Federal Hill Walking Tour & Baltimore Museum of Industry

The Walking Tour

Here is a chance for us to get outside and explore a famous Baltimore neighborhood by walking around and soaking up the ambience, as well as some tasty food and beverages. The total distance will probably be about 4 miles, but it will be a leisurely stroll and we'll be stopping along the way. The 2009 movie "He's Just Not That Into You" was set in Federal Hill. Though the movie wasn't very good, the renovated town houses were awesome.

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Federal Hill

Although close to Washington, Baltimore is a whole other world that's home to many interesting attractions and things to do. Let's start our series of Baltimore neighborhood adventures by visiting the Baltimore Museum of Industry and exploring Federal Hill which overlooks the Inner Harbor area.

Federal Hill itself is a historic park that sits atop the large prominent earth embankment facing the Inner Harbor business district. The panoramic views of Baltimore from the park are truly breathtaking.

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Surrounding the park is the neighborhood of Federal Hill that encompasses streets lined with charming row houses, a vibrant local business area, and quirky bars and restaurants which typify Baltimore and have earned it the nickname of "Charm City".

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Cross Street Market

We will meet up at the Cross Street Market, which is a lively and entertaining collection of food vendors and unusual merchandise. The Market is the heart of neighborhood life in Federal Hill, so we can get started there mingling with the locals and enjoying some real Bal'mer food and drink for an early lunch. Or you can buy a black leather Mafia-style hat or a Betty Boop handbag. A must-stop is Bruce Lee's Wings which has great burgers and fantastic juicy and crispy wings that are also cheap. Next to it is Nick's Seafood where they serve excellent sushi and a wide variety of beers which customers consume at barrel tables in the Market aisles.

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The Cross Street Market is an authentic Baltimore neighborhood experience and a cool way to get us going for our walking tour of Federal Hill. From there, we can wander the streets over to Federal Hill Park where we'll climb the steps to see the fantastic views. Then we will walk the neighborhood streets about one mile to the Baltimore Museum of Industry while observing the oddball things that make visiting Baltimore so special. You never know quite what you'll see along the way...

Baltimore Museum of Industry (BMI)

This museum is unique because it documents and celebrates the contributions of working people who participated in the Industrial Revolution that made America great. Baltimore was a major port and center of industry for canning, broadcasting, spices, and industrial products, among many others. The BMI is perfectly located on the harbor with excellent views and interesting exhibits. We will plan to spend an hour or two learning about how life was in those days, and you may even say "I remember that" for some of the items on display. The entrance fee for BMI is $10.

http://www.thebmi.org/page/exhibits

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After visiting the museum, we will walk back through Federal Hill to the central area around Cross Street Market where there are several good places to eat, drink, and socialize. All in all, it should be a fascinating and fun getaway from life in the Washington area.

Parking

Federal Hill is an urban area like Old Town with limited street parking. The best place to park to avoid getting a ticket is the West Street Parking Garage operated by the City of Baltimore. It's located at 40 E West St, Baltimore, MD 21230-4230, and parking for all day is $15. The garage is just one block away from the Cross Street Market, so it's very convenient for our visit.

Please call Jake at 703-798-8435 with any questions. I hope to see you there!

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