11 Things You'd Only Find In Baltimore

As anyone who has visited Baltimore, Maryland, knows, the city is unique—it’s small, but still big and vibrant. Not only does it have character, but it’s full of sites and activities that are only found here. In Baltimore, you’ll not only find the best crab cakes, but you’ll also get a chance to visit the city’s oldest market, experience local cuisines, and much more.

1. Baltimore's Oldest Market

Market, Vegetarian, American, Vegan

Lexington Market is not only Baltimore’s oldest market, but it was founded in 1782, which makes it the oldest market in the U.S., too. Among the 95 vendors, visitors will find an authentic Baltimorean experience filled with locals selling their culinary creations, such as the authentic Berger cookies, Connie’s Chicken and Waffles, and Konstant’s Candy. The market is easily accessible, no matter your choice of transportation; walk, drive, take the bus, the Baltimore light rail, or the subway trains.

2. Authentic Baltimore Crab Cakes

Bar, Restaurant

If you have an intense craving for an amazing crab cake, Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar is the place to go. At Pappas, they pride themselves on their crab cake recipe and refuse to let anyone else in on the secret. They’re known around the city to use the freshest ingredients of the highest quality and to have very fair prices.

Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar, 1725 Taylor Ave, Parkville, MD, USA, +1 410 661 4357

Crab cake | © Steven Depolo/Flickr | © Steven Depolo / Flickr

The Filming Locations for The Wire

Those that have so much as heard of HBO’s hit TV show The Wire know that it was filmed in the city streets of Baltimore. This show has had many fans throughout the years, even accumulating more viewers after the series ended. The cast and crew filmed in some of the more well known rough spots in the city, including Fulton Ave., W. Fayette Street, and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., which bolstered the series’s authenticity and grit.

Dropping the “T”

If you’re a true Baltimorean, you know the name of the city is actually pronounced “Bawlmer.” Or you ask for a glass of “wooder,” not water. Saying these words differently by no means suggests a lack of intelligence on anyone’s part; it’s simply how Baltimoreans speak and express themselves. There’s just something different about the Baltimore accent.

Appreciating a Good Bottle of Beer

National Bohemian Beer (Natty Boh, for those in the know) was first brewed in Baltimore. This iconic Baltimore beer, known for its fun mascot with one eye, a handlebar mustache, and an endearing smile, has remained a staple in the city throughout the years and is even the official beer sponsor of the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore’s official Major League Baseball team.

Home of Artscape

Artscape is a special annual event in the city of Baltimore, and it is the largest free arts festival in the U.S. The three-day festival attracts more than 350,000 attendees every year and features more than 150 artisan vendors, as well as local cuisine, beer and other beverages, live concerts, and visual art exhibits. Artscape is a great deal of fun and has something for everyone, including family-friendly activities.

Stroll Around the Inner Harbor

The Baltimore Inner Harbor has a medley of outdoor activities and is home to many restaurants, as well as the National Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the Maryland Science Museum, and many other exciting places. The Inner Harbor is surrounded by water and makes for a nice place to take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. It’s also the perfect place to visit in the heart of downtown and to create memorable adventures of your own.

3. Visit World-Renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital

Building

Baltimore is home to Johns Hopkins Hospital, a teaching and research hospital known for its world-class treatment. The hospital strives to provide patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat illness in the community and around the world.

4. Edgar Allen Poe's House

Museum

Edgar Allen Poe was a truly influential writer whose written work touched lives even after his death. Visit his home in Baltimore, as well as his gravesite, and learn about his life’s work and what inspired him to become such an impactful writer. Poe will always have a spot in Baltimore history, as his legacy lives on in a variety of ways, including with the Baltimore Ravens mascots, aptly named Edgar, Allen, and Poe.

Old Bay Seasoning

Old Bay seasoning is a Baltimore staple. Although it’s shipped around the country, it is always made in its Baltimore home. Old Bay is a mixture of spices that can be generously sprinkled on any food, such as chicken salad, seafood, chicken wings, ribs, and tuna salad. You’d be hard pressed to find a Baltimore home that doesn’t use Old Bay in some form or fashion.

5. Ledo Square Pizza

Ledo Pizza was founded in Adelphi, Maryland, in 1955. Since then, the tasty pizza squares have become a major brand in the state, and there are now franchises throughout the greater Baltimore metropolitan area and beyond. Locals love the thin crust that is never doughy but always hot and freshly prepared.

Ledo Pizza, 3105 St Paul St, Baltimore, MD, USA, +1 443 835 2172

Ledo Pizza | © Forsaken Fotos/Flickr

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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