Getting More Out of Baltimore

No place is like Baltimore. Our beautiful harbor city is historic, exciting, and full of great things to see and do. The food is great, the people are wonderful, and we’re just a short jaunt from wilderness destinations, historic battlefields, and other major cities.

But Baltimore is what you make of it. Plenty of things about Baltimore aren’t so great, and it’s easy to focus on those. The Baltimore area has some beautiful homes and beautiful neighborhoods, and it’s all too easy to stick around your own space and never explore all of the great things that Baltimore has to offer. Don’t let Baltimore pass you by. Here’s how to get the most out of Charm City.

Embrace the local cuisine

Baltimore is great for a lot of things, but one thing it truly excels at it is food.

Baltimore’s delicious crab dishes and other seafood treats are must-eat meals for any self-respecting Baltimore resident. And with so many great restaurants in the area, you’re sure to find a favorite place or two as well as plenty of new spots to try.

You should try your hand at making your own, too. It’s part of the culture here. So crack open a cookbook and whip up some crab legs — whether you choose to steam, grill, or roast your crabs is up to you. Grab some fresh fish on the way home from work. And, above all, make sure that you have plenty of Old Bay in the cupboard. This is Maryland, after all.

Play tourist

Baltimore has lots of great tourist attractions, which is why Inner Harbor is always swamped with crowds on nice days during tourist season. Locals don’t always have time for this stuff — we have work to do and lives to lead, and we take our own vacation time elsewhere.

But if you really want to get the most out of Baltimore, don’t wait until your family or friends visit to go to these tourist hot spots. Pick a weekend day or play hooky from work and go explore your own city as if you were a tourist! There’s a reason that our city is such a hit with the vacation set, and there’s no reason to deprive yourself of the city’s charms. So grab your fanny pack and sunscreen and go play tourist. Head to the top local spots for sightseeing and tourist attractions. Visit Fort McHenry and check out the Walters Art Gallery. We’ll see you at the National Aquarium.

Care for your mental health

Urban life can be uniquely stressful, experts tell us. And the Baltimore area is home to a lot of competitive professionals who work long hours in tough jobs — something that experts agree can be very tough on mental health. All of this means that mental health should be a priority for any Baltimore resident.

In fact, mental health should be a priority for everyone everywhere. Despite harmful and misguided assumptions that many of us make about mental health and mental health care, we should all be thinking about our minds and visiting professionals for care. Therapy is great for folks with mental illnesses to treat, explain the experts at Baltimore Therapy Group, but it’s also a wonderful choice for those who feel fine. Talk therapy will give you insights into your own thought patterns and will help you take control of your behaviors and your reactions to external stresses.

Great mental health will help you get more out of life. It will help you get more out of Baltimore, too.