There are few more scenic trips to enjoy than a visit to Baltimore in the United States. The location has been one of the fastest-growing tourist locations in the U.S. in recent years, with a reported 27.5 million people visiting the area in 2023 for overnight and day trips.
That number of a record-high for tourism, beating pre-COVID numbers of 26.9 million, according to Visit Baltimore. But, what are the sights that all visitors to the area must see to ensure that they put together a perfect itinerary for a trip to Baltimore?
Fort McHenry National Monument
No trip to Baltimore is complete without a trip to Fort McHenry National Monument, which is considered to be one of the most important historical sites in the United States.
The location had a key role in the War of 1812, as it was the location to successfully defend the Baltimore Harbor from an attack from the British Navy. The fort was constructed in 1798 and was used by the U.S. armed forces throughout the First World War.
It was later re-designated as a U.S. National Monument in 1939. Fort McHenry was also the inspiration for the Francis Scott Key poem ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’, which later inspired the words in ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.
Federal Hill Park
A must on any itinerary for a trip to Baltimore should include a walk around Federal Hill Park. The location is a signature landmark in the city, and offers scenic views of some of the most famous sights in Baltimore.
Visitors can look across the Inner Harbor, and picture the Northwest Branch of Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River. It is also within walking distance of Fort McHenry, meaning that you can get a perfect vantage point of one of the city’s most famous locations at the park.
Baltimore acquired the hill as public property in the 1880s, and it was used by the Union Army during the Civil War. However, it was later established as a public park, and it is maintained by the Department of Recreation and Parks.
Pimlico Race Course
For sporting fans, there are few more historic locations in the city of Baltimore than Pimlico Race Course. Nicknamed ‘Old Hilltop’, the venue has hosted the prestigious second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown since 1873.
Despite being overlooked in favour of the Kentucky Derby by mainstream audiences, the Preakness was actually run for the first time two years before the inaugural race at Churchill Downs.
The Preakness Stakes is one of the most important sporting events on the Baltimore calendar, and tickets for the big at Pimlico typically sell out in record time. There have been some famous winners of the race throughout history, but perhaps none more so than Secretariat, who won the Preakness in a track record time in 1973.
The Preakness Stakes is the only Grade One event on the calendar at Pimlico, but there are also major races staged at the track in the forms of the Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, and the Miss Preakness Stakes.
You can find more information here: https://www.twinspires.com/preakness-stakes/odds/
National Aquarium
If you are a lover of sea animals, then Baltimore is the place to be. The city plays host to one of the biggest aquariums in the United States, with unique animals able to be located at the establishment.
The National Aquarium opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1981, and it has quickly become the most popular tourist attraction in the state of Maryland.
On average, around 1.5 million visitors pass through the entry annually, and you will be able to find over 17,000 specimens from over 750 species at the location. A number of unique exhibitions can be found at the National Aquarium, which includes a multiple-storey Atlantic Coral Reef.
There is also an open-ocean shark tank and a must-see Australia: Wild Extremes, which was awarded the ‘Best Exhibit’ award at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums awards in 2008.
Mount Vernon
One of the must-see neighbourhoods in Baltimore comes in the form of Mount Vernon. The bustling area has something for everyone, and it is named after George Washington’s estate in Virginia.
The area is located between Eager Street and the Jones Falls Expressway. Visitors are able to get around easily due to the Light RailLink line, which runs throughout the whole area.
There are number of institutions that can be found at Mount Vernon, including the Maryland Center for History and Culture, and the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. It is also a major party location, especially when the Pride Weekend is held.
Mount Vernon has been the main gay village in the area since the 1970s, and the Pride Center of Maryland can be located in the neighbourhood, with their headquarters having been located in the area since 1977.
