"Native Baltimoron" Top 5 Page for this destination Baltimore by grandmaR

Baltimore Travel Guide: 1,449 reviews and 3,272 photos

Baltimore harbor from Renaissance restaurant

My roots

I was born and brought up in Baltimore. When I married, my husband was in the Navy and we lived in various places around the US. Over the years (between 1959 when I married and 2007 when we finally sold my mom's house after her death) I came back to visit my parents. I also worked at a building on St. Paul Place in Baltimore in the late 80s and early 90s.

Baltimore architecture

When I worked here, I drove down St. Paul to the I-695 Beltway, or to our city house in northern Anne Arundel County. I enjoyed looking at the the new and old buildings and the changing city architecture and skyline. I took this picture from my car this August as I drove down St. Paul Place again. I have no idea what these buildings are.

Mom at Gertrudes

My sister and I usually took my mom somewhere for dinner to celebrate her birthday.

In 1998, we went to Annapolis and stayed a weekend in a hotel overlooking the harbor.

For her 90th birthday (1999), my three girls and their children took her to Chuckie Cheese. Then the next day, my sister and I had a surprise birthday party with 40 people which was in Towson.

For her birthday in 2000 (age 91), we went down to the harbor and took the water taxi around and then had dinner down there.

In 2001, we went to a restaurant in Roland Park.

In 2002, we ate at the Renaissance Harborplace overlooking Baltimore Harbor (top picture) with the son of my mother's first cousin who was visiting from Japan.

In 2003 and 2005, we had a celebration out on her deck (in Towson)

For her 95th birthday (2004) I took her to Gertrudes at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

She died before her 2006 birthday when she would have been 97

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lots of interesting things to visit
Cons:Water is sometimes dirty - hard to park
In a nutshell:Welcome to Ballymer Hon

Last visit to Baltimore: Sep 2002
Intro Updated Aug 7, 2011
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Reviews (74)

Car Rental Transportation (10)

If you come in by air, you may want to rent a car. The best car rental place is the one that is near the airport. It is... more travel advice

Federal Hill Off The Beaten Path (13)

Federal Hill is a neighborhood primarily of brick, late 19th Century homes. It overlooks the Inner Harbor. The first... more travel advice

Original Farm House - Roland Park Favorites (11)

When it came time for me to go to school, my parents moved from an apartment to a house in Roland Park which is an old... more travel advice

Carlin's Ice Rink Favorites (11)

When we were little, my mother used to take us to Carlin's to go ice skating. I didn't know it at the time of course,... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (1)
Weather
Things to Do (7)
See All Olden Days at the Zoo
Local Customs (8)
See All Visit Sherwood Gardens
Restaurants (12)
See All Rodgers Forge Restaurant

Hotels (3)
See All Baltimore County - North
Sports & Outdoors (6)
See All Oriole Park
Shopping (2)
See All Artistic
Tourist Traps (1)
Harborside Restaurants

Travelogues (9)

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Comments (12)

Paris92 Jan 31, 2011 at 2:15 PM Report Abuse

Hi, Rosalie! Just wanted to say congratulations on your Barney nomination! It's well deserved!
DEBBBEDB Oct 24, 2010 at 8:31 AM Report Abuse

Interesting to see Baltimore in the old days
ViajesdelMundo Jun 30, 2009 at 9:07 AM Report Abuse

HI Rosalie!! I am native 'Baltimoron' also, just 9 yrs younger- first month of the Boomers! Gr8 memories of yr Mother; tonight is anniv of my dear Mother's passing in 2003, she then lived just over the PA line. Yr tips are great that Rodin st. inspired me
wildcard03 May 23, 2008 at 12:35 PM Report Abuse

Yes, that's John Mifflin Hood, president of the WM Ry. from 1874 to 1902. The monument is located in St. Paul Place, a small park located along St. Paul Street where it is crossed by Orleans Street (on an overpass) in downtown Baltimore.
funfoods Jan 3, 2007 at 11:51 AM Report Abuse

I went there after I moved in that area from out of state and the food was ok at best and the service was terrible. Tried it a few times to give it a chance, same story each time.
jelw Aug 29, 2006 at 9:54 PM Report Abuse

Rosalie are you going to be at Baltoberfest? I am hoping to get to meet you. Jill
RIPKEN_HOF May 19, 2005 at 3:11 PM Report Abuse

GrandmaR, days later an Still reading your pages,,really cool, v.helpful for me putting my pages up ,thx..when u coming back for some Natty Bohs and crabs ?
Radiomom Aug 8, 2004 at 10:50 AM Report Abuse

Good page -- we spend as much time in Baltimore as in DC (we live in between) LOVE the museums, the Artfest in Mount Royal, Federal Hill, Camden....and, of course, the Orioles!
gilabrand Jul 31, 2004 at 11:16 AM Report Abuse

I was in Baltimore for a wedding and never had a chance to see a thing...oh well, maybe next time!
KimberlyAnn Oct 29, 2003 at 3:36 PM Report Abuse

Thanks for the information on places to eat and visit in Baltimore. I found the acquarium listing to be of great help, and hope to visit there in December.