going to baltimore maryland

[glenn1]

yes there is a Metro but not sure where it ends in relation to Baltimore. I would take the metro otherwise you will spend all your time driving around D.C. looking for a place to park

OP can also take a bus service like Megabus from BAL-DC. MARC doesn't run during non-rush hours so if OP wants to leave between say 9-3 he'd be SOL relying on MARC.

The Metro Rail is the local 'subway' and only runs to the first-ring suburbs. Whereas the MARC train includes intra-city routes like DC-BAL. This should help, the first is the Metrorail map which you'll use once you're already in DC, the second is the MARC map which you can use to get from Baltimore to DC.

 

[eng2d2]

I would like to checkout the white house, capitol, lincoln memorial and monument. Is this possible?

I have been to cape canaveral so is the space musuem at smithsonian necessary?

 

[Blackjack200]

yep, traffic around here BLOWS. thankfully i changed my schedule once my son was born in march, so i miss all of that shit. makes the work days so much better.

I didn't even know that was possible. I had to drive down 95 to North Carolina in May and figured I'd get an early start to beat traffic. I hit the beltway at 6:00 AM and still sat for like an hour.

 

[glenn1]

I would like to checkout the white house, capitol, lincoln memorial and monument. Is this possible?

I have been to cape canaveral so is the space musuem at smithsonian necessary?

The one at the old Dulles terminal is much better than the Air & Space downtown on the mall.

http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/

 

[mnewsham]

I would like to checkout the white house, capitol, lincoln memorial and monument. Is this possible?

All of that is fairly easily accessible once you are in DC.

Seems like your biggest hurdle will be figuring out the trains between DC and Baltimore.

 

[Leyawiin]

I took a week's vacation in DC several years ago. Purposely went to Baltimore for two nights towards the end of it. I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. The Inner Harbor is nice and the old row house neighborhoods around it were fun to explore (Federal Hill, Fells Point, Little Italy, Canton). People were pretty friendly for a large Eastern city. I wasn't expecting that. The seafood rocks too.

I actually like the aquarium. I lived in Monterey and Salinas for over ten years so I went to the one there numerous times. The one in Baltimore is still pretty interesting in its own right.

 

[Xstatic1]

My suggestions:

Fort McHenry National Monument - if you like history
National Cryptologic Museum (near NSA/Fort Meade)- see old techy stuff
Fell's Point - historical area; there's a bunch of shops, and restaurants/bars... OMG, if you go here, and like gelato, go to Pitango Gelato :thumbsup:
You gotta try crabcakes while you're in Baltimore.... I had 'em at Faidley's, but there may be others here who can give you an alternative restaurant
Phillips Seafood (Inner Harbor area) - the Crab Mac & Cheese is kick-ass
Baba's Mediterranean Kitchen - pretty good mediterranean food


If you have extra time, go check out (but they're NOT a must-see by any means):
Washington Monument and Mount Vernon Park
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

:thumbsdown::
Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop - overrated dessert place in Little Italy (don't bother)

 

[feralkid]

The one at the old Dulles terminal is much better than the Air & Space downtown on the mall.

http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/

"Much Better"... I don't know; depends on what you like to see the most.

I find them complimentary...see them both.

 

[Xstatic1]

I would like to checkout the white house, capitol, lincoln memorial and monument. Is this possible?

I have been to cape canaveral so is the space musuem at smithsonian necessary?

There are sooooo many attractions (memorials, museums, etc) in D.C. Some of 'em are within walking distance, and some not.

Lincoln Memorial is walking distance to Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial (they're all :thumbsup: to go and see).

I really liked the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which is near (walking distance to) the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

For Cape Canaveral, do you mean Kennedy Space Center? Kennedy Space Center (associated with NASA) is vastly different from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. In the latter, you'll see a bunch of planes. Kennedy Space Center gives you the historical background of missions into space (Saturn V, Atlantis, etc), and techy details (specs), see astronaut's gear and lunar rocks, etc. I went on the Mega Tour, so I also got to tour the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39. If you go to the Smithsonian Natl Air & Space Museum, you'll be able to see (maybe walk) to the Capitol Building. You asked if it (Nat'l Air & Space Museum) was necessary....personally I think Kennedy Space Center and Houston Space Center (Level 9 Tour) are better.

The White House is cool. I've only viewed it from the outside.

The three others museums I liked (besides the Nat'l Air & Space Museum) are:
- National Archives - the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence are displayed there (this is a must-see IMHO)
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
- International Spy Museum

 

[Xstatic1]

The one at the old Dulles terminal is much better than the Air & Space downtown on the mall.

http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/

Just added this to my bucket list!

 

[Ferzerp]

Have an Obrycki's crab cake (even if it's a quick stop at the airport location), and then marvel at the mess that is stuffing with a little crab meat that gets passed off as a "crab cake" so many times at other places.

 

[eng2d2]

Thanks guys!! I think I have enough here for my 3 days.

 

[purbeast0]

I didn't even know that was possible. I had to drive down 95 to North Carolina in May and figured I'd get an early start to beat traffic. I hit the beltway at 6:00 AM and still sat for like an hour.

i purposefully have taken jobs that keep me off the beltway and go against normal rush hour. i'm driving away from dc to get to my job.

 

[purbeast0]

a few years back ago i went on a "private" white house tour. it's "private" in that you have to know someone who works there to get this tour, and you go with just your group, but many people do this tour. but it was cool cause we got to go places not normally allowed to go to, such as the oval office. we couldn't go inside of it, but the door was open and roped off, but you could peak your head in as far as physically possible. then we also got to go into the media room where the president gives his speeches and stuff. it was pretty neat.

 

[feralkid]

If all this is not enough, rent a car and drive to Gettysburg.

 

[IronWing]

I would like to checkout the white house, capitol, lincoln memorial and monument. Is this possible?

I have been to cape canaveral so is the space musuem at smithsonian necessary?

The American History museum is loaded up with cool steam engines. I thought the Air & Space Museum was pretty boring. The Natural History museum used to be pretty cool but I understand that it underwent a Europop renovation a few years ago so maybe not what it once was.

 

[tynopik]

have you updated your will?

 

[BurnItDwn]

When we stopped in Baltimore for a day before our last cruse, we really really enjoyed dinner & drinks at "Alewife" in baltimore. Great beer list, and delicious food.
http://www.alewifebaltimore.com/

 

[Xstatic1]

If all this is not enough, rent a car and drive to Gettysburg.

:thumbsup:

I've been there before, but one day, I'll like to go during their reenactment (usually July 1-3).

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

newseum is probably one of the best in dc but it's a paid museum.
http://www.newseum.org/

you could try touring the washington monument but you need to get there really early or book tickets ahead of time.

Also there's a cat cafe in georgetown that's pretty cool if you like cats.
http://www.crumbsandwhiskers.com/

 

[ultimatebob]

The American History museum is loaded up with cool steam engines. I thought the Air & Space Museum was pretty boring. The Natural History museum used to be pretty cool but I understand that it underwent a Europop renovation a few years ago so maybe not what it once was.

The GOOD space museum is in Chantilly, Virginia next to Dulles airport. That one has the Space Shuttle, the Concorde, and a ton of other cool planes in it.

 

[ultimatebob]

Amtrak and MARC both have rail service from Baltimore to DC, generally costs $10-15 each way, a bit less for MARC maybe. (I dont take MARC regularly).

Once you're in DC itself the DC metro can be used to get around the city. There is plenty to do downtown if you are interested in the museum type Smithsonian stuff, lots of restaurants as well, though everything will be fairly expensive in the city.


Baltimore itself has SOME sightseeing (inner harbor and aquarium + a few historical sites) but overall is not a particulary attractive city, nor fun to visit.

If you want to try something cool, take the Acela. It costs more, but it's a really nice train!