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Itinerary: An Arts and Culture Weekend
Itinerary: In Celebration of Women: Girls' Getaway
Itinerary: Intergenerational
Itinerary: An Arts and Culture Weekend
Theater, opera, museums, fine dining. You love the visual and performing arts and enjoy sampling local culture and cuisine wherever you go. Well, this May through March in Baltimore features a variety of special events, groundbreaking exhibits and unforgettable cultural experiences for In Celebration of Women.
Friday Evening
First, you'll want to check into the perfect accommodations for your cultural retreat. Consider a luxurious weekend at the Peabody Court in the heart of the Mount Vernon Cultural District. These luxurious quarters are a testament to the style of the 1920s, with a six-foot Baccarat chandelier and George Peabody's paneled library gracing the well-appointed lobby. Check out the special package they're offering In Celebration of Women.
After you've settled in to your deluxe room, you'll likely be ready for a special meal — and there are numerous options right on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. Whether you're looking for traditional Chesapeake Bay cuisine, an upscale ethnic experience or a more casual eatery, you'll find it all within easy walking distance.
Saturday
This is a great day for museum-hopping, with so many exciting exhibits, lectures and special events just for women — and all so close by! As a starting point, check out the provocative Femme exhibit of works by Louise Bourgeois' widely considered one of the world's most important and influential contemporary sculptors – at both the Walters Art Museum and Contemporary Museum in Mount Vernon.
Just a little farther uptown, the Baltimore Museum of Art is home to the stellar collection amassed by the art-obsessed Cone sisters. A remarkable collection of furniture, textiles, paintings, prints, decorative arts and works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Manet and Renoir form one of the premier collections of modern art in America - a not-to-be-missed attraction for female art enthusiasts.
For the evening's entertainment, check out what's playing at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where Marin Alsop was recently named to lead the world-class Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - the first female conductor of a major U.S. orchestra. Or, consider a performance at the Lyric Opera House, where you can enjoy the Baltimore Opera Company.
Sunday
If you have time for one more museum, make it the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture right at the Inner Harbor. Opened in June 2005, the East Coast's largest museum of its kind covers more than 350 years of struggles, triumphs and remarkable local history. In addition to the diverse range of artifacts and exhibits housed in its stunning galleries, the museum boasts a variety of special events In Celebration of Women - in a place that is truly a beacon of pride and inspiration for all people.
And if you haven't quenched your thirst for good shopping in all those great museum gift shops, you'll find plenty of unique galleries and boutiques up and down Charles Street. The Inner Harbor, just a 10-minute walk or quick cab ride away, also offers numerous possibilities for treasured keepsakes or a special gift for a friend back home.
In Celebration of Women: Girls' Getaway
Looking for a special place to gather all your gal pals together for a weekend of great culture and shopping, eating, pampering and all-around good-time girl time? Grab a friend or two, clear your schedules and spend a weekend exploring beautiful Baltimore—the perfect place to celebrate dynamic females as winter melts into spring!
Friday Evening
First, you’ll want to check into the perfect accommodations for your weekend bash. Why not swap stories and share secrets in a cozy room at a boutique bed-and-breakfast in the charming waterfront community of Fell’s Point? Whatever your mood or personality, Baltimore offers a wide selection of lodging—from cozy to chic and upscale.
Once you're settled in, treat yourself to a relaxing dinner at one of our many fine restaurants. Savor classic Chesapeake Bay fare or a traditional Baltimore crab feast. Or you may be up for sampling the ethnic offerings around town—from pasta in Little Italy to uptown Indian cuisine in the Mount Vernon Cultural District—just a short cab ride away from Fell's Point. Then relax with a drink, or head up to your room to rest up for the fun weekend ahead.
Saturday
If you’re looking to soak up the local culture, check out the works at both the Walters Art Museum and Contemporary Museum in nearby Mount Vernon. You might also consider the mega-exhibition—Race, Class, Gender ≠ CHARACTER—at the one-of-a-kind American Visionary Art Museum, just south of the Inner Harbor in Federal Hill. For an unforgettable and uniquely poignant experience, pass through Nancy Burson’s “Human Race Machine,” and watch your face gently morph into six different races.
Lunchtime brings numerous possibilities—check out the many fine restaurants and casual eateries at Harborplace and the Gallery, where you’ll also be tempted to peruse the fabulous array of unique boutiques and favorite national retailers—all right on the water.
Then consider an afternoon of pampering at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, where girlfriends can gather for a facial, manicure or body treatment. The Elizabeth Arden Spa is located at the tony Village of Cross Keys, which is a short cab ride, here you will find numerous shopping opportunities. Or relax with a massage from massagemartini.com or Monica's Salon Spa—the perfect prerequisite to a night on the town.
Evening dining options include Charleston (downtown), where widely acclaimed Chef Cindy Wolf works her magic with the finest regional ingredients. Or indulge in the modern fusion cuisine of sleek, contemporary IXIA (Mount Vernon) or the Italian delights at DaMimmo (Little Italy). All are run by women, and none will disappoint!
Depending on your mood, evening entertainment could include a show at one of Baltimore's renowned local theaters, like CENTERSTAGE, Everyman Theatre or Creative Alliance at The Patterson.
If you’re looking to make your own entertainment, embark on a pub crawl in Fell's Point, or belly up to the bar in nearby Canton, where the music and local flavor change from bar to bar. If you’re feeling especially energetic, round up the gang for a night of dancing at a local club—many options abound near the Inner Harbor, Power Plant Live! and Mount Vernon.
Sunday
After a leisurely brunch, consider a visit to the Jewish Museum of Maryland in nearby Historic Jonestown. Or check out the Baltimore Museum of Industry in Federal Hill, which offers a trip back in time with hands-on demonstrations from the charming museum staff. Who knew Noxema was created in Baltimore?
You can also stay right in Fell's Point for a daytime shopping extravaganza on Broadway Thames Streets—you’ll find a varied assortment of antique stores, original boutiques and only-in-Baltimore local curiosities.
Now it's time to head home, we hope with a few more memories, a handful of remarkable experiences—and a whole bunch of shopping bags! So wave goodbye to Baltimore, but don’t be too sad—we know you'll be back!
Looking for some quality time with mom? Or maybe some “girl time” with your daughter? Why not grab them both and spend a weekend in beautiful Baltimore? In Celebration of Women offers a variety of inspirational activities and special events that promise a good time for women and girls of all ages.
Friday
First, you’ll want to check into the most comfortable accommodations for your weekend together. Your best bet is one of the numerous hotels surrounding the Inner Harbor—just about everything you’ll want to see and do is just a short walk away, and you can’t beat the view.
If you’re ready for a good meal after you settle in, look no farther than the harbor area for a fine selection of classic Chesapeake Bay cuisine, ethnic specialties and casual eateries. If you’re up for a short walk or a quick cab ride, check out nearby Little Italy—with a wide selection of restaurants offering comfort-food classics as well as more contemporary choices, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
Saturday
Start your day at the Baltimore Visitor Center on the Inner Harbor’s West Shore, where our friendly staff can assist you with helpful suggestions and tickets to a variety of attractions. You might consider stopping first at the new continent in town—the National Aquarium in Baltimore recently opened its Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibit. Visitors go “down under” to a typical river gorge in Australia’s Northern Territory—the only place outside Australia you’ll see many of the exciting species dwelling there. Housed in a stunning crystal pavilion, the 1,800 individual native animals include laughing kookaburras, frilled dragons, rainbow lorikeets, giant fruit bats and Australian lungfish.
If you’re in the mood to shop, check out the varied assortment of antique stores, original boutiques and only-in-Baltimore local curiosities on Thames Street in Fell’s Point—this charming waterfront community is just a quick cruise away on Baltimore’s Water Taxi system.
Other options to fill your day include the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum—its new and expanded facilities and public programs offer a unique opportunity to experience the people, the culture and the legacy of American railroading at this internationally renowned historic campus. Or, if you have a little girl along for the weekend, Port Discovery, the Children’s Museum is sure to please. Offering three floors of interactive, educational exhibits and programs geared to children ages 2 to10 years old, this attraction appeals not only to the young, but also to the young at heart.
For your evening’s entertainment, check out what’s playing at the Hippodrome Theatre, a recently restored historic treasure that features a variety of shows and events, including traveling Broadway productions.
Sunday
If you’re worn out from yesterday’s entertainment, sleep in a little and then take a short cab ride up to Hampden for a Baltimore brunch at one of the quirky restaurants on 36th Street—“The Avenue” to locals. Immortalized by filmmaker John Waters, this quirky urban enclave boasts unique boutiques, fun restaurants and a glimpse of an authentic “Bawlmer” neighborhood, where everybody calls you “hon.”
If you’re looking to stay close to the harbor, you’ll find plenty of shopping at Harborplace and the Gallery, along with numerous dining choices. And if you’re looking to squeeze in just one more attraction, consider the USS Constellation, the last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy, now housed right at the Inner Harbor. Young visitors especially will enjoy the Powder Monkey Tour—a hands-on experience where kids can learn about the ship’s youngest crewmembers, who performed adult duties in Mr. Lincoln's Navy.
Time to leave already? But there’s so much more to do! Never fear! We’re always ready to welcome you back to Baltimore.
Top page photo courtesy of Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center