Baltimore usually gets forgotten about since its so close to DC, but it has a special charm to it. They do call it charm city after call! Its a smaller city, but still has a lot to do, especially around the Inner Harbor. Little Italy has some amazing eats, and sites to see!

I lived in Balitmore for a year, and if I had a couple of days to go back....here's where I'd be: Start out in Federal Hill, say hello to House #1 on W. West St. Over to The Metropolitan to grab an ice coffee. Then over to the actual hill for, probably, the best view of the city. Jump on Light St, and quick, quick...through the harbor...for nothing's there. On the way to Fell's Point, maybe a stop-off at Whole Foods or the new Landmarkor the Blue House, for nostalgic purposes. In Fell's Point, stop at the Daily Grind, maybe stay for a bit to wait for a yoga class at Charm City across the cobblestone street. Hopefully class will be in the studio on the 3rd floor with excellent Harbor views. Over to house #2, woooh...the "mansion house," at the end of Pratt St next to Patterson Park and the pagoda. Maybe a quick run through Patterson Park, careful not to step on any needles. Now through a blue light district, yup...Baltimore. Summertime, hot, humid, impoverished black community is outside. On porch stoops. Wearing white wife beaters, many of them. Some windows with cardboard, sidewalks crumbling. Not involved with drug trade, so no real worries. Plus it's still daylight and you're quick. OK...you're at Hopkins. Up to Meyer 9 to say hello to old friends. Back out on the street, it's getting dark. Jump in the car, over to the One World Cafe (say hello to Brian), then to The Charles for a movie. Then to the Club Charles...maybe Nikki is doing her trapese act. Feeling good, time for Brewer's Art basement. Ok, real quick, to the mexican restaurant bar in Hampden. End the night in a mellow way at Rocket to Venus. Late night food at Paper Moon? Why not? Up early the next morning because you still have to say hello to house #3, on Roland, near the water tower. Take a jog through Roland Park with pretty houses, end in Hampden. Where it's Bikram yoga time, hello to the ever-smiling Sarah. Now down The Avenue to the Golden West for brunch, maybe a game of scrabble. Hmmm...now maybe there's a movie at the Senator...spend an afternoon at the Evergreen. Actually, half an afternoon. Because you have to take a brief drive out of the city for a quick swim in Loch Raven. Drive back through Mt. Washington to Roland Park to Hampden to Charles Village to Mount Vernon to Bolton Hill feel free to add Fell's Point and Federal Hill if time permits, ya know, the cool neighborhoods. Oh, grab food at the Yabba Pot before you head out. Oh, and then again at Donna's...you might see some of the cast from The Wire.

I am 26 years old and I have lived in the suburbs of Baltimore my whole life. I have to admit, Baltimore is one of the shittiest cities in the world let alone the USA. I live in a wealthy suburban town in Howard County. Forbes rated my town as the 8th best place to live in the USA. I have no idea why. There are a lot good restaurants but it is socially and culturally lacking. People are stuck up, they don't socialize with there neighbors. Lots of racial tension in the Baltimore metropolitan area. People are robots. They wake up, go to work, come home and sleep and do the same thing the next day. As far as Baltimore City is concerned, there is no place in the entire city where you can feel safe. NO WHERE. It is just so f'n ghetto. Even the tourist have been warned lately because of a rash of attacks right there in the harbor. Everytime I read the Baltimore sun, all they talk about is shootings and crime. Baltimore is not very diverse. The Black people are extremely ghetto. The white people are white trash for the most part. Thousands and thousands of boarded up row homes in the city. I can't wait to move out of this shit hole. Once I move, I'm never coming back.

Please. This city aint bad at all.

The inner harbor, Little Italy, Fells, Canton, Federal Hill...great diverse neighborhoods, great history, great bars and restaruants....of course stay away from the ghetto around druid park, cherry hill, south of pimlico, etc. man anything within a mile radius of the harbor is fine and whiteville. Get a grip you wimps. Bmore is nice.

I recently visted Baltimore over the weekend, at first glance I thought the city was straight up ghetto. However to really appreciate Baltimore one must give it the benefit of the doubt with a closer look. The Inner Harbor is nice, sorta tourist trappy but the aquarium is decent and the area has an atmosphere. Baltimore has some old historical neighborhoods that have a charming old world atmosphere like Mt. Vernon & Fells Point. The archetecture is gorgeous and a rare find as sprawly cities like Raleigh & Phoenix grow more sprawly & cookie cutter. Baltimore is a good restaurant town and a genuine city with plenty of urban grit that's worth exploring. It's a shame the city has so much crime, poverty, & riff raff as much of the city really is ghetto as its reputed to be. In most parts of the city (even the good ones) I find myself looking over my shoulder for safety's sake.

The police are the most unprofessional I have ever seen, do they even have real training? half of them seem straight out of the ghetto and can barely speak english, The Government is always playing racial politics by only hiring black people in High Ranking city positions

Baltimore is the worst city, its black people are very racists and will not hesitate to attack you if you are white, stay away from all areas except the inner harbor, You may get killed 

Underrated city...just stay out of the nasty parts. The downtown area is pretty fun...lots of good shopping/eating opportunities. Johns Hopkins is a beautiful campus...and that's about it.

listen to Baltimore Club Music and watch the dances that go with it.Thats what makes the city stand out.Those crazy dances.

I lived in the area for about a year and nothing really sticks out in my mind is either great or terrible about Baltimore. It was a very average city for me. It was not as scenic or diverse as I thought it would be. Yhe people were cool though. All the houses look the same to me and the neighborhoods have no charm. The food is good if you like crab. Everything seems to be crab flavored there. The nightlife was interesting and I met some nice females to hang out with. I couldn't imagine buying a house there becaouse real estate is pretty high and every house on the block usually looks the same. I don't know why this is.

At a time when soulless, sprawling monstrosities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are getting all the attention, it's nice to know there are still cities like Baltimore that are quietly earning a fresh look. Sure the city has problems, and those problems have been well-documented, but there is so much more to Baltimore.

First, it is a great "hometown" kind of city. Unlike D.C., people are actually FROM Baltimore and have longstanding ties to the community. Those ties are not just evident in the larger view of the city as a whole, but can be seen even on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis. Each neighborhood has its own personality, and its own sense of community.

Hampden, with its self-conscious working class background is noted for it's funky "Avenue" shops, and yearly HonFest. Fells Point, with its cobblestone streets, harbor views and 19th century architecture has seen a huge renaissance in recent decades, as have other East Baltimore neighborhoods such as Canton and Butcher's Hill. Mt Vernon and Bolton Hill (the "old money" Baltimore neighborhoods) are known as the cultural centers of the city, with the tree-lined streets and the (original) Washington monument. South Baltimore's Federal Hill features some of the best views of the city, and while admittedly becoming increasingly gentrified, still has many old-style corner bars and local hangouts, and quaint renovated rowhouses. These neighborhoods are often overlooked because of the popularity of Baltimore's downtown area -- with the renovated Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium, and Camden Yards.

Overall, Baltimore is one of America's finest cities -- a hardworking port city with enough character and grit to overcome its problems.

At a time when soulless, sprawling monstrosities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are getting all the attention, it's nice to know there are still cities like Baltimore that are quietly earning a second look.

It's the classic American city. Perfect location, abundant history, quirky neighborhoods, unpretentious residents, and its own sense of culture and community.

It's the classic American city. Perfect location, abundant history, quirky neighborhoods, unpretentious residents, and its own sense of culture and community.

I've lived in Baltimore for three years now, and while I have no regrets about moving here and I love my own neighborhood, I am still saddened by the poverty and the many blighted buildings and indeed whole neighborhoods that dot the city. Baltimore has a huge underclass (both black and white) but it also has some great educational institutions (Johns Hopkins, Maryland Institute College of Art) and excellent galleries and museums. It really does have some beautiful areas, despite what you may think when you see the ugliness while driving through on I-95. The best parts of Baltimore form the letter "I" on a map, going south to north, from Federal Hill in the South to Mt. Washington in the North. If you stick to these areas, you'll meet educated, liberal-minded people and find lovely, sometimes historic old neighborhoods. And the best parts of Baltimore are genuinely urban, unlike sprawled-out non-places like Charlotte or Raleigh. One final thought, for the first time in my adult life I've met most of my neighbors. There is a strong emphasis on community involvement here.

Interesting, underapreciated, historic crime ridden city with top notch attractions. There is some city pride which has left so many other similiar cities. Some good buildings and museums. Relaxing, highly recommended.

Baltimore is a city I used to visit just to get away from the hyper-whitecollar DC. Much more of a hometown feel. Downside is that the locals are REALLY provincial (where did you go to high school?)...you are either FROM Baltimore or you ARENT. Upside is that its a delightfully kooky city...wonderful markets (Cross Street) where you can eat oysters and some great eateries (Sissions) and bars (Sissons..again!). Downside is that it goes from good to bad really quicky...watch where you walk.

what in the hell is that smell?

Wonderful historic districts. Whole Inner Harbor and Chespeake Bay shoreline is super. Feels like mix of 1800s and 21st century. Lots of museums including some funky ones. A real urban feel. ...Cy

As a baltimore native, I'm proud of the steps my city has taken. Cherry Hil, Highlandtown, Sparrows point, and all those areas are coming back strong. Downtown is loaded with bars and clubs and other forms of entertainment. Seafood is amazing, and great ethnic foods can be found everywhere, from Afghani to Italian. Only a couple of bad areas, but every city has a dark side. Anyone who thinks that baltimore is just a crime-ridden, drug-infested town has watched too much of homicide and the wire. They should come visit some time.

Baltimore is a spin-off of Philadelphia. If Philadelphia were Cheers, Baltimore would be Frasier. If Philadelphia were Happy Days, Baltimore would be Joanie Loves Chachie. Baltimore seems like a decent sort of place. A nice place to visit for a day trip or a weekend get-away. Aside from that, there's little staying power here. It's affordable if you want a house, work in DC and dont mind commuting, but it has some big time urban problems. A lot of the people who could make this a great city live in the suburbs. Baltimore,in the right hands , could be a great city, but it just isnt there yet. The HBO show The Wire can give one a sense of what Baltimore is like. It's not quite as harsh as the show depicts, but it's close.

A very sad city. Long history and beautiful old abandoned buildings. So sad to drive through the city and see what was and what is. It's probably because the people who live there take no pride in it.

Not a whole lot to offer, kind of has a lot of history. It's a little dirty. It can't quite decide if it is northern or southern, i guess you would call it mid atlantic, it doesnt have the charm of old northeastern cities, but it doesnt have southern accents or anything. It's kind of blah

Lots of history. Great sports town and nice Inner Harbor. I believe Fell's Point is the oldest part of Baltimore and its truely beautiful and historic. Great seafood restaurants. Sort of blue collar, funkier and hipper than its stuffy neighbor D.C. I kind of like Baltimore but crime is a big concern, with over 200 homocides last year. Just be careful.

The Inner Harbor, Camden Yards and all are nice, but the city itself has a bad feeling about it. I have no complaint with the people there. I just felt very uneasy.

Baltimore has is truly one of the most hip cities in the country. Everyone feels like there is some big black hole between DC and Philadelphia, when in fact there is Charm city. Granted, there are a tremendous amount of problems related to crime, drugs, and disease. However, many of those problems are isolated in certain bad neighborhoods just like any other city. Baltimore has some of the most gorgeous neighborhoods in the country surrounding the metro area and despite what anyone tells you, there is a tremendous amount of old money throughout the city that helps support the city for generations and generations. People from the city are tremendously proud of Baltimore and only wish to share it with everyone else. You will not meet nicer, more friendly people in the Mid-Atlantic than in Baltimore. Plus, Maryland is a tremendous state with endless possibilities to offer visitors.

Wasn't too fond of the city, lots of bums and empty buildings. A dirty town with lots of poverty. If it weren't for Camden Yards, I would rate Baltimore a 1.

People compare Baltimore to D.C They are doing a disservice to both cities. Baltimore is dirty and has poor infrastructure but so what, the people are cool and the attitude is fairly laid back for the east coast. Certain parts of the city are really freen as well. My favorite industrial city.

I'll admit, it sure isn't pretty, but it's home. One of those images that I've got in my head that I keep for sweet reminiscing is from a Fourth of July night--laying down on Federal Hill with some friends to watch the fireworks, the view of the bay in the Inner Harbor. The sun set and left the stars in competition to outshine each other against the water, while little sparklers looked like they were jumping around below. Every place has its good side and bad side--you just gotta know where to look.

Quite possibly the ugliest city in the entire U.S.

Baltimore isn't paradise, but it's a better city than its ranking on this list would indicate. The public schools are lousy. There is high unemployment. There's lots of poor people. But Baltimore's bad image stems mostly from its unusually high rates of violent crime. It is so notorious for these that it has spawned an entire cottage industry: the 'gritty/realistic' books (later turned into TV shows) Homocide, The Corner and The Wire, all by former Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon. Besides these problems though, there is a lot to love in Baltimore. It is a beautiful city, with many attractions and an amazingly low cost of living. The food is some of the best you'll find anywhere. It is close to NYC and DC, and just a couple hours away from beaches to the east and mountains to the west. What makes Baltimore special though is its character and charm. American cities smaller than the very largest (NYC, SF, LA, Chicago) share a sad lack of urban identity-minus a lake here or some mountains there, they all look and feel much the same. This is not the case with Baltimore: every neighborhood is different, every neighborhood has its own unique character: Fells Point, Canton, Mount Vernon, Bolton Hill, Hampden; every one of them is like a world of its own. Baltimore is certainly worth a visit; you may even fall in love with the place and move here-I did.

Baltimore may or may not be a nice city to live in (I lived there years ago, for about three months), but it does have some great attractions (Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, Fells Point, Fort McHenry have already been mentioned by other reviewers), but it also has a couple of unique attractions like being the home port of the USS John Brown (an operating WW II Liberty ship), and the B&O Railroad Museum. Restaurants aplenty (some good ones in Little Italy, adjacent to the Inner Harbor). Good seafood (even though I'm not normally a seafood fan, I'll go for it in Baltimore), and there are still a couple of great Jewish kosher delis close to the Inner Harbor as well. Not a bad place to visit.

As a native, I don't recommend Baltimore. When friends/family come to visit me I take them to D.C.

Baltimore isn't necessarily as bad as people say it is.But it does need a lot of work to become a major/important city on the east coast. Its the little things that Baltimore lacks that leaves it behind cities like NewYork, D.C. and even philly. But u can for a day or 2 have a reasonable good time but if your gonna move to the east coast go to either NewYork , or washington D.C. those 2 cities contains the best of what the others have to offer

As a native of the Baltimore area, I really am disappointed at the bad beat that this city gets. It really is amazing to visit with its cultural diversity. There's a little bit of everything for anyone- great restraunts and shops, and great historical significance as well. It's great to visit Fort McHenry- truly awesome to visit the site of the battle that inspired our national anthem. The skyline is beautiful as well. The Inner Harbor is really the city's cultural center-you always see something interesting there every time you go- whether it be performances or street players. It's the best place to spend the 4th of July holiday. The traffic is horrendous and take it from someone who lived in Inner City Baltimore-the crime is high. If you're looking to move to this area- move to Baltimore County.

Suburban Washington

Baltimore is a wonderful city. It has a little of everything. It's location is prime for an abundance of activities. A excellent mix of old with new, comtemporary and traditional, urban and country. It is a northern and southern city all in one, with no pretentious attitudes. Note- you must see more than the inner harbor areas to appreciate Baltimore and it's unbelievable breadth of culture. This city truly does not follow trends. It marches to the beat of a different drummer (which coincidently hurts it international appeal). If you ever visit, I know you will not find a more pleasingly strange and quirky, yet balanced city in America.

I loved the Inner Harbor and Fort McHenry! Really inspirational to sit in a boat in the harbor and look at the fort knowing that is where Key wrote about in our national anthem... worth the time to do for every American!

Without Camden Yards and Fells point, this is just another smelly factory town.

Love the Inner Harbor!