Things to do in Baltimore

Baltimore is a separate Maryland city, not a Washington neighbourhood or suburb, even though the two are often lumped into the same metro statistics; the drive or train ride between them takes roughly 35-60 minutes.

The obvious focus is the Inner Harbor, where the waterfront promenade itself costs nothing to walk, but the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center and the historic ships docked along the piers are each ticketed separately, so a family visiting all three should budget accordingly.

A single day covers the harbor comfortably; add a half-day if you're pairing it with one paid attraction. MARC or Amtrak trains from DC's Union Station run frequently and avoid the parking hassle downtown.