Posted: 4/26/2004 7:49:36 PM EDT
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A few friends and I are heading to Baltimore next month for a couple of Orioles games. None of us have ever been to that fair city before. Sooooo, I was wondering if the extensive ARFCOM membership had any tips for Orioles parking, restaurants, attractions, etc. I would greatly appreciate any help you guys can give an old country boy. What would be a safe/easy distance to stay out of the Baltimore metro area? I'm willing to drive around 30 minutes to get from the park to our hotel. One friend on another forum suggested Laurel as a place to stay. Where is a good place to park & walk? We'll have most of Saturday to fill, I was thinking of visiting the Harbor, IMAX, etc. Fire away! 
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I think the best way is to just take the light rail into the city. Park in either the Glen Burnie stop or the Ferndale station. Get there early. You will save $'s with parking and the headache of getting into or out of the city driving. The light rail is the easiest way for me. |
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Don't count on the light rail. I't is closed south of Camden yards for expansion. There are several lots just north of the stadium. Getting in early should get you in easily. The harbor offers a lot with Imax, Science center, Aquarium. Plenty to eat and don't forget the ESPN Zone. |
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Light rail is nice (I've used it for fun & when I had jury duty). But if you want to go to a game and take in the Inner Harbor why bother? There are two hotels within walking distance to Camden Yards that are also walking distance to the inner harbor. (as a matter of fact they are in a direct line between the two). These hotels also have underground parking. Once at the Inner Harbor there is the IMAX as the science museam, there is also the National Aquarium, the ESPN Zone (eat and watch and/or play games). There is also a new 'Disney ride' type of attraction that is history themed (I have not done that one yet). Will you have kids with you? (there are attractions setup specificially for them like the science museam, Discovery Zone, and one or two others). From the Hotel you could drive over to Little Italy (not too far away) for some good Italian food (you could walk - but I wouldn't...). Edited to Add As a fellow 'gun nut' you've also got to visit the Shot Tower to see where/how they used to make shotgun shot The two Hotels I was talking about: Sheraton Inner Harbor and Hyatt Regency Baltimore This one is also nice (I've been to seminars there) there is a mall in the lower levels and a 'sky bridge' over to the Inner Harbor. Still within walking distance to Camden Yards (and it has an underground parking garage). Renaissance Harborplace |
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If you don't want to drive more than 30 minutes, stay in the suggested hotels downtown. The inner harbor is a bitch to get in and out for games and rush hour. Depending on where you are in VA, look into Amtrak. There is a train stop right at the ball park. A ton of DC folks take the train for O's games. Camden yards is really nice, but expensive. While you are up here, one other suggestion that I didn't see was the National Aquirium. It is really cool. There are a ton of things to do downtown, most of which are with in walking distance to the Harbor. As for walking around, you are pretty much OK in the downtown, inner harbor area, but don't stray too far..... |
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The Babe Ruth museum is at Camden Yards, is it not? I think we were going to hit that Saturday before the game. Going to have to stay somewhere outside of Baltimore, as the hotel prices are too damn high near the city. Looks like we'll be staying in or around Laurel. |
I don’t think they mean shot as in shotgun, they mean like black powder flintlock musket shot. 
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You can take the water taxi from the Inner Harbor to Fort Mc. That is always fun for the kids. There is also the B&O train museum not to far from the harbor. I think it has reopened. |
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Hey Burley, All the guys here have given excellent ideas! As someone already stated, Stay in town. There is plenty of safe places to stay and eat at in and around Downtown. I know when I go to the park with a few buddies one beer turns into thirty...You have market Place for beers and Dinner, mostly beers. You have little Italy just east of Downtown across Pratt Street (Eat at Ameechies or Sabatinos). As forest stated The Hyatt is nice, as well as close. Everything that is safe to do or go is a cheap cab ride away. Are you taking the kids with you??? Sean |
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Staying in town is cost prohibitive. Even though we'll be splitting the cost 5 ways, we still want to keep the lodging bill less than $200 total. No kids, just 5 men around 27. Friend #1 is getting married and this is more or less his bachelor party. No boozing or anything like that though. Just baseball and comaraderie. Dinner in Little Italy sounds wonderful to me, we might try to hit that place Saturday. Just depends on what everyone else wants to do for dinner. Thanks for the help guys. I hope my first trip into Baltimore isn't my last trip. Can't be any worse than Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, or Oklahoma City. |
There used to be a place on RT40 (near where it intersects I895) that had INDOOR paint ball. That makes for a fun time among buddies. |
Although it is only about 10 -15 mins to the harbor from BWI (Linthicum), allow yourself plenty of time due to traffic and parking for ball games. That area is fine. I used to work off Nusery rd. I go to DC on average 3 times a week from Balt. It took me 3 hrs last friday to get back and 2.5 hrs last night. If you get out of the DC beltway before 3-3:30, It should take about an hour or so. Traffic just plain sucks and fridays afternoons are the worst!!! Map out some alternate routes, 95 and 295 can a do become parking lots.... 
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We had a great time in the fair city of Baltimore last weekend. Traffic on 495 ate up about 2 hours and made us miss the first inning of the game. We drove through some nasty slums on the way back to 95 after Friday's game. Then I wasted about an hour driving around aimlessly trying to find our hotel (Amerisuites BWI). Saturday we toured the Inner Harbor and had a great time. That place is damn nice. Enjoyed a few pints at The Wharf Rat pub. Saturday's game was nice. Storm blew in during the 9th inning, we had to run from Camden Yards to our car (parked at the Rusty Scupper on the harbor). Got to the car just in time to avoid being drowned in a deluge. Overall my fears were unfounded. I saw a few shady characters, but nothing like I expected. After my decent experiences in Atlanta and Baltimore, I wouldn't hesitate to visit Chicago or New York. Anywho, enough with the chitchat. Here are the photos I promised.  View from our seats in left on Friday night  Spotted at a concession stand. I had to take a picture of this one. :D  Right field upper deck is hopping after Melvin Mora cranked a homer  Yours truly enjoys a Guinness at the Wharf Rat  Baltimore's Inner Harbor and downtown  This is where Eddie Murray's 500th homer came down in right field  View from our seats in right on Saturday night  Tejada right before he cranked one to left. Washburn is pitching  Bartolo Colon slings one towards home plate  Looking from left field seats towards right field.  The warehouse on Eutaw St. |