Fall Vacationers Find Sophisticated Festivals, Fun in Baltimore

While summer vacation is often synonymous with family time, fall is prime travel time for couples of all ages. With the summer crowds back to work and school, independent adults are looking for great deals, urbane attractions and sophisticated festivals. Few east coast cities offer the grown-up enjoyment and value that can be found in Baltimore.

Fall is an ideal time to visit this jewel of the Chesapeake Bay. The summer heat has dissipated and the city's cultural, dining, hospitality and entertainment venues are staging a full schedule of festivals and events. Travelers seeking a thriving arts community, abundant history and cultural attractions will find them in Baltimore, along with beautiful scenery and weather, according to Nancy Hinds of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.

Top reasons and inspiring attractions drawing visitors to Baltimore this fall include:

* More than 80 attractions throughout the city offer free events and exhibits during the month of October, as part of Baltimore's second annual "Free Fall Baltimore." There are over 300 events including theater and musical performances, art exhibits, cultural seminars and workshops. Check out the BACVA's calendar of events for more information and a link to the Free Fall home page.

* Baltimore is a great city for walking, with a downtown large enough to hold a wealth of attractions, dining and shopping yet small enough to feel welcoming and manageable to visitors. Many of the city's top attractions, events, retail and culinary venues are within easy walking distance of each other. "Many visitors fly in and take a cab or shuttle to their downtown hotels, or drive in and park their cars, and then never get in a car again for the duration of their stay," says Hinds. For a comprehensive map of attractions that illustrate Baltimore's walking appeal, log on to the maps page at www.baltimore.org/culture.

* Many Baltimore hotels are offering fall travel packages, including food and wine packages that include room accommodations, Robert Mondavi wine tastings and welcome amenities. Others offer great rates in honor of Free Fall festivities. For a sample of available hotel packages, check out the BACVA's hotels page.

When it comes to commemorating American history and pop culture, Baltimore is the place to be with its rich heritage and numerous museums, such as Fort McHenry and Geppi's Entertainment Museum. This fall, some of the city's top museums will also host one-of-a-kind events, including the Walters Art Museum, the American Visionary Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, Port Discovery - the Children's Museum in Baltimore, the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the Contemporary Museum.

* Theater, film and sports fans will also find something of interest for them in Baltimore this fall. The Maryland Film Festival will present a 3-D series in conjunction with Free Fall. At Camden Yards, Sports Legends at Camden Yards will highlight the history and legacy of baseball in the city. And theater buffs can take in the Baltimore Playwrights Festival or a performance of Agatha Christie's classic "Arsenic & Old Lace" at CENTERSTAGE.

To explore the myriad reasons to visit Baltimore this fall, log on to www.baltimore.org/culture.
Photo compliments of Baltimore Office of Promotion.

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