Baltimore or DC folk

[ouradu 0]

I'm going to be in Baltimore this next month with my wife, it'll be my first trip to the DC area. She'll be at a conference all day for three days and I'll be on my own to go sight seeing in DC. We have to stay in Baltimore for the free room, so I'm trying to figure out if it is best to rent a car and deal with traffic, parking and of course the cost of the car and gas, or take a longer trip by taking the train to the metro then the metro to DC. Anyone familiar with this commute that could give me some advice or a better option?

 

Thanks

[Mephisto 15]

Geek meet? How about we meet at The Melting Pot and you guys pay on your wife's corporate dime?

 

[Giants Fan 85]

Never been to Baltimore or DC ... my Dad was born in "Baldimer". If I was ever to go to Baltimore ... and I plan to, I would have to visit Woods Hall on the U of M campus. It was named after my greta grandfather, and so was I.

 

You know what would be funny ... if you took a picture there, holding a sign that said "GFIAFP" ... that would be classic.

[sawilson 1]

I'm going to be in Baltimore this next month with my wife, it'll be my first trip to the DC area. She'll be at a conference all day for three days and I'll be on my own to go sight seeing in DC. We have to stay in Baltimore for the free room, so I'm trying to figure out if it is best to rent a car and deal with traffic, parking and of course the cost of the car and gas, or take a longer trip by taking the train to the metro then the metro to DC. Anyone familiar with this commute that could give me some advice or a better option?

 

Thanks

You need to hunt down Ravens, he's a Baltimore geek whom I'm sure can help you on this one.

[BlackPlague 1]

I'd take the MARC train. It's cheap and fast ($14 round trip, I think). Besides, parking in the tourist areas of DC can be pretty frustrating sometimes especially this time of year.

 

You'd want the MARC-Penn line.

 

http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/

[buffalobillsffl2003 0]

You want to go about 30 miles north of Bollmurr, and to a town called New Freedom, Pennsyltucky. There is a place there that has the bestest crab cakes.

 

[Concrete Charlie 0]

Baltimore: take her out to a dinner in Little Italy(expensive but very good food), and then bar hopping in Fells Point(board a water taxi at the Inner Harbor to Fells Point, about a 15 minutes cruise).

[Ravens 03 0]

I'm going to be in Baltimore this next month with my wife, it'll be my first trip to the DC area. She'll be at a conference all day for three days and I'll be on my own to go sight seeing in DC. We have to stay in Baltimore for the free room, so I'm trying to figure out if it is best to rent a car and deal with traffic, parking and of course the cost of the car and gas, or take a longer trip by taking the train to the metro then the metro to DC. Anyone familiar with this commute that could give me some advice or a better option?

 

Thanks

 

Not sure what your question is.

 

If you are asking if you/she should drive from Baltimore to DC for her daily conference - No. Train is fine.

 

Airport - you can do a taxi to the hotel.

 

Things to do for you during the day/night in Baltimore if you decide to hang there:

Orioles - working on 9th straight losing season.

Little Italy - Lots of nice restaurants

Fells Point - Drinks and 'colorful' neighborhood.

Inner Harbor - lots to do.

National Aquarium & MS Science Center - both worthwhile.

Fory McHenry - Home of Star Spangled Banner

 

There might be one more.

 

 

It's late/early, so I'm not thinking too clearly.

 

ravens_2003@yahoo.com for more questions if you have any.

[spork in the road 2]

Definitely take the Marc Train. It takes you directly to Union Station in DC. From there you can take the metro to the mall or where ever you want. If you take the DC metro don't act like all the midwestern doosh bag tourists. If you want to stand on the escalator, stand to the left. The right portion of the escalator is for walking.

 

The muesuems on the mall are all free and easy. Some things like visiting Congress or the White House require a little planning.

[dirty dug 0]

Definitely take the Marc Train. It takes you directly to Union Station in DC. From there you can take the metro to the mall or where ever you want. If you take the DC metro don't act like all the midwestern doosh bag tourists. If you want to stand on the escalator, stand to the left. The right portion of the escalator is for walking.

 

The muesuems on the mall are all free and easy. Some things like visiting Congress or the White House require a little planning.

 

Uh, my understanding from living here in DC it's stand to the right, walk to the left on the escalators.

 

Definitely see B'more, inner harbour, aquarium... take the MARC to Union Station, WALK to the mall. You head straight out the fron of Union Station about 3 blocks and you run into the Capitol building, from there you have the Smithsonians, Library of Congress, Archives, all the memorials, walk across the Memorial bridge to Arlington cemetary...

 

Lots to do, much more interesting in DC than B'more, but certainly see B'more.

[BiPolarBear 494]

Little Italy is a good call and it is right next to the Inner Harbour. You will find the Baltimore Aqarium, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the ESPN Zone there. Go to the aqarium when the kids are in school. I took my kids a couple of weeks ago and we had to wait an hour and a half to get in AFTER spending 45 minutes in line to buy tickets. Seafood is like a religion in Maryland and you should eat some steamed crabs while you are in town.

 

The Bay Cafe is on the water in Baltimore. The shrimp salad sandwich is a specialty. I had one for lunch and skipped dinner it was so big.

 

Bay Cafe

2809 Boston St

Baltimore, MD 21224-4882

(410) 522-3377

 

President Grant used to eat at the Old Ebbitt Grill and lots of Senators and Congressmen still do. The gas lights are original. Oysters on the half shell are a specialty there. Have a drink at the bar and keep your ears open.

 

http://www.ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?Sectio...bout_the_Ebbitt

 

I assume you wouldn't go to DC and skip the Smitsonians, but they are really incredible and make sure to have plenty of time for the experience. You can walk to the Wahington and Lincoln Monuments from there. There are also some great art museums in DC.

 

Fort McHenry is OK. It's just a bunch of piled up dirt unless you listen to the rangers and get some history. All the cannons there are from the civil war era and have nothing to do with the war of 1812 when Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. The British stayed out of range of the fort's guns and shelled the place until they got bored and left.

[hoytdwow 202]

Baltimore blows. HTH

[D_House 0]

Good advice all. I'll echo the MARC suggestion though, it runs regularly and you won't have to deal with the hassle of parking in DC.

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

bar hopping in Fells Point

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I'm going to be in Baltimore this next month with my wife, it'll be my first trip to the DC area. She'll be at a conference all day for three days and I'll be on my own to go sight seeing in DC. We have to stay in Baltimore for the free room, so I'm trying to figure out if it is best to rent a car and deal with traffic, parking and of course the cost of the car and gas, or take a longer trip by taking the train to the metro then the metro to DC. Anyone familiar with this commute that could give me some advice or a better option?

 

Thanks

 

Contact your local Congressman well in advance to let them know that you are coming. Have one of their staffers give you a tour of the Capitol. In addition, they can get you special passes for the White House tours - those done by the Secret Service which is better than the standard tour.

 

Go to the Old Ebbit Grill and the Capitol Grille is pretty darn good.

[D_House 0]

Little Italy is a good call and it is right next to the Inner Harbour. You will find the Baltimore Aqarium, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the ESPN Zone there. Go to the aqarium when the kids are in school. I took my kids a couple of weeks ago and we had to wait an hour and a half to get in AFTER spending 45 minutes in line to buy tickets. Seafood is like a religion in Maryland and you should eat some steamed crabs while you are in town.

 

The Bay Cafe is on the water in Baltimore. The shrimp salad sandwich is a specialty. I had one for lunch and skipped dinner it was so big.

 

Bay Cafe

2809 Boston St

Baltimore, MD 21224-4882

(410) 522-3377

 

President Grant used to eat at the Old Ebbitt Grill and lots of Senators and Congressmen still do. The gas lights are original. Oysters on the half shell are a specialty there. Have a drink at the bar and keep your ears open.

 

http://www.ebbitt.com/main/home.cfm?Sectio...bout_the_Ebbitt

 

I assume you wouldn't go to DC and skip the Smitsonians, but they are really incredible and make sure to have plenty of time for the experience. You can walk to the Wahington and Lincoln Monuments from there. There are also some great art museums in DC.

 

Fort McHenry is OK. It's just a bunch of piled up dirt unless you listen to the rangers and get some history. All the cannons there are from the civil war era and have nothing to do with the war of 1812 when Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. The British stayed out of range of the fort's guns and shelled the place until they got bored and left.

Do you live in Baltimore? And aren't you the music/guitar shop manager?

[BiPolarBear 494]

Do you live in Baltimore? And aren't you the music/guitar shop manager?

 

I live in Frederick, Maryland about 40 miles from Baltimore and 45 miles from Washington D.C. I was a music store manager in San Clemente, CA.

[TommyGavin 790]

I'm from NY so I cant help with the "best" commute but when with my family we eat Mussels at Bertha's (Fells Point) and if there to see a ballgame with the guys we drink at the Green Turtle (also Fells Point).

 

[D_House 0]

I live in Frederick, Maryland about 40 miles from Baltimore and 45 miles from Washington D.C. I was a music store manager in San Clemente, CA.

ah ok. i'm in baltimore and want to find an alternative to guitar center. i hate the doosh bags that work there.

[BiPolarBear 494]

ah ok. i'm in baltimore and want to find an alternative to guitar center. i hate the doosh bags that work there.

 

Guitar Centers are a pit alright. You can get some great deals if you know how to work their system, however. Guitar Center were started by people from the car business...makes sense, doesn't it?

[Ravens 03 0]

ah ok. i'm in baltimore and want to find an alternative to guitar center. i hate the doosh bags that work there.

 

Frederick Rd outside the beltway - I think it's called Bill's.

 

Huge place. New & used stuff galore.

[STBootleg 0]

ah ok. i'm in baltimore and want to find an alternative to guitar center. i hate the doosh bags that work there.

 

How about http://www.billsmusic.com/

[D_House 0]

How about http://www.billsmusic.com/

Frederick Rd outside the beltway - I think it's called Bill's.

 

Huge place. New & used stuff galore.

Looks like a long drive, but worth a look. Thanks!

[Ravens 03 0]

Looks like a long drive, but worth a look. Thanks!

 

I can't imagine you will be disappointed.

 

Call them in advance and get on their monthly mailer, and ask what you are looking for.

 

 

[it's only 1/4 - 1/2 mile on left outside of the beltway]

[ouradu 0]

thanks for the help.