I’ve traveled the majority of my life and yet, I’ve never hated anything more than feeling like a tourist. Obviously, it’s inevitable—you can’t visit Washington DC without seeing the Mall or London without riding on the Eye or Cleveland without visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. However, I think there’s something to be said for trying the local (or at least the more unknown) places.
So, that’s my mission, to bring the local flavor of a city to your visit (which arguably should still include all the museums and sightseeing you want). This week, with the help of several friends, I’m focusing on Baltimore, Maryland!
1. First stop is Miss Shirley’s Cafe, a cute brunch locale that would have Leslie Knope herself raving about the waffles. Jessica Berger ‘17, a Her Campus writer and Baltimore native, also recommends the cinnamon French toast.
2. Go watch the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, which was one of the first “retro” ballparks built in the 1990s. While there, try the “Crab Chipper,” a nacho-style dish: kettle chips piled high with lump crabmeat and white cheddar cheese sauce.
3. Red Emma’s is a “worker cooperative bookstore” and cafe that’s really popular with college kids. It has a good collection of vegan options and really good coffee!
4. Staying up late? No worries because until three am, The Bun Shop has got you covered! There’s good coffee, a variety of “filled buns” (including empanadas) and huge tables to spread your textbooks all over.
5. Visit the Inner Harbor—it’s full of bars, restaurants, and shops! The Fells Point and Federal Hill area are the most popular with college students and Bad Decisions is probably the most well-known local bar.
6. Get in the holiday spirit by visiting 34th Street in Hampden for their crazy Christmas light displays. Some houses even offer hot chocolate, cookies and guest books to sign!
7. Stroll through the Lexington Market, an indoor food market that’s been operating since 1792. Look out for shortbread cookies topped with fudge, Mexican fried ice cream and crab cakes to try!
8. Need a rainy day plan? Visit a variety of Baltimore museums, such as the Walters Art Museum, the American Visionary Art Museum, the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum, the B&O Railroad Museum, the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and Port Discovery, an interactive children’s museum.
9. For the last twenty years, the Helmand has been introducing and changing the way Americans thinks about Afghan cuisine. Named after a river which brings nourishment to a desert region, the Helmand is perhaps best known for its lamb dishes (particularly the tenderloin) and its pallow (a rice dish)!
10. In Baltimore, the word “hon” (short for “honey) is said a lot—so much in fact that they created a festival for it! HonFest celebrates the good nature of Baltimore natives, all while encouraging the participants to dress up in 1960s garb (like Hairspray’s “Good Morning Baltimore”). They even crown a BestHon!
11. Baltimore Bike Party is a welcoming cycling group that organizes rides from Seton Hill to Ottobar, all lead and organized by volunteers. They even do special themed events around the holidays, especially for Halloween, where they ride in costume!
12. For a fancier night out, try Woodberry Kitchen, which has what Jessica describes as a “rustic, hipster” atmosphere. It focuses on local food (“farm-to-table”) and perfects the Chesapeake Bay foods, mostly seafood. They are also able to cater to vegan and gluten-free needs.
13. Atomic Books is an independent bookstore and small press that focuses mostly on indie comics and zines. With a cozy but modern vibe, the bookstore also holds events such as beer tastings, pub crawls and stand-up comedy nights.
14. The best Thai food in Baltimore can be found at Stang of Siam, a bi-level restaurant filled with cultural artifacts. Notorious for its large serving sizes, locals recommends ordering several different plates to share!
15. According to Jessica, Baltimore is pronounced a little differently by the locals. To them, it’s simply “Bawlmur” and they like it that way.
If you love your hometown or have a city you’re particularly familiar with and want to show tourists what the locals love, please contact me at hewittr@kenyon.edu and I’ll happily sit down with you to work out an article that showcases your love for your city.
Images: misssshirleys.com, baltimoresun.com, patiofurn.com