Baltimore, one of Maryland’s prettiest coastal cities, is an easy weekend getaway from DC or Virginia, but also worth the trip from much further away. The Inner Harbor is an area with shops, ships, and fish and chips. You could hit up the Hard Rock Cafe with the kids or shop ‘til you drop for a girls weekend. Or combine history and sports at Camden Yards for an Orioles game complete with a hot dog and peanuts in the retro park. At its heart, Baltimore is a laid-back city ready to entertain everyone from students to families to retirees.

The Inner Harbor is filled with historic ships to explore. The USCGC Taney is the last surviving warship from the attack on Pearl Harbor. You can tour the barracks, the bowels of the ship, and the navigational area. Take a few minutes to learn about and remember Pearl Harbor at the model of Pearl Harbor exhibit. You’ll find the USS Torsk in the harbor as well. The Torsk is a submarine from World War II; kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy crawling through the small, watertight doors down below as you learn about the history of the vessel and how the crew lived. The USS Constellation is another historic (and kid-friendly) highlight as it is the last Civil War era ship that still floats and was the last sailing ship (without any engines) built by the U.S. Navy. In the morning, a few luck passengers get to help raise the American flag on this historic vessel.

Fort McHenry is famous for defending Baltimore from the British during the War of 1812. It was after this battle the Sir Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, the poem, which has since become the American national anthem. The fort has been restored and is an excellent attraction that tells about that historic battle as well as the fort’s later role as a prison during the Civil War.

In Baltimore, you’ve got to sample the crab. It’s a traditional favorite and served almost any way you can imagine. Simple steamed crab preserves the flavor of a tasty Chesapeake Bay crab and is great with a cold beer on a hot day. Other faves are crab cakes and crab bisque. In addition to crab, you’ll have plenty of good seafood options like coddies. Coddies are a codcake sandwich with mustard and are a traditional Baltimore specialty.

Seafood not your style? Then it might be time to head over to Little Italy. You’ll find seafood here, but also simple pastas with tomato sauce, hearty portions of chicken parmesan and meaty lasagnas, plus wonderful desserts like tiramisu.

The Lexington Market is a fun place to explore whether you’re looking to make a picnic, dine at one of the restaurant stands there, or grab a few culinary souvenirs to bring home. Faidley’s, located in Lexington Market, is a Baltimore institution and the perfect place to grab a coddie.

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