Busy Baltimore

Once a busy light-freight and passenger port, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has been redeveloped in recent decades into a thriving tourist, commercial/retail and residential center that teems with activity day and night. From our berth in the secure Inner Harbor Marina Center, the panorama included the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Museum, Visitor Center, USS Constitution, SS Torsk submarine, dozens of restaurants, retail shops and a mall, street performers, paddle boats, water taxis, Ritz Carlton Residences and other condos built on the site of former working piers – and some awesome people-watching.

A morning trolley tour gave us a whirlwind overview of Baltimore’s neighborhoods (Polish, Irish, Italian, etc.), architecture and history, including the site of Edgar Allen Poe’s grave. We toured the SS Torsk, the last sub to sink a Japanese warship in WWII, and marveled that the crew could exist in that narrow tube – often underwater – for months at a time. We visited Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write “The Star Spangled Banner” during a battle with the British Navy during the War of 1812. Attempts to visit the National Aquarium were thwarted by long lines and long wait times, a la Disney World, and we’re just too old for that! Margaret and Jon did enjoy a morning’s visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art for an excellent Cezanne exhibit.

Denise and Kevin Donohue, Judi's sister and brother-in-law, took us to Dalesio in Little Italy (phenomenal warm gorgonzola salad dressing!) and Ryleigh’s Irish pub (warm crab pretzels, a local specialty) for fine neighborhood dining.

Heads spinning from sights, sounds, walking, history, retail therapy and the constant motion of the Inner Harbor promenade, we departed Sunday morning eager for a quieter locale.