Checking Out Charm City From Fellís Point to Little Italy, Baltimore Makes Intriguing Day Trip by Christine CubÈ When visitors come to Washington, they picture the monuments, museums and other great attractions such as the shopping, restaurants and nightlife. They donít necessarily think of the day trips that can be had while visiting D.C. But locals know that Northern Virginia and Maryland have some fantastic, tucked-away places that many tourists never venture out to see. Consider Baltimore. Itís a great maritime city right next door to Washington on the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay, complete with easy accessóthe MARC train out of Union Station goes directly into the heart of Baltimore or itís a 45-minute car ride away from Washington. Baltimoreóalso known as Charm Cityóis chock full of its own history, museums, art galleries, restaurants and shopping, as well as a popular waterfront, the Inner Harbor. It also has a famed ballpark, Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. Its many unique neighborhoods include the waterfront community of historic Fellís Point, Federal Hill, Mount Vernon and Little Italy. If youíre looking for a quick jaunt to this eclectic city, youíre not alone: Baltimore welcomes roughly 11 million business and leisure visitors each year. You should probably start your visit at the Baltimore tourism Web site, www.baltimore.org. The site, which is owned and operated by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, includes a list of shopping venues, things to do, places to see, restaurants and lodging options. It also has information about touring historic homes, local wineries, fresh produce markets and horseracing at the Pimlico Race Course. Another good place to check out when you arrive is the new Baltimore Visitor Center, which is located on the western shore of the Inner Harbor. The center is part of the Chesapeake Bay Getaways Network and was established to educate people on conserving the bay and its watershed. When you do go to Baltimore, there are some definite must-sees for visitors. These are almost like a rite of passage into what the rest of the city has to offer: National Aquarium in Baltimore (www.aqua.org) If youíre an ocean fanatic, or just fascinated by life under the sea, you wonít want to miss spinning through this huge attraction. The visually striking aquarium, which opened in 1981 and is a centerpiece of the Inner Harbor, houses more than 11,000 animals and features a new dolphin show, rain forest exhibit and a massive shark tank thatís fun for all ages. Top of the World in Baltimoreís World Trade Center (www.baltimore.to/TopOfWorld/) The World Trade Centerís observation level is located on the 27th floor. Consistent traffic in and out of the building always sends curious visitors upstairs for a peek. The area offers a stunning 360-degree view of the Baltimore cityscape from the worldís tallest pentagonal building. Harborplace and The Gallery at Harborplace (www.harborplace.com) Youíll know youíre in Harborplace when you see the big names: Ann Taylor, Victoriaís Secret, GAP, the Body Shop, Banana Republic and Brooks Brothers. The elegant shopping pavilion, which opened in 1980, features more than 125 stores and restaurants. Harborplace is linked by a skywalk to The Gallery, an extension that features 75 stores and restaurants. Maryland Science Center (www.mdsci.org) More than 500,000 visitors pass through the Maryland Science Center each year. What began in the late 1700s as the Maryland Academy of Sciences is now one of the countryís oldest science organizations. The Maryland Science Center educates visitors with dynamic programming as well as more than a dozen full-size dinosaurs and interactive exhibits. Its most popular draws include a planetarium and a five-story IMAX Theater. Baltimore Maritime Museum (www.baltomaritimemuseum.org) One of this museumís most popular features is the last surviving warship from the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USCGC Taney, tours of which are available at Baltimoreís Inner Harbor. The museum is also featuring an exhibit called ìMascotsóëSeagoing Dogs of the Navy and Coast Guard,î which highlights dogs kept aboard Navy and Coast Guard vessels from the 1880s to the 1950s. In addition to these attractions, Baltimore features several distinct neighborhoods that offer up their own unique atmosphere and diversions. If youíre looking for something a little more on the quaint side, thereís always Fellís Point, which is just one mile east of the Inner Harbor and easily accessible by water taxi (and was on the map well before its television filming for NBCís ìHomicideóLife on the Streetî). In the early 1700s, Fellís Point began as Fellís Prospect when the land was purchased by William Fell, an English Quaker. The town of Fellís Point was founded in 1763 and was incorporated into Baltimore Town in 1773. Today, Fellís Point contains many architectural structures from the 1700s and 1800s that contributed to its designation as Marylandís first national historic district. Cobblestone streets set the stage for this unique Baltimore nook thatís hopping with eclectic shopping boutiques and restaurants. In addition, Fellís Point has a diverse assortment of antique stores and art galleries. If youíre looking for a good place to eat, the community has everything from good old-fashioned casual Chesapeake Bay dining to higher-end restaurants. Day-trippers should start their tour of Fellís Point at the visitor center, located at 808 S. Ann Street in Baltimore. Also try to stop by the Admiral Fell Inn, a European-style historic boutique hotel that features 18th-century antiques and luxurious rooms. The hotelís restaurant, TRUE, promises a truly incredible dining experience that features nutritious and organic foods. Another must-see in Fellís Point includes the Fellís Point Corner Theatre (www.fpct.org), which leases an 1859 firehouse from the city of Baltimore and continues to bring dynamic productions to the community. When you have historic homes and taverns, you inevitably get ghost stories and folklore. The Fellís Point Ghost Tours (www.fellspointghost.com) tell visitors of the communityís rich history as a historic water port and shipbuilding town. The Fellís Point Maritime Museum also covers the history of Fellís Point from its establishment in the 1730s. It includes a peek at the design and skill involved in building and operating the famous Baltimore clipper schooner, which impacted international trade by carrying fruit, spices and tobacco. The Fellís Point Maritime Museum also features a permanent exhibit about the manufacture, design and function of furniture made and used in Maryland from 1634 to 2000. If you wander south from the Inner Harbor, youíre likely to bump into what locals call Federal Hill. This intimate neighborhood that overlooks the Inner Harbor is composed mostly of late 19th-century brick homes. Federal Hill is a tight-knit urban spot that is home to the Cross Street Market and nearby business district on Charles and Light streets. Around the market is an assortment of moderately priced restaurants and taverns that specialize in craft beers. One popular example is Porterís Pub and Grill at 1032 Riverside Ave. A short history lesson: Federal Hill was discovered by John Smith on his first exploration of the Chesapeake Bay in 1608. It became Federal Hill in 1788, when thousands marched from Fellís Point in celebration of the Maryland General Assemblyís ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The chic urban destination of Mount Vernon in Baltimore abounds with cultural offerings, starting with the Peabody Institute and the Walters Art Museum. The Peabody, founded in 1857, strongly ties this section of Baltimore with the art scene. Through its music conservatory, the Peabody is one of the nationís major sources of professionally trained musicians. The institute is affiliated Johns Hopkins University and each year features more than 800 musical and dance performances in Baltimore and other cities. Mount Vernon offers other nationally and internationally renowned institutions including art museums, libraries, theaters and religious structures, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the first Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. Many consider the townís centerpiece to be Mount Vernon Place, a monument to George Washington that includes four European-style parks flanking a statue of Washington atop a 178-foot marble pillar. The Mount Vernon Cultural District features a great Web site (www.mvcd.org) that gives visitors a glimpse into this part of Baltimore along with an event listing of cultural offerings and the opportunity to schedule a walking tour. Little Italy is a pasta loverís paradise in Baltimore. Located a few blocks east of the Inner Harbor, Little Italy is a historic neighborhood that features more than 20 Italian restaurants. Some of the offerings include Amicciís, Da Mimmoís, Aldoís, Caesarís Den, CafÈ Di Roma and Chiapparelliís. The Little Italy Restaurant Association oversees some of the restaurants that comprise this delectable section of Baltimore. Little Italy hosts an annual open-air film festival that has become a major part of Baltimoreís cultural heritage. The festival runs every Friday in July and August on the Da Mimmoís parking lot. Bring your own chair; entertainment starts at 7 p.m. and movies premiere at 9 p.m. Next door to Little Italy is Baltimoreís Canton neighborhood. One the hottest spots in Baltimore, Canton features old factories that have been converted into a thriving retail and entertainment hub. Canton Square is one of its featuresóitís in the communityís center and boasts trendy bars and restaurants. Christine CubÈ is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat. Baltimore Sizzles With Summer Events Still looking for a good excuse to visit Baltimore and one of its fantastic neighborhoods? Here are a handful of events that are coming up this summer: Cultural Festivals: Throughout the summer and into the early part of fall, Baltimore presents an array of festivals showcasing different nationalities with traditional food, music and entertainment. These include the 105th German festival in Carroll Park, the Polish Festival in Patterson Park, as well as festivals celebrating Latino, African American, Caribbean American, Native American, Greek, Irish, Ukrainian, Korean and other cultures. Summer concert series at Harborplace: The Harborplace Amphitheatre hosts a different live band every Friday night. The event is catered by Planet Hollywood. The 13th Annual Capital Jazz Fest (June 3-5): This annual festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., which is near Baltimore, runs for three days and features big names in the contemporary jazz scene. Artscape (July 13-15): Three outdoor stages on Mount Royal Avenue present more than 150 performing arts, literary and live musical performances. Harborplaceís Birthday Celebration: During the month of July, celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Harborplace, which set the tone for Baltimoreís urban renewal waterfront redevelopment. USS Constellation Museum Anniversary Celebration: Also in August, visitors can take a tour of the USS Constellation and watch an artillery demonstration at the Inner Harbor. óChristine CubÈ