Baltimore, Maryland is a vibrant city situated along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay about 180 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major tourist destination in the Mid Atlantic region of USA near Washington, D.C. Named after Lord Baltimore in the Irish House of Lords, the city has a flourishing population of more than 650,000 with a rich cultural heritage.The major tourist attraction is the Inner harbor. This historic seaport is an iconic landmark and perfect blend of the old with the new. The breathtaking view of the waterfront is simply amazing and the docks and streets surrounding the inner harbor houses hotels, museums, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

The new Inner harbor is now home to the Harborplace, an entertainment center and the National Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, and the World Trade Center of Baltimore are also located around the basin.Baltimore is famous for its outstanding fresh seafood. From the nearby Chesapeake Bay come blue crabs, oysters, striped bass and other delicacies. Other Maryland seafood comes the Atlantic coast, including sea scallops, lobsters, sea bass and other fish.

Fishing is a popular pastime at Baltimore. Fishermen target striped bass, known in Maryland as “rockfish”, as well as fish such as croaker, spot, white perch, flounder and bluefish.Rockfish are the un-disputed icon of Chesapeake Bay fishing. Anglers chum, live bait, troll, jig, cast artificial lures and fly fish for rockfish. The beautiful fish range from schoolies of 16 inches to monster fish that may weigh 50 pounds are more. Croaker or “hardhead” are commonly caught in the bay waters near Annapolis. The fish get their names because of the “croaking” noise the make when removed from the water. Panfish such as Norfolk spot and white perch are caught near the city. Both species are fun to catch and suitable for anglers of all ages. These delicious fish are caught around the bay bridge, in creeks and around oyster beds.Anglers seeking spot or perch use standard 2 hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and synthetic bloodworm type baits.Other water activities include crabbing. Enthusiasts use trotlines, traps or dipnets to catch blue crabs, which Baltimore and Maryland in general is famous for. The delicious shellfish are then steamed whole and the meat separated out. Crabmeat can be eaten as is or made into crabcakes, soups or other dishes.

Baltimore does not experience the extremes of weather change that occur in other parts of USA. The weather is relatively mild and the best time to visit is from April to November. The city is well connected by road, air and sea. From Washington DC it is less than one hour north on Route 95. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is only a half-hour drive south of downtown.Moving inside the city is easy and loads of options like light rail system are available. Water taxis are a unique and interesting option. The taxis transit the harbor and offer unique views of the Baltimore skyline.

Tags: baltimore, chesapeake bay, maryland, Travel, usa, Vacations