The Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Things To See and Do in Baltimore

While many flock to Baltimore to visit landmarks like Fort McHenry and the National Aquarium, the Monumental City is filled with hidden gems for those who prefer to visit those venues less traveled. From eateries and drinkeries to museums filled with novelties, Baltimore holds plenty of intriguing nooks throughout its many neighborhoods. 

A ghost tour in Baltimore – Copyright US Ghost Adventures

Get Spooked on a Spine-Chilling Ghost Tour

Baltimore remains a city steeped in salty tales, heavy with the history of smuggling, pirates, and privateers — not to mention the gothic master Edgar Allen Poe. Its dark and brooding legacy makes it a perfect place to embark on a haunting ghost tour, witnessing some of its spookiest stories and landmarks in the flesh. 

Along this shadow-soaked ghost tour of Baltimore, you’ll be regaled with the watery legends of Fells Point, where sailors and pirates noisily caroused in its rougher days, leaving many ghosts to linger. Learn about Charm City's most haunted hotels and drinkeries, such as the Admiral Fell Inn, where ghostly revelries carry on in empty rooms despite its guests having checked out long ago. 

Haunted tours of this specter-filled city are offered year-round and range from the ghostly and history-centered to spirited pub crawls. 

Have a Blessed Beer at Ministry of Brewing

If you’re ever on a mission to slake your thirst in Baltimore, the Ministry of Brewing is the place to go. Stationed in an abandoned church from the mid-1800s, it served as a house of worship to Baltimore’s German Catholic population for nearly 150 years before offering the masses a new type of sustenance in the 21st century. 

But this newfound house of beer hasn’t forgotten its theological roots. Come to this stunning sanctuary of sudsy pints and behold its massive barrel brewing system, overlooked by a spectacular fresco of Jesus. You can sit in a pew while you enjoy a pilsner or two, taking in the vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and authentic church organ, along with newer additions, like its 40-foot-long bar decorated with oyster shells. 

Stroll Graffiti Alley

Looking for a hidden gem in Baltimore that’s free to explore? In that case, take a stroll down the L-shaped art space known as Graffiti Alley in Baltimore’s Station North Arts and Entertainment District. 

The only site in Baltimore where graffiti is entirely legal (and openly encouraged), this vibrant avenue is filled with colorful images plastered by local artists. Owned by Graffiti Warehouse, this little nook has become a haven for street artists and urban art lovers, allowing passersby a peek into the minds of some of Charm City’s emerging creatives.

One never knows what modern masterpiece might pop up in this artistic corridor, as the art is constantly changing with new pieces materializing constantly. While you visit, you might even spy an artist or two at work. It's truly a Baltimore destination that must be experienced in person to appreciate. 

Eat at the Papermoon Diner

Folks drawn to quirky destinations and unusual eateries will be delighted by Papermoon Diner, found in the Remington neighborhood of West Baltimore. A monument to the kitsch and bizarre, this eccentric noshery holds much more than food within its brightly colored interior.

Its decor rotates, featuring repurposed mannequins decked out in strange trappings, old carousel horses, and other various toys and trinkets. The menu is equally eclectic, supplying diverse drinks and assorted eats to those who wish to dine while gawking at the curious art displays. 

The milkshakes range from classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate to wilder varieties like bacon or avocado. The breakfast is extensive, featuring everything from various omelettes and French toast treats to a vegan-friendly tofu scramble. The sandwiches, wraps, and salad selection is no less impressive, with a menu that goes on for days. 

Check Out Some Unusual Museum

While larger institutions such as the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum might get more attention, this sprawling city contains many smaller and stranger museums worthy of roaming. Take the Witch Board Museum as a prime example. This fascinating menagerie details Baltimore’s spell-binding history with the Ouija Board in addition to housing a captivating collection of witch boards. 

If that’s a little too spooky for you, consider stopping by the National Museum of Dentistry, where you can regard treasures like George Washington’s dentures (which surprisingly are not made of wood) or the dental instruments of Queen Victoria. 

If sports are more your speed, consider a visit to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum, where you can walk the childhood home of the Great Bambino himself. A brick rowhouse that was nearly demolished due to disrepair, it now boasts an assortment of memorabilia attached to the baseball great’s impressive career, nestled just three blocks away from Oriole Park at Camden Yards. 

Explore Colonial History in Nearby Annapolis

The James Brice House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures

While Baltimore and Annapolis aren’t far from one another in distance, in terms of personality, these two cities are worlds apart. While Baltimore’s history is awash with rowdy sailors and working-class struggles, Annapolis’ legacy presents a more refined polish — although below its surface, its shadows are just as dark.

A colonial seaport, Annapolis shields its spooky undercurrent beneath a veneer of seaside charm and maritime tradition. However, a riveting ghost tour of Annapolis will reveal the sinister history lurking behind the doors of its stately buildings and picturesque gardens, unveiling a past as eerie as this contemporary city is enchanting. Come and soak in tales of patriotism, piracy, and good old-fashioned ghost stories as you lay your eyes on some of Crabtown’s most haunting sites. 

Visit mysterious destinations like the home of the Annapolis colonial mayor James Brice, whose son was bludgeoned to death in his aristocratic residence. Yet it seems this is the least of the James Brice House’s secrets, with hoodoo artifacts found beneath the floorboards and ghostly cries emanating from the basement. 

Discovering Baltimore’s Hidden Gems

Charm City holds a bounty of one-of-a-kind locales and exceptional destinations waiting to be discovered. From terrifying tours and unusual restaurants to museums filled with niche artifacts, this city is littered with lesser-known jewels, each filled with a culture and history as rich as it is unique.