Things to do in Maryland
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Blue Agave
Agave's does hip, upscale Mexican food, but it's not pretentious; a Midwestern family would feel as welcome here as a clique of New York socialites. The pork carnitas platter is heavenly and the margaritas could knock out a horse.
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Vaccaro's Pastry
After a lovely Italian dinner, head to Vacarro's for the best desserts and coffee in town. The cannoli are to die for, and the gelato and tiramisu are divine.
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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Assateague Island, a beautiful 37-mile-long island off the eastern shore of Maryland, preserves a rare stretch of undeveloped seashore, one of the most pristine and picture-perfect spots on the mid-Atlantic coast. As an undeveloped barrier island, it provides a sharp contrast to the overdeveloped beach resorts that dominate the coast. Besides its natural appeal, the island is home to a legendary herd of wild ponies, whose dramatic silhouettes race across the dunes. The National Park Service manages most of the protected national seashore; the southern end of the island is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. A bridge accesses the northern portion of the island, but r…
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Camden Yards
The Orioles’ baseball park, Camden Yards, occupies an entire city block west of the Inner Harbor. It was the first ‘retro’ ball park, which reconciled Major League Baseball’s need for more space with fans’ nostalgia. Painted baseballs on the sidewalk lead two blocks northwest to the birthplace of a baseball legend; it’s now the Babe Ruth Museum (410-727-1539; www.baberuthmuseum.com; 216 Emory St; adult/child $6/3; 10am-5pm), which pays homage to one of the sport’s all-time greats. It’s open to 7pm on Orioles’ game days.
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Three Centuries Walking Tour
A costumed docent will lead you on a Three Centuries Walking Tour, a great introduction to all things Annapolis. The 10:30am tour leaves from the visitor center and the 1:30pm tour leaves from the information booth at the City Dock; there's a slight variation in sights visited by each, but both cover the country's largest concentration of 18th-century buildings, influential African Americans and colonial spirits who don't want to leave. The associated Pirates of the Chesapeake Cruise is good 'yar'-worthy fun, especially for the kids.
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Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
The Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine is one of the most visited sites in Baltimore. This star-shaped fort was instrumental in saving the city from the British Navy in the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. After a long night of bombs bursting in air, prisoner Francis Scott Key saw the tattered flag still waving, and the national anthem 'The Star-Spangled Banner' (set to the tune of a popular drinking song) was born.
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Faidley's
Here's a fine example of a place that the press and the tourists found out about long ago, yet whose brilliance hasn't been dimmed by the publicity. Faidley's is best known for its crab cakes, in-claw meat, backfin (body meat) or all lump (the biggest chunks of body meat). Tuck in at a stand-up counter, a cold beer by your side, and know happiness.
The surrounding neighborhood is a bit rough, but safe enough during daylight hours.
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Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum was home to Baltimore's most famous adopted son from 1832 to 1835. It was here that the macabre poet and writer first found fame after winning a $50 short-story contest. After moving around, Poe later returned to Baltimore in 1849, where he died in mysterious circumstances. His grave can be found in nearby Westminster Cemetery.
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USS Constellation
Ship-lovers should consider a visit to the Baltimore Maritime Museum, which offers ship tours aboard a Coast Guard Cutter, lightship and submarine. The highlight of the Inner Harbor is the separately operated USS Constellation, one of the last sail-powered warships built by the US Navy. A joint ticket gets you on board all four ships and the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse on Pier 5.
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Baltimore Maritime Museum
For manufactured aquatic wonders, visit the Baltimore Maritime Museum, which consists of a lighthouse (admission free) and four US Naval vessels that visitors can tour. These include a 1930s double-masted lightship, a submarine, a warship that saw action in Pearl Harbor and, most impressive of all, the three-masted 1854 USS Constellation.
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Delaware Seashore State Park
South of Dewey, DE, on Rte 1 is this 10-mile-long, half-mile-wide peninsula with a long, straight clean beach. Stop at the park office (302-227-2800; 8am-4:30pm) to pick up information about pontoon boat tours, hiking trails and guarded swimming areas. The Indian River Inlet Marina (302-227-3071; Rte 1), west of the park office, charters fishing boats.
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US Naval Academy
This is the prestigious undergraduate college of the US Navy. The visitor centre conducts tours and has interactive exhibits, but most visitors come to see the formation daily at 12:05 sharp. This is when the 4000 midshipmen and midshipwomen conduct a 20-minute military marching display in the plaza around their massive dormitory - it's bracing stuff.
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American Visionary Art Museum
One of the most distinctive museums in Baltimore is the American Visionary Art Museum, on the south side of the harbor. This avant-garde gallery showcases the raw genius of ‘outsider’ artists: broken mirror collages, a maniacally embroidered last will, a giant model ship constructed from toothpicks, and other oddities.
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Edgar Allan Poe's Grave
Acclaimed author Edgar Allan Poe lies under a 1.8m (6ft) white obelisk in this churchyard. A literary giant whose horror novels continue to inspire authors and film-makers, Poe settled in Baltimore in 1831 and died in 1849. An admirer decorates Poe's grave with roses and a bottle of cognac every year on the anniversary of his birthday (19 January).
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Coburn's Tavern & Grill
At first glance, Coburn's looks like any other British/Irish pub in Canton: hardwood floors, exposed brick, sports on TV. But that's where the similarities end. The food is delish, from the burgers to the fish and steak dishes. Our favorite was the Captain's Toast appetizer: shrimp and crab sautéed with tomatoes, cream and Old Bay seasoning.
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B&O Railroad Museum
The Baltimore & Ohio railway was (arguably) the first passenger train in America, and the B&O Railroad Museum is a loving testament to both that line and American railroading in general. Train spotters will be in heaven among more than 150 different locomotives, the most comprehensive collection in the country.
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Obrycki's
Despite its somewhat touristy reputation, Obrycki's remains one of the city's best seafood restaurants. The menu is heavy on Maryland's most famous critter: blue crabs, including crab soup, crab balls, crab cakes, steamed crabs and soft-shelled crabs, meaning that Obrycki's is only open during crab season, ie March to November.
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C&O Canal National Historic Park Visitor Center
The C&O Canal National Historic Park visitor center chronicles the importance of river trade in eastern seaboard history. The park's protected 185-mile corridor includes a 12ft-wide towpath/hiking and bicycling trail and maintains six visitor centers, the first in Georgetown and the last one here.
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Washington Monument
For the best views of Baltimore, climb the 228 steps of the Washington Monument, a 178ft-tall Doric column dedicated to America's founding father, George Washington. It was designed by Robert Mills, who also created DC's Washington Monument. The ground floor contains a museum about Washington's life.
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State House
The country's oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, the stately 1772 State House also served as national capital from 1733 to 1734. The Maryland Senate is in action here from January to April. The upside-down giant acorn atop the dome stands for wisdom. Photo ID is required upon entry.
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Brewer’s Art
In a lovely early-20th-century townhouse, Brewer’s Art serves delicious Belgian-style microbrews to a laid-back Mount Vernon crowd. You can enjoy tasty pub fare in the bar or enter the heritage dining room in back for innovative grilled meat and seafood dishes. Head downstairs for a more raucous atmosphere.
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Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & 1812 Museum
For a dose of American nostalgia head to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & 1812 Museum. It opens the home where Mary Pickersgill sewed the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key’s Star-Spangled Banner poem. Today, it's haunted by creepy wax soldiers from the War of 1812.
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National Aquarium in Baltimore
The National Aquarium in Baltimore put the city on the map as a tourist destination when it opened in 1981. Stretching seven stories high over two piers, its tanks house more than 10,000 marine animals, including sharks, rays and porpoises, plus dolphins in the Marine Mammal Pavilion.
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Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial
At the City Dock, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial marks the spot where Kunta Kinte - ancestor of Roots author, Alex Haley - was brought in chains from Africa. Haley won the Pulitzer Prize for his epic masterpiece, which begins with Kinte's landing. Bring along some bread to feed the ducks.
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Maryland Historical Society
With more than 5.4 million artifacts, the Maryland Historical Society houses one of the largest collections of Americana in the world, including Francis Scott Key's original manuscript of the 'Star-Spangled Banner.' A new permanent exhibit traces Maryland's maritime history.
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