Flights to Baltimore
 

Baltimore is an important seaport with a rich and colorful history that dates back to the birth of our country, especially during the American Revolution when it was the site of vital shipbuilding operations. The U.S. Navy’s first ship, the USS Constellation, was launched from its harbor in 1797, and it remains anchored today at Inner Harbor as part of the Historic Ships in Baltimore attraction. Our national anthem originated in Baltimore when Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the “The Star Spangled Banner” when the British tried to take Fort McHenry, now a national monument and history shrine, during the War of 1812.

Fell’s Point is a charming waterfront neighborhood of 18th and 19th century homes and storefronts named for the English founder of the shipbuilding business that produced the Baltimore Schooner. This is a good place to find restaurants serving exceptional Chesapeake Bay cuisine. Speaking of cuisine, in Baltimore the Chesapeake blue crab is king. No visit is complete without feasting on a pile of steamed crabs or sweet, meaty Maryland style crab cakes. You can wash it down with a local beer by Union Craft Brewing, Heavy Seas or Flying Dog Brewery.

There is no excuse for skipping your workout when traveling through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Named the No. 1 airport in the U.S. by Thrillist.com, it boasts a 12.5-mile trail that winds through green spaces and forested areas around the facility. There are also bike rentals, a fitness center with showers, a meditation room and a children’s playground.

The bi-level airport has five concourses serving most major national airlines, including Delta Air Lines, as well as international and regional airlines. 

There are a wide variety of dining options, ranging from fast-food favorites like Chipotle and Chick-fil-A to full-service restaurants such as Silver Diner and R&R Seafood Bar. Shops run the gamut from duty free stores and Hudson News to M.A.C. Cosmetics and Victoria’s Secret.

  • Free daily shuttle service is provided to the MARC/Amtrak station around the clock.
  • MTA light rail service is available to downtown Baltimore, Timonium, and Hunt Valley. The station is located on the lower level by Concourse E.
  • MTA bus service is available on the #75, as well as the #107 during weekday peak hours.
  • RTA provides transportation to various locations throughout Central Maryland.
  • WMATA provides express bus service to the Greenbelt Metro Station that connects to stations throughout the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, Montgomery ,and Prince Georges counties.
  • The free Parking Shuttle provides transportation to and from the Long-Term A and B parking lots and the Daily Garage.
  • Taxi stands are located on the lower level outside baggage claim
  • Free shuttle service is provided to the rental car facility; passenger pickup is on the lower level.
  • Uber, Lyft and other other app-based transportation services pick up passengers on the Departures/Ticketing level between doors 9 and 11.

Spend the day at Inner Harbor, a popular hub of tourist attractions including the National Aquarium; Port Discovery Children’s Museum; Maryland Science Center with IMAX theater and planetarium show; Cruises on the Bay; and Historic Ships in Baltimore, featuring four ships -- USS Constellation, USS Torsk, USCGC Taney, Lightship 116 Chesapeake -- and Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse.

Sports lovers will want to watch the three-time World Series-winning Baltimore Orioles play at Oriole Park in Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore. Football fans can check out the NFL Baltimore Ravens during gridiron season at M&T Bank Stadium, aka Ravens Stadium.

Immerse yourself in Baltimore’s African-American history and culture by visiting the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum, and the James E. Lewis Museum of Art.

Explore the Bromo Tower District in Downtown West, home of Lexington Market, the oldest continuously operating public market; the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum; and the Bromo Seltzer Arts tower where you can visit artist studios as you climb to the top. Catch a touring Broadway show at Hippodrome Theatre or a local theater production at Everyman Theatre.

It doesn’t get any more luxurious than The Ivy Hotel, a mansion with 18 guest rooms and suites appointed with gas fireplaces and heated bathroom floors. Some even have balconies and views of Mount Vernon. Another upscale option is the Lord Baltimore, an historic downtown hotel established in 1928 and completely renovated in 2014.

For a waterfront experience, consider a boutique hotel like Henderson’s Wharf, located in a former tobacco factory next to the marina in Fell’s Point, or the Inn at the Black Olive, a 12 room, all-suite, environmentally conscious hotel with geo-thermal power, energy-saving lights, and organic restaurant.

If it’s an intimate B&B you want, historic Wilson House is a stunning brick, Victorian townhome built in 1880 that boasts 12 elegantly appointed bedrooms, two parlors, eight fireplaces, a library and a sunroom.

Unique overnight stays on a boat, in a boathouse, or a modern loft in an historic building can be found through Airbnb.com.Unique overnight stays on a boat, in a boathouse, or a modern loft in an historic building can be found through Airbnb.com.

Baltimore weather is warm in the summer, with average highs in the mid to high 80s, and quite cold in the winter, with average lows in the high 20s and low 30s. You can expect between eight and 11 days of precipitation every month, so be sure to pack some rain gear no matter when you go. And if you visit in January or February, be prepared to encounter a substantial amount of white stuff. Baltimore gets about 20 inches of snow on average every year.