlier endorsement for Pitango.

[hmaria1609]

Enoch Pratt Free Library is worth a look.