Baltimore Convention Center – Experiences

Baltimore is divided into nine regions, covering 92 square miles, and within the central region is the Inner Harbor. This area of Baltimore is a huge tourist destination for the city. The Baltimore Convention Center, Oriole Park, and M&T Bank Stadium are just some of the cities main attractions. Up against the harbor are the National Aquarium, Top of the World monument for the World Trade Center, Baltimore Visitor Center, and MECU Pavilion. Heading even just a bit into the city around the Inner Harbor will lead you to spaces like the Power Plant Live and a handful of museums.

There are more museums, monuments, and public statues in Baltimore than any other city in the United States, so with so much to see just in the Inner Harbor alone, what is worth packing into a day of exploring? This is a one-day itinerary for anyone that will be visiting the Baltimore Convention Center.

These locations are all in a walkable distance from the Baltimore Convention Center as well as from one another. However, if you ever feel that you need to give your feet a break, there is public transportation around the city. In fact, the Charm City Circulator offers free bus shuttles around the city.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

Starting less than a mile from the Baltimore Convention Center, you will have breakfast at a local favorite, 3 Bean Coffee. Hopefully, you’re going out on a day that has clear skies because on a day like that you will be able to view the National Aquarium and city skyline across the harbor.

Baltimore Convention CenterThe mission of 3 Bean Coffee is to show how much they love coffee and their community by brewing you the best cup of coffee to help get your creative juices flowing for the rest of the day. Whether you’re sipping on a coffee or one of their specialty drinks, they want you to be completely satisfied with your order. For food, you can snag a yogurt parfait, pastry, or breakfast sandwich.

Right next to 3 Bean Coffee is your next stop, Federal Hill Park. As long as the weather is permitting, this is one of the perfect spots to get the best view of the city. At the top of the hill, you will find replica cannons. During the War of 1812 and the Civil War, this was a key defensive point for holding off the British. There are multiple statues within the park, such as U.S. Senator and Major General Samuel Smith and Lt. Colonel George Armistead. Stroll around leisurely and take in the history and the stunning view of the harbor and skyline for a bit before heading out.

Still within a mile from the Baltimore Convention Center and bordering Federal Hill Park, your third stop is the American Visionary Art Museum or AVAM. Make sure whatever food or drinks you had from breakfast are done because you cannot bring them into the museum. Also, no backpacks are allowed inside either.

AVAM is for self-taught and intuitive artists. While it is on the smaller side, there is still a lot of creative, explorative, and captivating pieces to view. Some of the permanent collection includes Giant WhirliGig, Recovery, Shining Walls, Painted Screens & Rowhome Theater, World’s First Family of Robots, and Horse Dress. Exhibitions are always being updated and can be viewed on the AVAM website. You can estimate spending about an hour to two hours in this museum.

 

Noon

Next, a 15-minute walk from AVAM is the Top of the World Observation Level. This is also still extremely close to the Baltimore Convention Center, less than a half mile. At harbor level, you will see the 9/11 Memorial. There are pieces from the World Trade Center and words that state, “Together we remember the people of Maryland who perished on 9.11. 2001.”

The 27th floor of the World Trade Center in Baltimore offers a panoramic view of the city. Stationed at the observation level are different maps and guides that will give visitors more information about the city. This is an excellent stop for first-timers to Baltimore.

Baltimore Convention CenterAfter that pitstop at the Top of the World, you’re off to the National Aquarium, which is just a two-minute walk away. The outside of this aquarium is eye-catching on its own, and you’ve likely been admiring it from across the harbor and atop the observation level of the Top of the World. Well, the inside is even more impressive! It is recommended to buy your tickets online ahead of time so you can skip long lines and make the most out of your time.

The National Aquarium is consistently ranked in the top three aquariums nationwide. This is Baltimore’s largest paid tourist attraction and rightfully so, as it is home to over 20,000 different types of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other marine mammals. Exhibits include Australia: Wild Extremes, Blacktips Reef, Dolphin Discovery, Jellies Invasion, Living Seashore, Shark Alley, Tropical Rainforest, and Amazon River Forest. The habitats are incredible and award-winning. You will feel fully immersed in the underwater world.

Rather than eating at the National Aquarium, visit a local favorite, Teavolve, for lunch. Teavolve is a 15-minute walk from the National Aquarium and the farthest you will be from the Baltimore Convention Center all day.

This cozy tearoom is a great spot to grab some comfort food for lunch and perhaps a cup of coffee or tea to re-energize. Teavolve serves over 30 varieties of loose leaf tea and healthy food options. For food, you will be able to choose from typical breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, crepes, salads, wraps, burgers, paninis, and entrees like salmon or shrimp and grits. They also have free Wi-Fi and the occasional live entertainment, so you may want to stick around for a bit and give your feet a little break.

 

Night

Eating at Teavolve will put you right in the Harbor East. If you head five-minutes back toward the National Aquarium, you will run into the National Katyn Memorial. This beautiful statue memorializes those killed by the Soviet Union in the 1940 Katyn Massacre. Baltimore’s Polish community played a major role in getting this monument built, and it is the tallest statue in Baltimore.

Around the National Katyn Memorial is the major shopping district of Harbor East. In this area, you will find stores like Under Armour, Anthropologie, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, Lululemon, Lush, Mac, and Sassanova. Spend the evening shopping around and trying on some new outfits.

Baltimore Convention CenterAfter shopping around, it’s time to take a 12-minute walk over to the Power Plant Live, which is less than a mile from the Baltimore Convention Center. Another option before heading to the Power Plant is to take a small detour along the harbor and snap some photos of the harbor during the sunset. This will be on the way to your last destination anyway, so why not capture the moment?

When you arrive at the Power Plant Live, we suggest grabbing dinner at the laid back Tin Roof. The food menu is top-notch. If you are with friends, you can get a shareable plate. For entrees, one option is street tacos, which can also be made into a shareable platter. Other entrees include quesadillas, like brisket and shrimp or Buffalo chicken, various sandwiches, such as the shrimp po’ boy or pulled pork sammy, and burgers. If none of those options appeal to you, you can make your own combination of a plate and two sides.

When you are done your dinner, stay in the Power Plant Live and head over to Howl at the Moon. This is a hip and high-energy bar that hosts live music and all-night dancing. As for drinks, there is a selection of beers and specialty cocktails available. Signature drinks are served in a bucket, and if you order a bucket, you get to take it home as a souvenir.

If your hotel is close to the Baltimore Convention Center, then ending at the Power Plant Live is a convenient location for you because you are only a 15-minute walk away. If dancing the night away tired you out, remember that there are public transportation and rideshare services available throughout the city. This day out exploring some of the major sightseeing attractions and favorite local eateries will give you a great taste for what Baltimore has to offer.