Only a short distance from Washington, D.C., Baltimore is a destination of its own. Whether you wish to attend a professional sports game, tour a museum, enjoy fine shopping and dining, or take part in one of the several annual events and festivals, Baltimore is full of options for the visitor. With its choice spot on the eastern seaboard and 300-year history, this comes as no surprise.

Football and baseball fans will delight, as Baltimore is home to both an MLB and an NFL team. The Baltimore Orioles, strongly supported by locals (you may wish to leave your Yankees/Red Sox jerseys at home), can be seen at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The 2000 NFL World Champion Baltimore Ravens play at Ravens Stadium. Even if you aren't an ardent sports fan, an outing to a home game for either team can be thrilling.

If quality shopping and fine dining are more your style, head for the Inner Harbor, where you can find hundreds of shops, attractions and restaurants within walking distance of major hotels. Harborplace and the Gallery at Harborplace (linked via skywalk), located in the Inner Harbor, comprise a shopping and dining zone of nearly 200 different shops, galleries, and restaurants.

While there are many fine attractions and museums in Baltimore, it would be a shame not to take advantage of its unique strength in maritime museums and attractions. Two top recommendations are the Baltimore Maritime Museum on Pier 3 off of East Pratt St and the USS Constellation Museum at Pier 1. Of particular interest, the USS Constellation is the last surviving Civil War battleship still afloat.