Although it is often overlooked by cruisers on their way to Cape Cod or the Florida Keys, nearly 25 million visitors flock each year to Baltimore Inner Harbor to bask in the glory of the waterfront and explore the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, exciting cuisine, and cultural landmarks.
Navigating up the Patapsco River, boaters will pass by the remains of the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge, (named for poet who penned The Star-Spangled Banner) and cruise beyond the Curtis Bay Industrial Area, where you can spot the largest port facilities for automobiles in the country. Turn into the West Channel and things become a bit more scenic, with the lush green of the Baltimore Waterfront Promenade to the left and, to the right, the stately Harbor East Marina. A stone’s throw from the popular Baltimore Aquarium, this marina offers 184 boat slips, 900 feet of alongside dockage in addition to spectacular amenities and access to the upscale Harbor East neighborhood, famous for its chic eateries – for Italian, try Tagliata, or Azumi for unmissable sushi.
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Next door to Harbor East is the hip, historic Fells Point area, noted for its nightlife and Broadway Pier, a National Heritage area from which you can watch traditional sailboats, auxiliary Navy ships, and Coast Guard vessels patrol the waters. If you want to drop anchor here, dock your boat at Henderson’s Wharf, which offers 256 slips for annual, seasonal, or temporary mooring with Wi-Fi-access, cable television hook-ups, and shower and laundry facilities, not to mention an individualized butler service.
For the bright lights of the big city, head up to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Marina, which features 135 boat slips for vessels up to 300 feet in length, water hookup, Wi-Fi, cable, showers, laundry, and access to the amenities of the nearby Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore Hotel. Drop anchor here, enjoy a few sunset cocktails, and watch the fantastic city skyline come alive as the evening falls. Head out for a show at Power Plant Live or The Rockwell, where local musicians and DJs play regularly. For something more low-key, why not play a few rounds of billiards at Edgar’s Billiards Club and Bar?
The waterfront features a plethora of cultural and historical exhibits that are so diverse and numerous it would take weeks to visit them all. This inexhaustible array of museums and landmarks offers something for everyone: those who enjoy fine art and history will want to see the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and the Walters Art Museum; bookworms might make a pilgrimage to the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum while baseball fanatics can check out Babe Ruth’s birthplace; and kids will love the Port Discovery Children’s Museum and the Maryland Science Center.
In September, the harbor hosts the much-anticipated Trawlerfest, a superb in-water boat show sponsored by renowned Passagemaker Magazine. Visitors have the chance to walk around Inner Harbor and check out new and pre-owned long-range watercraft from key brands like Ocean Alexander, Sabre, Back Cove and Beneteau. Here, you can talk shop with vendors, explore custom options, chat with fellow boaters and even attend a range of workshops and seminars on topics like engine maintenance, onboard training, and navigation.
