1

Jump Into A Swimming Hole

The pool, be it your community or neighbor's, is always good in a pinch, but there's something about taking a dip in a swimming hole that the pool lacks. Fortunately Baltimore has several options in the local area to cool off in a more natural setting. Some are privately ran and some are public but they're all a great opportunity to get out of the house and escape the ordinary. Listed below are some of the best. Follow the links for directions and more information.

• Gunpowder Falls Hammerman Area A nice sandy beach on the Gunpowder River awaits swimmers at this popular state park.

• Beaver Dam Swimming Club A former quarry that has been filled with cool freshwater and is now a privately owned swimming hole that is open to the public.

• Rocky Point Beach Is at the mouth of the Middle River and features 300 feet of sandy beaches with picnic tables and pavillions provided by Baltimore County Rec and Parks.

• Milford Mill Swim Club Another privately owned quarry / swimming hole, this one is just West of Baltimore and has lots of amenities for a full day of family fun.

• Oregon Ridge Beach Yet another former quarry, but Oregon Ridge Beach is publicly managed by the Baltimore County Rec and Parks department.

• Rocks State Park Has quite a number of swimming holes scattered throughout with the basin pool of Kilgore Falls as the popular favorite. However you won't find any lifeguards here so swim at your own risk.

2

Power Plant Live Friday Free Concerts

Baltimore's hottest entertainment district, Power Plant Live, pulls out all of the stops with their free weekly outdoor concerts. Every Friday throughout the Summer you can come down for their rockin' shows. The concerts are held in the Power Plant Live plaza, and admission is restricted to those 21 years of age and better. The plaza is just North of Pratt Street across from the Inner Harbor.

Here's the 2007 schedule for the Friday night concert series through Labor Day. Follow the links to the performers websites for more info on each act. You'll notice a good mix of national and popular local acts performing original music and songs you know by heart.

• June 22

  Better Than Ezra

• June 29

  Colouring Lesson &
  Into the Sun

• July 6

  Outbreak

• July 13

  Mr. Greengenes

• July 20

  Violent Femmes

• July 26

  Crushing Day

• July 27

  Anamide

• August 3

  Will Hoge

• August 17

  Mr. Greengenes

• August 24

  Vs. the Earth

• September 7

  Reagan Years

3

Learn To Sail

Baltimore is fortunate to have the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, sitting right at its doorstep. But all too often people don't take advantage of its vast resources for one reason or another. One of the most joyous activities to be found on the Chesapeake is sailing. When you step on board a sailboat you create an instant connection to the maritime tradition of Baltimore. So what are you waiting for? Well the most common reason why people don't get involved in sailing is that they think that it is too expensive for the average Joe to try. Well thanks to several local organizations and companies you don't have to be Thurston Howell III to get involved with sailing in Baltimore.

• Getaway Sailing is a full service sailing center conveniently located on Canton's Boston Street. They offer sailing instruction for all ages, charters, boat rentals, a local sailing club, day cruises around Baltimore, and multi day cruises in the Cheseapeake for the adventurous. Their boats range from 9 foot trainers to 34 foot bay cruisers.

• The Downtown Sailing Center Runs a bit differently than the previous entry. For starters its a non profit organization striving to bring sailing to everyone. Its not ideal for visitors looking for something to do in a single day, but for area residents who want to become well trained sailors, then you need to look no further. The DSC is a member based organization located on Key Highway in South Baltimore. Check out their website for information on becoming a member.

• Baltimore County Sailing Center Is another non profit organization for sailing enthusiasts. They run a range of programs for children and adults. Sailing lessons, organized races, wind surfing, and kayaking are some of the activities they offer. The center is located at Rocky Point Park on the Back River.

4

Walk the Entire Promenade

Baltimore is home to a unique feature that helps connect neighborhoods along Baltimore's shoreline, the waterfront promenade. It begins in Canon's Maryland Korean War Memorial and runs along seven miles of shoreline through historic Fell's Point, Inner Harbor East, the Inner Harbor, Federal Hill, and South Baltimore. You can leisurely stroll along the brick paved promenade and enjoy scenic views of the harbor while stopping in at various points of interest along the way.

On your way along the promenade you'll notice many markers that point out historic, cultural, and natural landmarks. Taking time out to investigate these landmarks is part of the fun of strolling along the promenade. Other stops people tend to veer off for include the hundreds of places to grab a bite to eat. Whatever you're craving at the moment, chances are pretty good that you can find it along the promenade.

Don't be too hard on yourself if you're not able to make it all the way through in one shot. It is very easy to get distracted by all of the waterfront attractions. In fact, one of the major goals of the promenade designers was to make the waterfront and the attractions alongside it more accessible to pedestrians.

The promenade is enjoyed by residents and visitors every day, but it is at its best in the warmer months. On the hottest days of the year, it is best to walk the promenade in the early morning or late evening. But no matter when you go you will surely be glad that you did.

5

Expand Your Vision

Learn to see the world around you in a new light by taking an art class. There are many programs and workshops in the area that are tailored to adults looking to discover a new medium or technique. You don't have to be a Michaelangelo to take an introductory course or a workshop. You just need to have a desire to broaden your mind. Once you begin experimenting with the techniques that you learn in class you'll be amazed at how much your results improve, and after a while you'll start seeing everyday things around you through artist's eyes. Your newly sharpened creative skills will help you with everyday problem solving and help increase your quality of life.

Here are a few of the local programs that can help you jump start your creative energy. Follow the links for more information on each program.

• Baltimore Clayworks Offers youths and adults full courses and workshops in a variety of mediums and disciplines with a focus on sculpture and pottery. They are located in Mount Washington on Smith Avenue.

• Creative Alliance Workshops Southeast Baltimore's Creative Alliance holds an ongoing series of workshops for individuals interested in a variety of creative endeavors including fine art, new media, and the performing arts.

• MICA Continuing Studies MICA is world renowned as a top art school for full time undergraduates, but it also offers continuing ed classes for those of us without a portfolio. You can take classes in nearly any artistic discipline that you can imagine, from basic illustration to jewelery design.