Under $100: Inner Harbor, Baltimore

Baltimore’s dynamic seaport city offers rich history, a vibrant nightlife and dining scene and iconic cultural offerings.

Take an Inner Harbor cruise to learn about the port’s history and visit the historic ships, including the USS Constellation, the USS Torsk and the USCGC Taney, all of which played critical roles in several battles in American history. Tours of the ships start at $11 and are worth the price if you’re a history lover. Learn about the Battle of Baltimore and the birth of the “Star Spangled Banner” at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine for only a few dollars, and visit the home in which Poe lived and wrote from 1832 to 1835 for only $5.

Baltimore is known worldwide for its National Aquarium featuring more than 17,000 sea creatures, walk-through rain forest, a 4-D immersion theater, a Living Seashore touch pool and an Australian exhibit featuring a 35-foot waterfall. Because of the museum’s popularity and impressive exhibits, tickets are $40, but for lovers of the sea, this is a must-see.

Sports lovers can visit the Camden Yard Sports Complex, home to famed baseball icon Babe Ruth, as well as the Sports Legends Museum and M&T Bank Stadium. If you’re more into the art scene, Inner Harbor offers the American Visionary Art Museum, one of the most unique and inspiring museums in the country, offering creative original works produced by self-taught artists. Museum tickets are only $15.

While the city is teeming with history and culture, it’s also renowned for its food scene, particularly its seafood. For some of the best and freshest seafood in the city, stop by Faidley Seafood, a no-frills spot that serves jumbo-lump crab cakes and raw oysters in a standing-room-only dining room. Crack open some traditional Baltimore crab legs at Bo Brooks in Canton, or head to Nick’s Fish House, a casual choice for fresh seafood, burgers, Patapsco River views and live music. For a little extra, try Thames Street Oyster House, a brass and wood-trimmed eatery offering a raw bar, Eastern coastal fare and harbor views. End your meal on a sweet note at Piedigrotta Bakery, on the edge of historic Little Italy, which claims to have invented tiramisu. Try a large piece for only a couple bucks.

Get around the city via The Charm City Circulator, a free ferry and four-line bus service that goes to major attractions and destinations in the downtown area. Maryland Transit Authority buses provide another inexpensive way to see Baltimore, though you may have to transfer several times. You can get an all-day bus pass for only $3.50, and experience all that Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has to offer.