September 19, 2012 ---- Baltimore is only one and a half hour by car from Lancaster, PA. Nathan and I had been there once before this trip, just for dinner on the way back home from Washington D.C. Baltimore is well known for the best Old Bay steamed crabs and crab cakes, and my mouth starts watering whenever I think about crabs!
Because we didn't get to do/see anything from last trip in Baltimore, Nathan and I made a point that we would do more on this trip. We left home late in the morning to get there in time for lunch, and our first stop was at Lexington Market.
Lexington Market
Lexington Market is located right in the middle of Baltimore downtown, and it is the most famous fresh seafood market in Baltimore. I found on Yelp that Faidley Seafood has the best crab cakes here.
As we got in front of Lexington Market, I could see that this is the most popular place for both tourists and local people. We got a parking spot right in front of the market and paid at the pay station to park for 2 hours.
Lexington Market is pretty big and crowded. We had a little difficult time finding Faidley Seafood because it was far in the back side of the market. The restaurant has pretty substantial space, and it sells both raw and cooked seafood. You won't find any sitting tables here, but what they have here are long tall tables that you can put your food on and stand to enjoy your meal.
I got a lump crab cake and Nathan got some kind of fried fish. I LOVED mine so much! Nathan who normally hates crab cake also loved it too!
Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum
After a hearty lunch, we went straight to Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. The small, 2.5 story brick house was built in 1830, and Poe lived there for some years during his life.
The museum is free of charge, and you can donate money and buy some souvenirs to help support the museum. It has free street parking right in front of the museum. At the front entrance is a person who gives you an introduction to the house, and you can explore each room on your own . There are only 4 small rooms in the entire house. One the first floor is the kitchen, and there are two bedrooms on the second floor and one bedroom on the third floor. The main exhibits are on the first and second floors. The stairs are really steep and narrow, and each room can't really hold more that 5 people in it.
Edgar Allan Poe's Memorial Grave
Edgar Allan Poe's Memorial Grave is located at Westminster Hall. When Poe was originally buried in 1849, he was placed in an unmarked grave, which is located further back in the yard. In 1875, he was moved to the memorial site that we see nowadays.Poe's wife and mother-in-law are also buried here.
There are many famous people buried in this graveyard. You can do a little tour walking around and read their memorable life stories. It was pretty nice and peaceful there.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historical Shrine
Fort McHenry had a major role in the War of 1812 when it defended Baltimore from the attack by the British navy. The event also inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem that later became the national anthem of the United States.
There is a nice, big parking lot right in front of the park visitor center. Once you get inside, you have to pay a $7 fee to visit the park. There was a very nice exhibit in the visitor center about the war, and at a certain time there would be a short movie about the fort and the war in 1812. It was a very touching film....
There was also a tour led by the park ranger when we visited, but he was too obnoxious, so we decided the explore the fort on our own. The fort looked small but very well kept, and each room had an exhibit. You could spend at least two hours walking around there.
The view of the harbor and the ocean from the fort is remarkable. There is also a trail along the shore where you can walk, jog, or run.
Baltimore Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is the most popular place in Baltimore. The parking is very expensive, about $7/hour, but it's worth the visit. There are many restaurants, hotels, and activities around here. Nathan and I spent a little over an hour walking along the waterfront. We didn't do much because we wanted to drive back home early and rest so that Nathan could prepare for his class the next day.
L.P. Steamers
The first time we were in Baltimore, we went to L.P. Steamers for Old Bay steamed crabs. I found this place on Yelp, and it was really good! We ordered 4 large steamed crabs, and they all were very meaty and delicious. We also had corn on the cob and french fries to eat with the crabs. I highly recommend this place if you want to have some of Baltimore's famous steamed crabs. :)
