A Family-friendly Walking Tour of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (Overview)

I cherish the way my kids glow from the inside when we travel together and see new things.

So after tucking away the kids’ final report cards each June, our family heads towards the East Coast to visit family, scouting out new adventures along the way.

This year, we decided to build an overnight stay around the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which anchors the bustling Inner Harbor. The Inner Harbor has been one of the major seaports in the US since the 1700s and started blossoming into the cultural center of Baltimore in the 1970s.

The most striking thing about the harbor is how vibrant and walkable it is. Shops are busy, restaurants are full, and streets are crowded with residents, business people, and tourists at all hours. Music of all kinds echoes from the Harborplace Ampitheatre, street performers amuse passersby, and restaurants lure customers with outdoor seating, hip décor, and spicy aromas.

One night doesn’t do the Inner Harbor justice, but we packed as much kid-focused fun into our overnight stay as possible. For us to really “live it up,” we selected a waterfront hotel with a swimming pool, spent a morning at the National Aquarium, ate a family dinner at Fogo de Chao, and soaked up some early American history at Fort McHenry National Monument.

LODGING

Baltimore Marriott Hotel

When we swung open the blinds, 270-degree views of blue skies and the sun-drenched harbor below blew us all away. Read more about this hotel >>

700 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 | 800.228.9290.

Also ask about discount National Aquarium packages.

ATTRACTIONS

The National Aquarium

Rated the #1 US Aquarium in 2006 by Conde Nast, the National Aquarium packs riveting marine wildlife exhibits into a fantastic piece of architecture. Read my take >>

501 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | 410.576.3800.

Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine

Perched on the mouth of the Inner Harbor, this moat-encircled, pentagon-shaped fort is a fantastic place to brush up on early American history and infuse the family with a fresh dose of patriotism. Read my take >>

2400 East Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410.962.4290

FOOD

Fogo de Chao

When I saw that Fogo de Chao was just a five-minute stroll from our hotel, I decided to treat the family to what can only be called “the Fogo experience.”  Read my epic piece on Fogo >>

600 Pratt Street #102, Baltimore, MD 21202 | 410.528.9292.

OTHER COOL STUFF

50 Free things to do in Baltimore
Guided Walking Tours
Baltimore Harbor Pass

TRAVEL GUIDE

A Walking Tour of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor:

• Overview of our stay
• Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel
• National Aquarium
• Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
• A Family-friendly Fogo de Chao