2020-12-17 03:45:24
Find museums and markets, music, art, and food that will make your mouth water. This short byway—12 miles of adventure from the edge of horse country through the heart of the city—will show you how Baltimore earned the name “Charm City.” OLD-SCHOOL COOL As Charles Street stretches from Baltimore County and into downtown, it sets the scene for three renowned colleges. Notre Dame of Maryland University and Loyola University of Maryland, with their adjoining, forested campuses of classic stone buildings, are home to a hub of college restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs. The hip and lively college scene stretches to the beautiful urban campus of Johns Hopkins University, home of the Space Telescope Science Institute where they drive the Hubble Space Telescope. It’s also a perfect destination for sports fans as Division 1 Loyola Greyhounds basketball is always a high-flying great time, and you’re guaranteed to get close to the action at the school’s Reitz Arena. Or, if you stick to outdoor fun, Homewood Field at Hopkins may be the most storied ground in the world of lacrosse. Catch the perennial powerhouse JHU Blue Jays in action before exploring the area’s dynamic dining options. ART & THEATER EVERYWHERE With murals, roadside statuary, and the living art inherent in a concentrated college town environment, there’s always something amazing to see. Bordering the Hopkins campus, the Baltimore Museum of Art is long known for its famous Cone Collection, featuring the largest grouping of Matisse works in the world. The BMA has recently dedicated itself to amassing the art of the underrepresented, bringing in new works and exhibits created by women and minority artists from around the world. As you continue down Charles Street, the area around historic Penn Station, with Jonathan Borofsky’s towering Male/Female statue gazing down, makes another great stop. Grab a bite at one of the restaurants in the neighborhood before a show at the arthouse Charles Theater and follow it up with a cocktail at longtime hipster hangout Club Charles, the beer lovers’ go-to Brewer’s Art, or The Owl Bar, a nearly century-old speakeasy in the famous Belvedere Hotel. Just down the street, the Mount Vernon Place Historic Landmark District captures the energy and architecture of a European plaza, all under the soaring Washington Monument. Here you’ll find a world of flavors with Indian, Afghani, Italian, traditional Mexican eateries, and much, much more. The plaza is also home to the Walters Art Museum, a true national treasure with works dating back seven millennia. The Maryland Historical Society displays Francis Scott Key’s original manuscript of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Speaking of music, keep an ear out for street performers from the world-famous Peabody Institute—it’s produced master musicians from Phillip Glass to Tori Amos. If you can get in to see the Peabody Library or the remarkably elegant Engineers Club, you simply must. Theatre lovers are absolutely spoiled on this byway with the Hippodrome Theater bringing Broadway plays to Charm City, Center Stage showcasing the region’s considerable local talent, and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company with classic presentations and new visions of old masterworks all just a short stroll off of Charles Street. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS The Historic Charles Street Byway cruises just a stone’s throw from the harbor and a long, fly ball from Camden Yards. Time your trip to catch an Orioles game at the best ballpark in the big leagues. Or stroll the harbor with its amazing attractions including the National Aquarium of Baltimore, the American Visionary Arts Museum, the Maryland Science Center, and Port Discovery Children’s Museum, just to name a few. Finish your adventure in the charming Federal Hill neighborhood, known for its nightlife. There are great clubs like The 8X10 bringing reggae greats and more to Charm City and Illusions Magic Bar & Lounge with dazzling performers sure to blow your mind. The Charles Street Byway may not be long, but it packs a lifetime of adventures. Find more things to do along Baltimore’s Historic Charles Street Byway at: visitmaryland.org/scenic-byways/baltimores-historic-charles-street
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