Baltimore Conventions, Trade Shows, Conferences and Meetings
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It's easy to see how Baltimore earned the nickname "Charm City." Home to poet Edgar Allan Poe, baseball great Babe Ruth, and jazz musician Eubie Blake, this harbor city has been defined by its small-town friendliness and eclectic inhabitants throughout its 200-year-old history. From the bustling Inner Harbor to the famous row homes of Hampden, Baltimore has no shortage of things to see and do.

Dine on a spicy pile of crabs fresh from the Chesapeake Bay, soak in the history of Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner", or catch a baseball game at Oriole Park. For those inclined to cultural pursuits, the Mount Vernon area is home to the renowned Peabody Conservatory and the Walters Art Gallery. And one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world is at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins University.

The city is made up of many small neighborhoods, radiating out from the revitalized Inner Harbor area. Head east along the water and you'll find Little Italy, the culinary heart of the city. Next is Fells Point, a hot spot for antique shoppers by day and bar hoppers by night. Close by is Canton, an up-and-coming neighborhood where young professionals live alongside blue-collar families. South of the harbor is historic Federal Hill, the site of dozens of restaurants and cafes. Travel north to find Mount Vernon, the cultural epicenter of the city, and Hampden, an artsy, working-class community. Druid Hill is home to the Baltimore Zoo, and further north is Johns Hopkins University and the large homes of the residential Roland Park area.

A bite to eat is never far in Baltimore. From the casual atmosphere of Lexington Market to the upscale restaurants of Little Italy, dining options abound. To get around town, ride a horse-drawn carriage along the harbor or take a water taxi to the cobblestone streets of Fells Point. The moderate climate is suited for all kinds of outdoor activities in the summer and ice skating in the Inner Harbor's outdoor rink is a favorite past time in winter.

Though it is often overshadowed by its larger East Coast counterparts, Baltimore is a unique city with vibrant, enchanting neighborhoods that will make visitors feel at home in no time.

Economically, geographically and culturally, Baltimore is an amalgam. One of early America's busiest seaports, it was also home to the country’s first important railroad terminal and was a leading manufacturing center, renowned for shipbuilding as well as airplane production.

Culturally, Baltimore's tradition of diversity dates to 1649 and the passage of the Toleration Act, which permitted the practice of all religions in Maryland. The area’s air of acceptance inspired waves of Polish, German, Irish, Italian, Greek and other immigrants. The various enclaves these newcomers established made Baltimore a collection of diverse neighborhoods.

Inner Harbor
Any tour of Baltimore should start with the Inner Harbor. For years the area was at the heart of Baltimore's port facilities. As the city's shipping business declined in the post-war years, the Inner Harbor did too. By the mid-1970s, it was a long stretch of dilapidated docks and abandoned warehouses, but the end of the 1970s saw the start of a concerted effort to revitalize Baltimore, and a key part of the plan was the creation of Harborplace, a three-acre retail and entertainment complex that anchors the Inner Harbor.

Today, the Inner Harbor's attractions include the Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the U.S.S. Constellation, and the Pier Six Concert Pavilion. In addition, there are a number of excellent hotels, including the four-star Harbor Court, many fine restaurants, such as Obrycki's crab house, and two very busy marinas. The Inner Harbor's renovation was vital to Baltimore’s renaissance, and it remains the key draw of the city's approximately $625 million-a-year tourist industry.

Downtown
In 1729, about 60 years after the first colonists settled in the area, Charles and Baltimore streets were built. Today, the intersection of these two roads is at the heart of Baltimore's business district, where you’ll find the city's financial and banking institutions, international trade organizations, medical research companies, as well as law, engineering and architectural firms. A grid of roughly 25 blocks, the business district is easy to navigate and is within walking distance of most of the downtown hotels.

To the North
Walk up Charles Street about 10 blocks and you'll find Mount Vernon, one of the city's loveliest neighborhoods. Its chief feature is a park of shrub-lined lawns and flowerbeds, laid out in the form of a cross. The 178-foot tall monument to George Washington stands at the park’s center. Mount Vernon is also home to the Peabody Institute, the Walters Art Gallery, the Enoch Pratt Free Library and several excellent restaurants, including The Brass Elephant and Tio Pepe.

Just above Mount Vernon is Bolton Hill. Known as the "Gin Belt" during the 1920s, this area was home to the city's Jazz Age bohemian community. F. Scott Fitzgerald made his home here for a while, and Tender is the Night was published during his stay. Today, the area is home to the Maryland Institute College of Art, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the University of Baltimore.

Still farther up Charles Street lies well-groomed Charles Village, home of Johns Hopkins University. Just next door is Hampden, a funky blue-collar/alternative district made famous by independent film director John Waters.

Continue north, and you'll find Guilford, which features the wonderful Sherwood Gardens, and Mount Washington, a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood with lots of great restaurants, like The Desert Café.

To the South
Just south of downtown is Federal Hill. One of the most popular residential areas in the city, its streets are lined with stately 19th century row homes, and peppered with great restaurants like The One World Café and Ten Oh Six. The neighborhood is also home to the Cross Street Market, where a variety of vendors sell a vast array of fresh and prepared food items, and the American Visionary Art Museum.

To the East
Immediately east of downtown is Little Italy, one of the city's most cherished neighborhoods. Settled in the 1840s by Italian immigrants seeking work on the city's railroads, the area is now known for its many restaurants. At last count, the 12 square blocks of Little Italy had 20 restaurants, from old favorites like Sabatino's to newcomers like Aldo's.

Just past Little Italy is Fells Point. This was once the chief Colonial shipbuilding center, where frigates known as Baltimore Clippers were launched. Today Fells Point is known for its craft and antique shops, restaurants, bars and coffeehouses.

During the weekend the neighborhood is jammed with college-age revelers who flock to the many party-oriented dance clubs like Bohager's. Young urban professionals enjoy dining at restaurants Bertha's and Ding How, and listening to live music at places like Funk's Democratic Coffee Spot and The Full Moon Saloon.

Just above Fells Point is Butcher's Hill, an area once home to dozens of butchers who sold their wares at Fells Point's Broadway Market, and farther north is Old Town, a neighborhood settled by German and Irish immigrants in the early 1800s.

Just to the east lies Canton. Originally an industrial area populated by Welsh, German, Polish and Irish immigrants, Canton today is a lively residential area known for its friendly eateries like Nacho Mama's and upscale bars like The Gin Mill. To the north of Canton is Greek Town, a quiet residential neighborhood famous for its restaurants, Ikaros foremost among them.

To the West
A quick trip west from the Inner Harbor will take you into Pigtown, originally an area of stockyards manned by German and Irish immigrants. It's now a residential neighborhood, filled with classic Baltimore-style rowhomes with marble steps and formstone facades. Pigtown is now home to the B & O Railroad Museum, and the area's most famous son is memorialized at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum.