Visiting Baltimore - What to See and Do

(Baltimore, Maryland - MD, USA)

The city of Baltimore is located 35 miles from the US's capital city of Washington DC and it is the largest city in the state of Maryland. Baltimore's name is derived from George Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore, who was the founder of the original Maryland Colony.

Situated on the eastern coast of the US, Baltimore is a major port city that also contains a large harbor area. Even though the city isn't one of the country's main tourist destinations, visitors to Baltimore have a wealth of activities and sights that will entertain and educate.

Ten things you must do in Baltimore

• Visit the National Aquarium for an impressive display of an Atlantic coral reef. The aquarium is also home to around 10,000 aquatic animals.
• Take a look at the magnificent architecture and massive stained glass windows at the Basilica of the Assumption, located in the Mount Vernon area. This historic cathedral has been standing for nearly 200 years and is one of the country's oldest.
• Relax in the vast Robert East Lee Memorial Park. Visitors can sit by the massive lake and pavilion or make use of the jogging and walking paths.
• Get involved in the hands-on projects and displays at the Maryland Science Center. This impressive building and facility is home to family-oriented attractions as well as an IMAX theater and a planetarium.
• Ride on some of the classic trains of days gone by at the B&O Railroad Museum, located at Mount Clare Station. Gaze upon the bygone era of rail travel and enjoy displays showcasing more than 200 preserved pieces of railway equipment.
• Marvel at the scale and quality of the works of art on show at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Displaying about 100,000 traditional and contemporary art pieces, the galleries here include works by famous artists such as Warhol, Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin and Matisse.
• Visit Baltimore's most famous and popular tourist destination, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, famous for inspiring the lyrics to the American National Anthem during the 1814 battle that took place here.
• Travel on the Harold and Selma Taylor African Journey at the Maryland Zoo for an African safari experience. Founded in 1878, the Maryland Zoo contains animals from around the world.
• Journey to the Baltimore home of one of America's most precious sporting heroes, Babe Ruth. This legendary baseball star's home has been transformed into the Babe Ruth Museum and contains many displays and artifacts.
• Visit one of Baltimore's landmarks, which is also one of its oldest museums, having been founded in 1927. A tour of the Star Spangled Banner Flag House will give you an insight into the life of Mary Young Pickersgill, who made the massive Star Spangled Banner flag that was used at Fort McHenry in 1812.