Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland, lies about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of downtown Washington, DC and is one of the simplest rail day trips from the capital. The MARC Penn Line runs from Washington Union Station to Baltimore Penn Station in about 45 to 60 minutes for roughly $9 USD one way, with frequent weekday service and reduced weekend trains; Amtrak Northeast Regional trains cost about $15-$40 USD. Driving up I-95 North takes about an hour, with parking at $15-$30 USD. From Penn Station the Inner Harbor is about 10 minutes away by taxi, rideshare or the Light RailLink. The Inner Harbor promenade is the center of a visit, with the National Aquarium at 501 E Pratt St as its main attraction; adult admission is about $45-$55 USD and should be verified at aqua.org. East of the harbor, Fells Point has cobbled streets, pubs and seafood restaurants, and Fort McHenry National Monument, birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner, sits on the harbor's southern shore. The American Visionary Art Museum and Lexington Market, known for local crab cakes, round out the list. A good day arc is to take an early train, walk or ride to the Inner Harbor for the aquarium in the morning, have lunch near Fells Point for about $15-$30 USD, and finish at Fort McHenry in the late afternoon before returning by rail. Because MARC weekend service is limited, visitors should check the return schedule in advance. Baltimore is open year-round; summer suits the harbor, and fall offers mild weather for walking between neighborhoods. A day for one person totals roughly $80-$150 USD including train fare of about $18-$80 USD round trip, admissions and meals. Maryland crab dishes are the regional food to try.