A change of scenery may be closer than you think. Just a short drive from Annapolis, Baltimore offers enough attractions, restaurants, shops, and waterfront activities to make an ordinary summer day feel like a getaway.
You can cheer on the Orioles, meet the Maryland Zoo’s newest residents, escape the heat inside a museum, browse independent shops and finish the day with a memorable meal—or a perfectly crafted cup of coffee. Whether you’re planning an outing with the kids, entertaining visitors or simply looking for something different to do, Charm City has plenty to fill a day or an entire weekend.
Things to Do
Catch an Orioles Game
Few summer outings feel more distinctly Baltimore than an Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Sunday home games are particularly family-friendly. Through the Orioles’ Family Sundays program, children ages 4-12 can run the bases after the game. Select games may also include giveaways, mascot appearances and other activities. Ticket prices vary by game and seat location, so check the Orioles’ schedule for current availability and promotions.
Meet the Red Pandas at the Maryland Zoo
Red pandas Aurora and Ember are now welcoming visitors to a new habitat in the Maryland Zoo’s Main Valley. The exhibit includes climbing structures, a waterfall, a pool, and specially designed air-conditioned logs to help the cold-climate animals stay comfortable during Maryland summers.
The zoo is also home to mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians from around the world. Much of the park is devoted to the African Journey area, where visitors can see elephants, lions, giraffes, and other animals. Free on-site parking makes the zoo an especially convenient Baltimore day-trip destination.
Discover Unconventional Art
For an art museum that is anything but traditional, visit the American Visionary Art Museum near Federal Hill.
The museum celebrates work by self-taught and intuitive artists through colorful exhibitions that blend art with science, humor, philosophy, and social issues. The unusual pieces and imaginative displays can appeal even to visitors who do not typically consider themselves art museum fans.
The museum’s eclectic Sideshow shop can also be visited without purchasing museum admission.
Indoor Family Fun
Explore the National Aquarium
The National Aquarium is a reliable option for escaping the summer heat while exploring habitats filled with sharks, dolphins, jellyfish, tropical fish, and other marine life.
Timed-entry tickets are recommended, particularly during weekends and other busy periods. Budget-conscious visitors can take advantage of Half-Price Friday Nights, when admission is discounted after 5 p.m. The aquarium also offers early-access First Saturday and First Sunday programs for guests with disabilities.
Visitors can also explore the aquarium’s free Harbor Wetland, an outdoor floating exhibit between Piers 3 and 4 that recreates a tidal salt marsh in the Inner Harbor.
Let the Kids Lead at Port Discovery
Port Discovery Children’s Museum offers three floors of hands-on activities for young visitors.
Children can create art, pretend to captain a ship, climb through indoor play structures and explore interactive exhibits throughout the building. General summer hours are typically 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., although hours may change for special programs and events. Advance tickets are recommended because walk-in availability can be limited.
Experiment at the Maryland Science Center
The Maryland Science Center combines hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater in one Inner Harbor location.
Visitors can investigate dinosaurs, physics, engineering, space, mathematics, electricity, and the human body. The center is generally open Tuesday through Sunday, with longer hours Friday through Sunday, but visitors should review the current schedule before making the trip.
Explore the Waterfront
The harbor is more than a backdrop for Baltimore’s attractions, it can be part of the day’s adventure.
The Baltimore Water Trolley operates seasonal routes connecting waterfront destinations such as the Inner Harbor, Harbor East, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Locust Point, and Fort McHenry. Routes and operating days vary throughout the season, so check the current timetable before planning your day.
Baltimore’s free Harbor Connector also provides weekday transportation between select waterfront locations. Because the service is primarily designed for commuters, visitors should review its stops and schedule in advance.
Prefer to remain on land? Take a walk along the waterfront promenade, enjoy the harbor views, or use the path to connect attractions and neighborhoods.
Shopping
Visit the Under Armour Flagship Store
Sports fans and fitness enthusiasts can visit Under Armour’s flagship store at Baltimore Peninsula, formerly known as Port Covington.
Located near the company’s waterfront campus, the store carries athletic apparel, shoes and accessories, including new releases and familiar Under Armour favorites. Check current operating hours before visiting.
Browse Harbor East
Harbor East offers a walkable mix of national retailers, specialty shops, restaurants and waterfront views. Stores include Alo, Anthropologie, Bonobos, Charm City Run, Free People, J.Crew, Lululemon, Patagonia, and others.
Shop, Dine and Explore Baltimore’s Neighborhoods
Some of Baltimore’s best finds are located beyond its largest attractions. The city’s neighborhoods are filled with independent shops, restaurants, galleries, and small businesses carrying art, clothing, vintage finds, vinyl records, books, locally made products, and Maryland-themed gifts.
Because small businesses may keep limited or changing hours, especially early in the week, check individual locations before making a special trip.
Fells Point
Belgian block streets, historic buildings, and waterfront views give Fells Point plenty of character. Locally owned boutiques, gift shops and specialty retailers sit alongside restaurants, cafés and pubs, making it easy to spend an afternoon browsing and eating near the harbor.
Hampden
Centered around West 36th Street, better known as “The Avenue”, Hampden is one of Baltimore’s most colorful shopping districts.
Its independent businesses offer an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, antiques, records, artwork, home décor, gifts, and locally made goods. Murals, distinctive row homes, and a wide range of restaurants add to the neighborhood’s quirky personality.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon combines grand historic architecture with museums, galleries, restaurants, cafés, and independent shops. It is a good choice for visitors who want to pair shopping or dining with art, culture, and history.
Canton
Canton offers a mix of waterfront recreation and neighborhood businesses. Visitors can explore the restaurants and shops around Canton Square, spend time at the waterfront, or follow the promenade toward Fells Point and the Inner Harbor.
Federal Hill
Historic row homes, locally owned shops, and a busy restaurant scene make Federal Hill another destination that can fill an afternoon or evening. The neighborhood is also home to Federal Hill Park, which offers sweeping views of the Inner Harbor and downtown skyline.
Dining
Sample the Vendors at Lexington Market
After a day of exploring, head to Lexington Market, one of Baltimore’s best-known historic food destinations.
Its vendors serve everything from seafood and fried chicken to sushi, breakfast, baked goods and boba tea. The market and its individual merchants may follow different schedules, so check vendor hours before making a special trip.
Find Family-Friendly Food Around the City
Baltimore has plenty of casual spots that work well for families and groups. Options include Guilford Hall Brewery, Peabody Heights Brewery, The Outpost, and R.House.
For a meal with an activity built in, Mustang Alley’s combines food and drinks with duckpin bowling. Neighborhoods including Fells Point, Canton, and Federal Hill also offer numerous restaurants with patios and outdoor seating.
Check each location’s current hours, reservation policies and age restrictions when planning your visit.
Fuel Up at a Local Coffee Shop
Baltimore’s coffee scene offers plenty of opportunities to slow down between activities—or start the day with something more interesting than a drive-through cup.
Independent cafés can be found throughout the city, each with its own atmosphere and specialties. Options include Artifact Coffee, Daily Grind, Good Neighbor, Vent Coffee Roasters, and others. Some pair coffee with books, records, local artwork, pastries, breakfast, or lunch, making them destinations in their own right.
Try choosing a coffee shop near the neighborhood or attraction you plan to visit. A café stop can provide a welcome break from the heat while giving you another way to support a Baltimore small business.
Getting Around and Parking
Baltimore’s attractions are spread across several neighborhoods, so it helps to group destinations that are close together rather than driving from one side of the city to another.
The National Aquarium, Port Discovery, and other Inner Harbor attractions can be combined into one walkable outing. The Maryland Science Center, American Visionary Art Museum, and Federal Hill are also near one another. Fells Point pairs naturally with Harbor East or Canton, while Hampden and Mount Vernon are better treated as their own destinations.
Parking garages and paid street parking are available throughout downtown and the waterfront neighborhoods, but rates, hours and restrictions vary. Check each attraction’s website for recommended garages and possible parking discounts. For example, Port Discovery offers discounted parking through a nearby partner garage, while the Maryland Zoo and B&O Railroad Museum provide free on-site parking.
Comfortable shoes are a good idea, particularly when exploring Fells Point’s uneven historic streets or walking between Inner Harbor attractions.
Allow extra travel time when the Orioles are playing, during festivals, and whenever major events are scheduled downtown. Purchasing timed attraction tickets and reserving parking in advance can also make the day easier.
Summer schedules can become busy, and high temperatures can make planning more complicated. Fortunately, Baltimore offers enough indoor attractions, outdoor adventures, neighborhood shops and dining options to build an outing around almost any forecast. With a little planning, a short drive from Annapolis can lead to an entirely different summer adventure.
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