Hi! Megan, your MD/De rep and blogger at Soup of the Day blog, here!
One of the things I love the most about living in the North East is how close I am to everything! Living in Baltimore I am less than an hour from Washington DC, three hours from NYC, two hours from Philadelphia and two hours from the Eastern Shore. I love that I can make a quick day trip to any of these places and see what they have to offer!
I’m also a believer in word of mouth. I work for Yelp Baltimore and love the idea of people share the good and the bad about the places they visit. I will always follow a blogger who actively posts about their city so I can learn more about the places I should visit and the things I should do.
Soooo…let’s say you have a Saturday coming up and have no plans. Maybe a day trip to Baltimore should be penciled into your planner.
I love the Inner Harbor and spend quite a bit of time there myself, but so does everyone who visits. You want the inside scoop right? Well I’m going to tell you the best way to spend 12 hours in Baltimore that doesn’t include the harbor. We will start in Canton (a neighborhood outside of the city) and work our way across the harbor and over to Federal Hill (where I live!).
Breakfast in Canton
Breakfast is the best way to jumpstart your day! You will definitely want to check out THB Bagels on Boston Street for some of the best doughy and perfectly seasoned bagels I’ve ever had. The line gets pretty long on the weekend around 9-10am so make sure you stop by around 8am for the freshest bagels and a yummy cup of iced coffee.
Walk in the Park
Patterson Park is one of the biggest parks in Baltimore and can cause one to forget that they are even in the city! I love their paved paths which are good for walking or jogging. They also have a rec center, a pool, and two dog parks if you want to bring your furry friends along!
Lunch in Fells Point
Fells Point is one of the prettiest places in Baltimore, in my opinion. The cobble stone streets really remind you how old this city is. There are plenty of cute little shops, art galleries and antique shops along the water.
Check out Woody’s Rum Bar & Island Grill for lunch. They are hard to find if you don’t know where you are going since they are located above Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream shop. There’s a door on the side of the building that takes you to a staircase that takes you up to Woody’s. Make sure you grab a table by the windows and enjoy the view of the Harbor. Their Jamaican Jerk Marinated Chicken Tacos are almost as good as the view!
Little Italy
As you head towards Federal Hill you will pass through Little Italy. I highly recommend stopping at Vaccaro’s and getting a cookie box to go. Their Nutella cookies and Pizzeles are so buttery and delicious.
Dinner in Federal Hill
The day is starting to wind down so I recommend going straight to Federal Hill. The walk to the top will get you hungry for dinner, but the view at sunset is something everyone has to experience. Federal Hill is my happy place in the city. I like to go to the top and look at the city- reminding myself that there are over half a million other people out there sharing the city that I have fallen in love with.
Once the sun has set I suggest you make your way over to Sobo Café (don’t forget to make a reservation!) for dinner. Everything on their menu is made from scratch and they use only the freshest ingredients. The staff are super friendly and welcoming so make sure you let them know it’s your first time to Charm City! Sobo makes the best chicken pot pie and one of the juiciest burgers I’ve ever tasted, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.
Night Cap
Your visit is winding down and you have to make the trip back home so I think a night cap is in order…a night cap of the dessert variety (helllllo you’re driving home). Pop across the street to Afters Café and get a cup of their Nutella Frozen Yogurt and pile on the toppings.
Baltimore has been known to have a bad reputation but we are called Charm City for a reason. Stop by for a day and we will show you why.
