1. It’s All About The Neighborhoods
The neighborhood you’re in will be the key factor in your
Baltimore experience. The art-loving hipsters in
Hampden have a different experience than they would in swanky
Guildford who have a different experience than those in the small bungalow homes of Mt. Washington.
There are a lot of suburbs to check out, too, for anyone who would rather be outside of the city but still in close proximity.
2. Want To Know Why They Call It Smalltimore?
There’s no big surprise reveal here--Baltimore is a small city.
3. It’s Probably The Quirkiest City Around
Between the culture, the people, the entertainment, and the kitsch, there is no forging Baltimore’s signature--it’s one of a kind.
4. And It’s Definitely The Artsiest
If you’re artsy and a little offbeat, then Baltimore will feel like home instantly. With things like the Baltimore Arts Museum, the Visionary Arts Museum, Baltimore Arts Festival, and the Baltimore School For The Arts, if the country is a canvas, then Baltimore is the paint.
5. Crabs Are A Religion
And not just any crabs. Blue crabs. Steamed. And no, they’re not blue after you steam them.
6. Old Bay Makes Everything Better
Crabs? Check. Bloody Marys? Check. French fries, onion rings, chips? Check. Ice cream? Well… why not? Purists argue that Chesapeake Bay Seasoning is superior, but get used to one or the other.
7. Edgar Allen Poe Is Baltimore’s Homeboy
He lived here. He died here. He’s buried here. You’ll see full-costumed performers on the streets. You’ll find entire restaurants dedicated to him. He’s everywhere.
8. The O’s Are Where It’s At
Get some orange and black to blend in during baseball season--it’s almost like camouflage.
Make the time for a trip to Camden Yards, too, where you’ll discover why everyone loves the Orioles so much. The games are fun for everyone and it’s a great way to bring the city together.
9. Baseball legends Are Born Here
Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, Jr., Billy Ripken, Lefty Grove, Frank Baker, and Harold Baines are all Baltimore natives. I’m not saying there’s any science to it, just stating facts.
10. Everyone Has An Opinion On How To Sing The National Anthem
The “O” in the Star Spangled Banner is notoriously sung louder than the rest of the anthem. Some people hate it, other people can’t yell loud enough.
Whichever stance you take, be prepared to hear it. People in Baltimore claim the right to sing it how they want since it was written here by Francis Scott Key.
11. You’re Not Allowed To Like The Colts
…Or Colts fans, for that matter. And if you don’t know why, don’t ask. Decades later, it’s still a touchy subject.
12. But Don’t Worry, You Have The Ravens Now
The Ravens helped fill the gap the Colts left behind. You’ll still find Redskins fans, but with two Super Bowl rings under their belt, the Ravens have officially made Baltimore proud.
13. If You Need To Ask What A Hon Is, You’re Not One
The term “hon” is used around Baltimore as a term of endearment. And then you have the hons with the beehives and the kitschy Hairspray flare that you can find running rampant at HonFest in Hampden.
14. Natty Boh Is Baltimore-Iconic
Natty Boh might not be manufactured here anymore, but it’s still an icon of the city. Not everyone drinks it, but there’s a Natty Boh shirt tucked away in everyone’s dresser at the very least.
15. You’ll See The Maryland Flag Everywhere
No state loves their flag the way
Maryland loves their flag and Baltimore is where it tends to fly the most.
It also helps that it’s one of the most unique looking flags in the Union, but really it’s just a way for everyone here to remind the rest of the country that they’re better.
16. And The American Flag Is Kind Of A Big Deal, Too
Just as the Star Spangled Banner was written here, the American flag was sewn here in Baltimore by Mary Young Pickersgill.
So, without getting into semantics, that means Baltimore basically invented America.
17. Baltimore Is The Birthplace Of The American Railroad
The B&O Railroad (Baltimore & Ohio, not the reason for deodorant) was built in 1829 in Baltimore as the first commercial railroad.
This information won’t do anything for you in Baltimore except make you a little smarter. The more you know.
18. The Humidity Might Kill You
No, not really. But it will frizz your hair and make you sweat off 10 pounds of Utz chips.
The humidity isn’t just reserved for the South. Late spring through late summer is basically a sauna in Baltimore.
19. Get Some Lacrosse Sticks
You don’t have to use them if you don’t want to. But you’ll blend in a lot better with them. Lacrosse is big in Charm City.
20. The Accent Is Contagious
Be careful making fun of the accent around here. Before you know it, you’ll be saying “Baldimer” and “wooder” like everybody else.
21. An Inch Of Snow Shuts The City Down
Baltimore doesn’t get very much snow, but when it does, the city goes bananas. In recent years, they’ve even closed schools just for the threat of snow (even when no snow fell at all). And don’t even bother looking for a loaf of a bread once snow has been announced in the forecast.
22. Baltimore Water Breeds Olympians
Michael Phelps, arguably the best Olympian of all time, grew up and trained in Baltimore. More bragging rights.
23. Go NAVY
Annapolis is under an hour from Baltimore. The NAVY presence is big in the city and there’s no question which way everyone is cheering for the annual ARMY-NAVY game.
24. A Tale Of Two Baltimores
To help you avoid any confusion, you should probably know that Baltimore the city is not located inside Baltimore County which surrounds it.
25. You’ll Love Baltimore Almost As Much As John Waters Loves Baltimore
Baltimore pride runs strong with locals. But there’s probably no one on Earth who loves Baltimore as much as hometown legend John Waters. And Baltimore happily gives him the crown since he’s so good to the city.
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