For a unique outdoorsy day trip or weekend getaway, how about a drive
to Baltimore to explore the Heritage Walk and Fells Point? It’s an easy, two hour ride from Philadelphia to the Inner Harbor. First, fortify yourself with iconic local cuisine. We headed to Phillips Seafood on the waterfront for lobster rolls, crab cakes and fries doused with seafood seasoning. A little pricey, but worth it.
Around Inner Harbor
Next, stop in to the Baltimore Visitor Center and pick up a Heritage Walk guide. It’s $5: a cheap alternative to paid walking tours, and you can meander. We strolled by docked historic ships to the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse. Hard to believe that a grown man could squeeze into its tiny lookout. As we headed east, we happened upon the somber National Katyn Memorial. The majestic sculpture is a tribute to victims of the 1940 Polish massacre by the Soviets. Nearby is a preserved Underground Railroad stop and a smallish Little Italy neighborhood.
Fells Point
We did a collective double-take when we approached Fells Point. This historic, hip neighborhood bore a striking resemblance to our hometown. There were cobblestone streets, renovated brick buildings, trendy eateries and scarce parking.
To clinch the comparison, there was a street festival celebrating pirates, and the arts, of course.
While cruising Thames Street, you should stop at The Horse You Came In On Saloon. It’s famous as the last watering hole Edgar Allan Poe visited before he died.
Shot Tower and a Museum First
To complete the heritage walk loop, head a few blocks north and west to the Phoenix Shot Tower. For over a century, workers dropped molten lead from the top to form a half million bags of shot a year. Our last stop was to pay homage to the Peale Museum built in 1814. It was the first building in North America specifically designed to be a museum.
This post covers only a few of the free highlights of a Baltimore walking tour. We’ve held on to our guide for a repeat visit.
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