Discover Baltimore | Baltimore Summer Fun Guide

To help fill your Summer days and nights with activities that get you off the couch and outside of the house, discover Baltimore is pleased to present our Summer Fun Guide to Baltimore. Over the next 40 days we'll post an idea every day for you to make the most of your Summer. Some will be out of the ordinary while others are traditional favored Summer pastimes. We've tried to include a wide variety of activities so you'll be sure to find a few things that pique your interest. If you're looking for things to do in Baltimore you've come to the right place.

6

Go Antiquing

Antique Shopping is a favored pastime of many people including, decorators, window shoppers, and new home owners. You can find that unique piece that ties the room together or an interesting accent item.

The popularity of antiquing has never been higher. A lot of the popularity has to do with the proliferation of television programming related to interior design on HGTV, Bravo, A&E, and the Style Network. But perhaps the most popular show in regards to Antiques is PBS's Antiques Road Show. The Antiques Road Show just finished a stop in Baltimore at the Convention Center earlier this month. So while it may be too late to get your heirlooms appraised from the ARS experts, its never too late to add to your own collection. Listed below are some of the concentrated areas of antique dealers in the area with links to maps of the shops. Oh and don't forget to catch the televised airing of Baltimore's Antiques Roadshow stop on PBS in 2008.

Howard Street Antique Row The Howard Street antique row is the traditional Baltimore antique shopping destination. It is located in historic Mount Vernon on the 800 block of North Howard Street and the 200 block of West Read Street. There have been collections of antique shops at this location for over a century.

Cockeysville York Road Antique Shops Another great collection of antique shops in the area is just North of Baltimore in Cockeysville. Take 83 North to the Warren Road exit and then make a left onto York Road. You'll see the antique shops on your left at the 10800 block of York Road. There are also nearby consignment shops in Cockeysville which have many great finds.

Ellicott City Main Street Historic Ellicott City's Main Street is a wonderful place out of a time gone by. With its beautifully restored buildings, cobblestone streets, restaurants, and a plethora of specialty shops it is the perfect locale for a day of antiquing. Many of the specialty shops on Main Street are antique and furniture dealers. Ellicott City is just a 5 minute drive from outside the Baltimore Beltway.

7

Beat the Heat

Hazy. Hot. Humid. The dreaded three H's of Baltimore's Summer weather. While the majority of Baltimore's Summer is very pleasant, sometimes the air gets so thick with moisture that it becomes unbearable to breathe. So what's a Baltimorean to do? Why head downy o'shun of course. Maryland's Ocean City is the perfect road trip to escape from Baltimore when the mercury tips over 90°. The cool air from the Atlantic Ocean keeps the resort just a bit cooler than the Baltimore region. It's about a two and a half hour drive during non rush times from Baltimore to the Atlantic Ocean. This convenient distance makes Ocean City perfect for a day or weekend trip. Listed below are some helpful tips and tricks for reaching the beach. So grab your beach towel and leave the humidity behind!

MD CHART This service of the Maryland Dept of Transportation gives you a heads up on traffic conditions with real time incident reports and live web cams of critical junctions, helping you to avoid any problems.
OC Inlet Parking Lot For those of you taking a day trip, we recommend leaving as early as possible and pulling into the inlet parking lot for the day. It's the closest parking you can get to the beach and you can make a base camp from your vehicle.
Ocean City Hotels For those of you looking to spend a few days at the beach you can book a room in advance and save yourself some dough. If you roll into town without a reservation you will pay more for your room. If you're looking to spend a week or more you may want to consider renting a condo.
Ocean City Real Estate Of course the best way to do the beach is to have your own condo that you can use at your own leisure. Just don't be too surprised at how many "old friends" of yours are anxious "to catch up".

8

Symphony Under the Stars

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, or BSO has been one of the top cultural attractions in Baltimore for decades. This world renowned orchestra usually can be found performing at the Myerhoff Symphony Hall in Mount Vernon. However, during the Summer the BSO is known to hold special outdoor concerts at Oregon Ridge Park in Baltimore County's Cockeysville.

For over 20 years the BSO has held an annual Summerfest series of concerts that have attracted people in droves. To appeal to a broader audience the BSO goes light on the Vivaldi and plays more contemporary instrumental music at Oregon Ridge. This lighthearted program has been a huge success and its popularity only grows every year. While concessions are available, the lush green lawn in front of the stage calls for a blanket and picnic basket filled with fruit, cheese & crackers, and a bottle of your favorite vintage. Veteran concert goers know that they can look forward to an evening filled with great music and dazzling displays of fireworks in the company of friends and family. Tickets can be purchased online directly from the BSO at their online box office by following the links on each event.

July 3 & July 4: Star Spangled Spectacular Join the BSO this Independence Day as they play a selection of music that celebrates the nation's birthday. On site parking is no longer available, however a free shuttle bus will be run to and from the off site parking lot to the concert area.
July 14: Broadway Showstoppers The BSO performs Broadway standouts from John Kander, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and many others along with classic American band music. Free on site parking available.
July 28: Music of the Silver Screen Hollywood scores from your favorite classic flicks and summer blockbusters are performed. Don't forget to bring the popcorn. Free on site parking available.

9

Pamper Yourself

Take some time out of your busy schedule to treat yourself at a day spa. No special occasion is necessary for a little "me time". You'll walk out of the spa feeling physically and mentally rejuvenated. There are a wide variety of treatments and packages available tailored for both Women and Men. You can get a simple massage or go for a full day luxury session including mud baths, body wraps, skin treatments, aroma therapy, and traditional salon services for hair, skin, and nails.

Baltimore visitors and residents looking for a little luxury in their lives are fortunate to have several outstanding spas in the heart of the city with many more in the surrounding suburbs. Listed below are a just a few to get you started.

Zina's Day Spa & Salon Is located in the heart of Canton on the West end of O'Donnell Square. They offer a long list of treatments and have excellent packages available.
Spa Santé Nestled in between the trendy Inner Harbor East and Fell's Point neighborhoods is Spa Santé. It's a great location for visitors staying downtown or at the Inner Harbor looking to unwind for a bit.
Studio 921 Salon & Day Spa Is a very popular full service salon and day spa that offers innovative packages such as a girls night out package, a men's package, and a special for teenagers which includes a makeup lesson. You can find Studio 921 at the base of Locust Point in South Baltimore.

10

Get Fresh

Summertime in Baltimore marks the beginning of the farmer's market season which usually starts in June and runs through November. Farmers from the local region bring their crops to sell directly to consumers at the market. Buying your produce at a farmers market has several benefits for both you and the grower, creating a win-win situation for all involved. You are able to buy fresher produce at below supermarket prices and the grower can earn more than he or she would get from a distributor. But the best reason to go to the market is the reason why it makes this list. It's Fun! You'll always see something new from week to week as it comes in season.

The Baltimore metro area enjoys several dozen weekly farmer's markets. Most are small affairs tailored to serving the community in which they are held. However the Baltimore Farmer's Market held on Sundays in downtown is quite large and attracts people across the city. So if your normal grocery shopping routine has become a little stale, make a trip to the market and freshen up your life.

Baltimore Farmer's Market The largest market in Baltimore is held on Sundays from 8am till noon. You can find it underneath the shelter of I-83 (JFX) on Holliday Street. Beyond summertime produce staples, you can find a wide variety of items that are simply unavailable at your typical supermarket such as wheat grass and sprouts. Be sure to come early for the best selection.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture Provides an online directory of farmer's markets for each county. Hours of operation and addresses are listed for each market, along with contact information for the individual market's organizer.
Approximate Harvest Dates The website for the Waverly 32nd Street Market has a chart of typical harvest times for crops grown in Southern Maryland. You can use it as a rough guide for when to expect certain items to be available.

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