I visited Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum last weekend, when I was exploring Old…read moreEllicott City with my husband and his family who were in town visiting. It's a museum decided to Benjamin Banneker and, as I didn't know anything about him before I visited, I really enjoyed our visit to the museum. Benjamin Banneker was a naturalist, mathematician, astronomer, and almanac author. He was born in Baltimore County to a free African-American mother and a father who had been formerly enslaved. The museum is small but has information about his life and times. Exiting the back of the museum, you can walk to a reconstructed cabin that estimates how Banneker lived on these acres of land he owned until his death in 1806. I learned a lot from this little museum, and the employee working at the museum when we visited was very kind and helpful. He shared a lot of information with us about the museum and about Banneker. If you haven't been before or if you don't know anything about Benjamin Banneker, this little museum is definitely worth a visit!

This place outside of Baltimore offers a small museum, a reconstructed hut, and a set of gardens…read morearound it, and some trails. It is free to enter and there is plenty of parking. I got a quick intro with some interesting information related to the history of the famous person who lived here. The place offers a window into American colonial history, as well as an education on the pastoral lifestyle that was the norm at the time. The museum is just a couple of rooms and won't take a long time to get through. I did not have time to stay for the trails. It wasn't the most lively or deep historical site that I've ever been to, but there was enough in terms of aesthetics and in terms of information to be worth checking out.

I visited the Amaranthine Museum with a friend this past weekend as part of Doors Open Baltimore…read more(google that if you don't know what it is!). I'm ashamed to say - as a person that lives in Hampden and loves art - that I didn't know anything about the Amaranthine Museum (or had even heard about it) before it was included in Doors Open 2024! So what is it? It's a museum dedicated to local maximalist artist Les Harris. The space is tiny but practically every surface (even parts of the ceiling) are covered in Les Harris's art (there are supposedly 250 works in this tiny little space)! Les Harris's daughter welcomed guests at the entrance, gave a description of her father's art and works, and answered questions as guests walked around. I can't emphasize enough that this is a small space - just one room! But it's packed full of fascinating art (Harris's work looks back through history - focusing on art and culture and time and consciousness) and is such a unique experience. I was blown away by the art and the space itself. Having the artist's daughter there to explain his work made the visit even more special. It's not open on a regular schedule, so if you want to visit this unique space, visit their website and click "III. Hours, Contacts, Directions etc." A very unique experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in art and special local experiences!

This was a little off the beaten path down a back walkway on the rear of the foundry building on…read morethe Doors Open Baltimore tours. This is a very unique museum showcasing the work of one man, Les Harris. Mr. Harris created over 300 pieces of art in an installation that envelopes every surface and transports the visitor through time in a fallout shelter. The entire collection was moved to its present location for all to enjoy. It is an eclectic work of art. We were in awe of the colors and textures and subject matter used.

Each year around Earth Day, Baltimore County offers two free trees per household. This year I got…read morean Eastern Redbud and a Serviceberry. These are native, local trees that make excellent pollinators. The Ag Center is a very nice venue in a great location. Large, open spaces with a playground, horse arena, demonstration garden and classroom hall. Great place to bring the family for a picnic or to just take a nice walk.

Awesome natural resource if you like pumpkin patches and sunflower watching…read more You can gather both for a small donation. Tons of beautiful trees and other sites if you'd just like to go for a walk or gather a group of friends. Their website and facebook page has a host of events and useful information.

Bottom Line: A small museum but worth a stop if riding on a streetcar sounds like fun…read more I think vintage streetcars are neat and I'm always intrigued by off-the-beaten-path museums so the Baltimore Streetcar Museum was a perfect stop for me this past weekend. Even better, they were having "dollar days" so admission was only $1. The museum is small and underwhelming but the ride on a historic streetcar was super fun! Actually, the museum has three streetcars from different eras and you can ride all of them if you'd like. The conductor on our streetcar was knowledgeable and entertaining. I liked that he rang the bell every time someone boarded just as the conductor would have done back in the day. Even better, after we rode out to the turnaround point he stopped the streetcar and without saying anything, got up from his seat and switched the signs on the front and sides of the car that stated the route/destination. This was funny because the streetcar rides on a closed track and it probably only goes about one mile before turning around. It was at this point in our journey that he also told us the history of streetcars. This museum is small but it is a neat experience and it represents the dedication of many volunteers so I must give a shout out to those who make this place possible. Thanks for keeping history alive in Bal'mor.

Hidden gem preserving a piece of bygone Baltimore history and you can ride multiple 100+ year old…read morestreetcars too. The exhibit is quite interesting and shows how Baltimore's long-defunct streetcar system helped shape the city into what it is today. They offer frequent rides on multiple streetcars throughout the day on their 3/4 mile track that are included in the $10 admission. The day I visited there were 3 streetcars operating, one about 75 years old, another about 115, and another almost 125 years old. One of the streetcars broke down en route (ironically the ~75 year old PCC which was relatively the newest) but to the staff's credit they were able to improvise a clever solution involving sticking a screwdriver into the gear box to get it running again so we didn't have to walk back to the museum. The people working here really know their stuff about these machines! Overall highly recommend, it's very friendly for both adults and kids. Only thing to note is it's only open on Sundays from noon-5PM

Great. It was Hip. Cool, Fun. Mostly 20s and 30's with a smattering of 40's and 50…read mores. It located next to the inner harbor and a great neighborhood to live in and when they close the streets for the festival it is lined with food trucks and market carts. You could sample any drink from any of the local bars and pubs and I even saw a micro. Food ranged from Crab cakes to Ribs from NC to everything in between. Music flowed from bars and pubs and some were even staged outside. Got to see a Jersey Shore/Philly band there called STELLAR MOJO who were great. Hip hop, top 40, rap, You name it they did it, TIP: Don't wear heels. Lots of cobblestones.

Mark you calendar and don't miss it next year. It has the right mix- music, food and alcohol:) its…read morea family and pet friendly place so get your furry friends along! Parking is a challenge but we got good garage nearby with short walk.

Had a great time here last night! This is my 3rd year in a row coming and it's always a good time!…read moreThe weather was gorgeous and we enjoyed sitting at the picnic tables with friends. I got a few bottles of wine and also a sauerkraut smoked sausage and a pretzel with cheese. Also bought some cheese from "A little slice of Europe" stand which was very delicious. Cant wait til next year!

Super cute little German wine celebration. It's essentially the Christmas Village but wine from…read morelocal wineries!

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.

Happy Holidays Everyone!! This is an amazing event we…read moreattended each year and support Kennedy Krieger Hosp. I am like a child in a toy store lol. I love decorating in themes and my ideal tree was there today with shells hand painted and beautiful starfish cone on top. I would have bought it but it was too expensive for this year. Did buy mom a small tree decorated with birds. Back to the beginning...we had a timed ticket but we had to wait with the new people who just bought tickets. Why get a time then? Handicap parking is a joke! There's definitely not enough available and the parking lot is huge. Please get a parking area up close with 200 spots for handicap parking and you will fill every spot. Very frustrating to buy items & have to walk a mile to truck in pain when I should be parking closer to the entrance. Building is handicap accessible. Getting around with stroller or wheelchair is tight in places. The vendors I dealt with were all very nice and friendly and I would recommend purchasing from them, I just can't say the names now because they are Christmas gifts. Unique items, decent prices and the holiday music and the Christmas trees!! Great fun all around. Even bought small Christmas tree, gifts etc. I posted a review of this for last year so this review is for this year 2023 but pics of both years are attached.

Pretty cool charity event for Kennedy Krieger Institute to get families thinking about others that…read moreare not so fortunate during the holidays. Lots of Christmas Trees, holidays decorations, family fun and games and Saint Nick himself.