Baltimore is about 200 miles from Teaneck and will take about four hours of travel by car.
According to the community’s 2010 population survey, some 31 percent of its approximately 94,000 Jews comprise an active, strong, unified Orthodox community.
There are so many places to visit, from the National Aquarium to Inner Harbor to the B&O Railroad Museum, that if a family wants to spend a day or two away from home, their days will be filled with activity. Those activities will attract all ages.
Of course, during the summer months it is already well known that families from Boston to New York to New Jersey take in the Baltimore attractions while taking in a baseball game at the Baltimore Orioles’ beautiful Oriole Park at Camden Yards. But there’s still plenty to do during a winter break.
One of the great attractions about a Baltimore visit is that the downtown Inner Harbor attractions such as the Science Center, Aquarium and Constellation are only about a 20-minute ride to the vibrant Jewish communities in Upper Park Heights, Cheswolde, Greenspring, Pikesville, Stevenson, Owings Mills and others.
Many of the major-named hotels such as the Hyatt Regency and the Sheraton are located just footsteps from the Inner Harbor. Again, during the summer, the harbor area includes boat rides and street acts. Still, there are plenty of shops that are within walking distance to many of the Inner Harbor attractions.
If the family would like to travel another 46-60 minutes south, there are the year-round attractions that Washington, D.C., has to offer.
But Baltimore is a good place to start and really stop for a quick, turn-around trip. Amtrak’s Penn Station stops in the city’s cultural district. A light rail line can take you from the train to the Camden Yards area or even out to Mt. Washington, which is located on the fringe of the Orthodox community and a good way to meet any friend or relative you have in Charm City.
Yes, this can be done in a day. But stay awhile. There’s much to do.
Minyanim:
Check BaltimoreJewishLife.com for a list of the many rich davening opportunities.
Many Kosher Places to Eat
Tov Pizza
6313 Reisterstown Road
410-358-5238
TovPizza.com
David Chu’s China Bistro
7105 Reisterstown Rd.
410-602-5008
Serengeti
Greenspring Shopping Center
2839M Smith Avenue.
410-413-6080
Serengetibaltimore.com
Cocoaccinos Coffee Café
2831 Smith Avenue
410-653-3888
Cocoaccinos.com
Accents
2839 Smith Avenue
410-602-2224
AccentsKosher.com
Dougie’s
600 Reisterstown Road
410-486-0060
Dougiesmd.com
Dunkin’ Donuts
7000 Reisterstown Road
410-764-6846
And 1508 Reisterstown Road
Corner of Old Court Road
410-653-8182
Van Gough Café
300 S. Ann Street
410-558-1958
Vangoughcafe.com
Places to Visit:
Babe Ruth Birthplace
and Baseball Center
216 Emory Street
410-727-1539
Baberuthmuseum.org
Baltimore City Fire Museum
414 Old Town Mall, Baltimore, MD 21202
410-727-2414
Baltimore Museum of Art
10 Art Museum Drive
410-396-7101
Artbma.com
Baltimore Museum of Industry
1415 Key Highway
410-727-4808
Thebmi.org
Baltimore Streetcar Museum
1901 Falls Road
410-547-0264
Baltimorestreetcar.org
B&O Railroad Museum
& Roundhouse
901 West Pratt Street
410-752-2490
Borail.org
Fort McHenry
Fort Avenue
410-962-2490
Jewish Museum
of Maryland
15 Lloyd Street.
410-732-6400
Jewishmuseummd.org
Maryland
Science Center
601 Light Street at Key Highway
410-685-5225
Mdsci.org
National Aquarium
501 East Pratt Street
410-576-3800
Aqua.org
USS Constellation Museum
Baltimore Inner Harbor
410-539-1797
Historicships.org
Harbor Place
201 East Pratt Street
Harborplace.com
By Phil Jacobs
