Fells Point Maritime Museum

Fells Point is one of the oldest maritime communities in the US, and some of Baltimore’s oldest homes can be seen lining the cobblestone streets.

Visitors come to this area for the relative calm of the place, and for the bars, shops, and to relax.

The Fells Point Maritime Museum recalls the history of Fells Point and its shipbuilding.

For more information on the museum, phone 410/732-0278, or visit www.mdhs.org

Inner Harbor

he Inner Harbour of Baltimore has become a major tourist attraction, with a waterfront promenade, the National Aquarium, museums, and much more. Daily the Harbourplace Street Performers entertain the crowds with their antics, and Saturday nights see free performances of the best local and regional bands. For information on the Harborplace Summer Concert Series, phone 1-800-HARBOR1. Contacts for the Inner Harbour are Harborplace, 200 East Pratt Street, 4th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, Phone: 410-332-4191 Fax: 410-547-7317.

Web: www.harborplace.com

Mount Vernon

The Mount Vernon Cultural District is a place where cultural riches are strewn throughout one of the most pleasant and attractive urban areas of the US. Parks with statuary, fountains, and flowers, art museums, colleges, concert halls, symphony orchestras, all go to make up the colourful cultural mix.

For more information on Mount Vernon Cultural District, 217 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201, phone Tel. 410-244-1030, or visit www.mvcd.org/index.cfm

B&O Railroad Museum in Mt Clare Station

Located at 901 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, this is one of the best attractions of Baltimore, with an impressive collection of more that 150 locomotives and rolling stock on the 40 acre grounds. Damaged in the 2003 President’s Day snowstorm, the historic B&O Railroad is presently closed, but will re- open in November 2004. Admission - Adults - $14.00, Seniors (60+) - $10.00, Children (2-12) - $8.00, Children Under 2 - Free PARKING - FREE off-street, on-site parking.

For more information phone 410-752-2490, or go to www.steamlocomotive.com/bomuseum/

Baltimore Art Museum

10 Art Museum Dr, located at N. Charles St. and 31st St, North of Downtown, this excellent museum is renowned for it’s Matisse Collection, of the impressionist and modern art that was brought from Paris in the 1920’s by Claribel and Etta Cone. The museum has, amongst all its other collections, a 2.7-acre sculpture garden with major works by Henry Moore, Alexander Calder and others. Admission $7 adults, $5 seniors and students w/ID, free for ages 18 and under, free admission on 1st Thurs of the month.

For more information phone 410/396-7100, or go to www.artbma.org

National Aquarium in Baltimore

501 E. Pratt St, located on the harbor, Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium in Baltimore is one of the finest in the country. After seeing sharks, dolphins, coral reefs, and other marine life, visitors can go to the roof of the aquarium and enjoy the warmth and colour of the Amazon River Forest, with its brightly coloured birds and creatures of the heat. Admission $17.50 adults, $13 seniors, $9.50 ages 3-11.

For more information phone 410/576-3800, or visit www.aqua.org

Federal Hill

Federal Hill Park, Battery and Warren Avenues, Baltimore, pack a picnic lunch, grab the kids, and your dog, if you have one, and climb the big hill overlooking the Inner Harbour for magical views that impressed locals ever since they first set foot in Baltimore. There is a fenced in playground for children.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shr

E. Fort Ave, Inner Harbor. The buildings of the star-shaped Fort McHenry are those that endured the 1814 British attack. The enormous 30 by 40 ft flag with 15 stars and stripes, is raised daily at 9.30am and visitors are invited to watch the ceremony, and hear the short historical talk on the flag, or the fort, by rangers. In mid-September, the Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, recalls the British Attack on the fort. Visits to the park outside the fort are free. Admission to the fort is $5, free for children under age 17.

For more information phone 410/962-4290, or visit www.nps.gov/fomc

The Preakness

Held annually in May at Pimlico Racecourse, Hayward and Winner Avenues, Baltimore, Maryland 21215, USA, this is one of the biggest sporting events in the country, and combined with Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes forms part of racing's distinguished Triple Crown. Gates open 8.30am and the first race is at 10.45am.

For more information phone (+) 1 410 542 9400, email info@marylandracing.com or visit the Jockey Club at www.laurelpark.com

Artscape

Held annually in July at Baltimore’s Cultural Centre, Mount Royal Ave, the free Artscape family festival has 150 performing, literary and visual arts programmes, in an all-round family celebration of the arts

With every kind of music from jazz to gospel, soul to new-age, and for the more cerebral, opera and chamber, Artscape offers something for everyone. Street theatre and visual arts exhibitions, as well as national and international dance troupes, are some of the attractions at this immensely popular festival.

For more information contact the organisers at 21 S Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA, phone (+) 1 410 396 4575,

visit www.artscape.org

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