Choose Your Own Adventure

From listening to a rare jazz recording at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum to playing cornhole at Union Craft Brewery, Baltimore has an endless supply of fun, stimulating experiences. Are you ready to explore?

Arts and culture buffs can lose track of time wandering our two world-class art museums or attending a cultural festival. (Check our events calendar at events.baltimoremagazine.com for dates and details.)

And remember that Baltimore is a haven for film aficionados—or, really, anyone who loves movies and wants to be entertained. Arthouse theaters like The Charles and The Senator show a mix of independent, foreign, classic, and blockbuster films, with special events for those who want to dig deeper into movie history and lore.

As a city established in 1727, several decades before the American Revolution, Baltimore offers a plethora of hands-on history lessons that bring bygone eras to life. You can walk the decks (and dungeons) of four historic boats in the area, learning lingo like frigate and sloop-of-war, and delve into such topics as navigation technology and torpedo-launching equipment. Likewise, you can watch a fife and drum demonstration or hear rangers recount the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry.

If you’re out and about in Baltimore with kids, Charm City doesn’t disappoint. They can play a few rounds of Kerplunk! at the Creative Alliance, get up-close with mesmerizing jellyfish at the National Aquarium, or serve imaginary customers in the ’50s-style Tiny Diner at Port Discovery. If they have energy to burn, you can let them run amuck across the city’s more than 4,000 acres of parkland and public space, chasing tennis balls or—in warmer months—splashing in the public pool at Patterson Park, clambering up the rock-climbing wall or jungle gym at Our Playground on 33rd Street, or traipsing the trails to search for mammoth trees at Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park.

And if you’re looking to just chill and test your palate on fine food and drinks, the city has you covered. With plenty of new, post-pandemic restaurants open and running, from the seasonal eatery Foraged on North Charles Street to the Parisian-inspired Bluebird Cocktail Room in Hampden, options flourish to develop your abilities to discern that hint of roasted fennel in your sunchokes or, well, that subtle note of malt and hops in your Natty Boh.

Below, our City Guide is your gateway to adventure, right here in Charm City. What are you waiting for?

BALTIMORE FARMERS MARKET AND BAZAAR 400 E. Saratoga St. Show up early every Sunday (April to December) to soak up the infectious energy of Maryland’s largest farmers market. Pick from an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, and meats, while browsing a robust selection of plants, home furnishings, clothing, and bath and body products. Oh, and make sure you grab a mouthwatering, hot-out-of-the-oven doughnut.

HISTORIC SHIPS IN BALTIMORE HARBOR 301 E. Pratt St. Climb aboard to explore historic ships firsthand, from the last all-sail ship of the U.S. Navy, the U.S.S. Constellation, to the World War II-era U.S.C.G.C. Taney and the Lightship 116 Chesapeake. Don’t miss the U.S.S. Torsk, the gray submarine painted to mimic a fierce shark. While on board, you can stretch out and experience the all-too-tight sleeping quarters for yourself. (No thank you!)

UNION COLLECTIVE 1700 W. 41st St. When you patronize a business at the former Sears warehouse, you know you’re supporting local. At this uniquely curated mix of independently-owned shops, you can play cornhole in the beer garden of Union Craft Brewing, enjoy charcuterie and live jazz at the Wine Collective, savor a coffee mocktail and baklava at Vent Coffee Roasters, and more.

THE AVENUE IN HAMPDEN 36th St. This main drag in the northern Baltimore neighborhood of Hampden has it all: eclectic boutiques, vintage clothing stores, antique markets, yoga studios, coffee shops, a wine bar, pizza dives, and farm-to-fork restaurants. Originally built to provide homes for millworkers along the Jones Falls Mills, today’s Hampden is a sought-after destination for hipsters and foodies.

THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM 600 N. Charles St. Spanning more than seven millennia, from 5,000 BCE to the 21st century, the permanent collection of The Walters Art Museum offers an aesthetic journey through time—with no admittance cost. Awaken your senses and curiosity as you explore ancient Roman sarcophagi, richly illuminated Qur’ans and Gospel books, serene images of Buddha, and more. Then reflect on what you’ve seen over drinks, snacks, salads, and sandwiches in the much-loved Walters Café.

REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM 830 E. Pratt St. Journey through 400 years of African-American history and culture in Maryland as you examine authentic artifacts, art, and objects ranging from slavery documents to jazz recordings, political buttons, and photographs.

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 35 Market Pl. An ultimate kid mecca, Port Discovery’s interactive exhibits and programs may be designed for kids under age 10, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an adult who can truly keep their cool in the face of recent additions, such as a life-size cargo ship and the four-story SkyClimber (complete with fake clouds, thunderclap sound effects, and a twisting slide). Look for the Playhouse, a new immersive theater exhibit, that opened this summer.

THE AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM 800 Key Hwy. This eccentric museum is anything but hoity-toity. While its sparkly mosaic façade, created by at-risk youth in Baltimore, draws people in, the AVAM’s multiple floors and buildings of “outsider” art keeps them coming back. Plus, you can easily spend an hour skimming all kinds of obscure and bizarre knick-knacks in the wonderfully weird gift shop.

THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM 501 E Pratt St. Every Baltimorean likes to brag about the aquarium. It inspires fanfare from visitors all over the globe, and seriously, what other aquarium has a tropical indoor rainforest with monkeys and sloths? With more than 20,000 aquatic critters (including the much-loved jellyfish), a stories-high shark tank, and an amazing dolphin show, you may just have to drag the kids out the door to leave.

MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY 1415 Key Hwy. What was originally an 1860s oyster cannery is now the site of a seriously fascinating exploration of Baltimore’s industrial legacy. Bring your questions and curiosity, as you see and touch artifacts from the past and hear stories of the people, businesses, and inventions that thrust Maryland into the 21st century.

THE MARYLAND ZOO 1 Safari Pl. A day spent monkeying at the zoo never gets old for the young or young at heart. In fact, we’d argue that one of the best parts of being a kid in these parts is growing up with a world-class zoo down the street. The excitement of interacting with more than 1,500 majestic animals—including the largest African penguin breeding colony in North America— means the kids will be decently tired by day’s end, too.

MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER 601 Light St. Where else can you be greeted by towering dinosaurs? If you’re on the fence about science’s “fun” factor, you’ll need no convincing after a day at the Science Center. Your mad scientist (and inner science geek) will have an absolute field day with three levels of fascinating exhibits, an IMAX theater, planetarium, rooftop observatory, and an abundance of lively demos.

B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM 901 W. Pratt St. Travel back in time to explore one of the oldest, most comprehensive railroad collections in the world. Parents can breathe a sigh of relief at the B&O: It’s not a museum where you have to be the “don’t touch” police. Train enthusiasts of all ages will get a thrill from climbing aboard a train to play conductor, and there’s also an indoor play space with toy trains galore.

RAWLINGS CONSERVATORY AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 3100 Swann Dr. Delight in nature’s finest as you meander through the kaleidoscope of colors on view in the conservatory’s five greenhouse rooms and outdoor garden. See flora and fauna from the rainforest to the desert, and don’t miss the exquisite Orchid Room, with more than 30,000 species of orchids.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART 10 Art Museum Dr. Free admission to the BMA gets you pretty far—hands-on art workshops, special gallery tours, and drop-in activities for kids are all in abundance. Plus, their Family Audio Tour, available via iTunes, is great for keeping youngsters engaged, thanks to some lively narration by Henri Matisse’s dog, Raodi, and his friends. For adults looking to hob-nob without kiddos around, check the events calendar for Art After Hours details.

THE CHARLES THEATER 1711 N. Charles St. As the oldest theater in Baltimore, this former streetcar barn is now an art house multiplex attracting movie- lovers from near and far. You can catch a mix of first-run specialty films, foreign films, cinema classics, operas, and even Hollywood blockbusters. For uber film fans, check out the Cinema Sundays Club for post-film discussion and guest speakers.

THE SENATOR THEATER 5904 York Rd. Netflix may be a godsend during the pandemic, but nothing beats getting dressed up for a night at the theater. And The Senator is no ordinary theater: Built in 1939, this award-winning Baltimore icon invites visitors to “step back in time and get lost in the movies.” This Art Deco marvel shows both new movies and classics and is the perfect outing for a rainy day (or just because).

BENGIES DRIVE-IN THEATER 3417 Eastern Blvd. Middle River. Prefer to stay in your sweats, but also itching to get out of the house? You can have your cake and eat it too with a night at the drive-in. Everyone will have a blast kicking it old-school at the largest remaining outdoor movie screen in the country.

PIERCE’S PARK 701 E Pratt St. Located downtown, just minutes from the National Aquarium, this one-acre oasis is a kid’s dream come true. The options for imaginative play are endless: Children can explore a living willow tunnel, interact with a musical fence, and climb on locally created sculptures. If you need to sneak in some work while the kids run amok, you’re good to go with free wireless internet from the Pier 5 Hotel.

FORT MCHENRY NATIONAL MONUMENT & HISTORIC SHRINE 2400 E. Fort Ave. History lessons don’t get much richer than a visit to the site of the flag that inspired our national anthem. Adults and kids alike can catch a reenactment or roam the historic site, get some fresh air, and gain a different appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy today. Or just savor the water views in the park-like setting.

LAKE ROLAND PARK & NATURE CENTER 1000 Lakeside Dr. Lake Roland Park & Nature Center offers a rare slice of wilderness right in the middle of Baltimore—some might even call it a sanctuary. The 500-acre park, particularly cherished for its phenomenal bird-watching, also boasts a playground, indoor nature center, children’s fairy garden, and various hiking and biking trails to explore.

CREATIVE ALLIANCE 3134 Eastern Ave. Music performances, art shows, stand-up comedy, free family drop-in art programs: This multifaceted arts organization has it all. Kids will have a blast soaking in the arts and creating masterpieces of their own, and ample free street parking is a nice perk. Round off your visit with a stroll or playground romp in Patterson Park, which is just down the block.