If you’re like me, you plan to take a few road trips this summer due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. And since Baltimore is in close proximity to a few other major cities, it’s certainly worth a day trip or long weekend. I’ve curated a weekend itinerary that includes Black-owned businesses to support if you decide to visit Charm City. Hey! We aren’t London or Cape Town, but we have beautiful views of our own too! Check out the itinerary below.
STAY
The Ivy Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel located in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood. With 18 beautifully adorned guest rooms and suites, quaint public spaces, a small luxury spa, and Magdalena, a fine dining restaurant, it's a true oasis in the middle of the city.
EAT
Breakfast
Enjoy an outdoor breakfast at Connie’s Chicken and Waffles’ Broadway Market location. They have every chicken and waffle flavor variety and combination you could ever imagine.
Order takeout from Water for Chocolate or Simply Marie’s. Water for Chocolate specializes in classic foods with a regional flair and Simply Marie’s offers delicious home-style cooking.
Lunch
With locations in Fells Point and Hampden, Ekiben features Asian Fusion food, featuring open-faced bun sandwiches and delicious rice boxes.
Papi Cuisine, located in the heart of Fells Point, serves the ultimate comfort food with a cajun flair and outdoor dining.
Dinner
The Urban Oyster is both the first woman and black-owned oyster bar in Maryland, and a place for people who appreciate all things oysters!
Located in Locust Point, Peppa Flame Restaurant specializes in fresh and authentic Caribbean Fusion Cuisine. They also have outdoor dining.
Dessert
Ice Queens is also in Locust Point and has the most delicious snowballs you’ll ever taste.
Head to Crust by Mack in Whitehall Mill Market. It’s a little outside of downtown but definitely worth the trip.
For a list of over 120+ Black-owned restaurants in Baltimore, see our complete list here.
VISIT
*The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is still closed, but put it on your list when outside opens again. This museum is the "largest African American museum in Maryland and has been the authentic voice of Maryland African American history and culture since it opened in 2005."
*The National Aquarium, reopening July 1, has hundreds of animals from around the world and dozens of exhibits.
Afterward visits to the museum and aquarium, enjoy a walk around the harbor or get some takeout food for a picnic on Federal Hill, which has excellent views of the Inner Harbor.
SHOP
Drama MaMa Bookshop not only sells books, but they create customized journals.
Fleur d’Ave is a bespoke floral boutique that specializes in hand-crafted floral arrangements for any occasion.
Off the Rox Wine and Beer Boutique is a "wine and beer boutique, conveniently located in Baltimore's Highlandtown neighborhood. [They] offer an appreciable selection of wines and craft beers, all handpicked and carefully selected for [their] consumers.”
Pandora’s Box Boutique in Federal Hill offers a unique selection of jewelry, gifts, home decor, and personal accessories and other handpicked products with a sense of humor and authenticity.
Tightfisted Fashion aims to help people “live a renewed life through secondhand living.”
Whitelock Community Farm (Saturday mornings only) grows over 30 different varieties of vegetables and fruit using only sustainable growing practices. Visit them on Saturday mornings at the 32nd Street Farmers Market.
The places below aren’t open due to COVID-19, but when you come back (ahem!). don’t forget to visit:
Everyone’s Place sells books, CDs, lectures, health food products, spiritual products, clothing, jewelry, art, fragrances and so much more…
Flourish is a lifestyle boutique in Charles Village and features “everyday essentials for the urban villager.”
K. Monique Vintage Boutique is a vintage clothing boutique in Charles Village.
KSM Candle Co. not only sells handcrafted soy candles and body products, but they also offer in-house candle-making classes.
Oyin Handmade (only open on Saturdays) produces gentle and cruelty-free hair and body products focused on fighting dryness and providing impeccable nutrition.
Styled4You Boutique is outside the city in Baltimore County, but offers the highest quality, most unique merchandise on the market today.
Looking for more road trip ideas? Check out my visits to Annapolis, Frederick, Gettysburg, Dorchester County, Maryland, Myrtle Beach, Finger Lakes, NY and other road trip ideas.
Happy traveling!
*Not Black-owned
