Baltimore, Maryland Hotels

Baltimore draws active, athletic visitors to its Bike Jam and Kinetic Sculpture Race in May and the Baltimore Marathon and Running Festival in October. Sailors and professional football and baseball fans visit in season, as well as fit, health-oriented prospective students and residents at its two premier health facilities, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and the University of Maryland.

These three boutique hotels run west to east around its harbor. They place visitors near major event sites and the city's built-up Inner Harbor and Harbor East districts as well as the Little Italy and Fells Point neighborhoods. All link well to the harbor's water taxi system.

Brookshire Suites

About four blocks from Camden Yards, where the Orioles play and the Baltimore Marathon starts, Brookshire Suites features 97 suites, some with double beds. The Cloud Club on the top of the 12th floor offers a view of the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve fireworks. A shuttle bus connects Brookshire Suites with its sister hotel, Pier 5, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Diners can have breakfast in the Cloud Club or visit one of the dozens of restaurants at Harborplace & The Gallery. Pets welcome.

Brookshire Suites  
120 E Lombard St.  
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(866) 583-4162
www.harbormagic.com

Pier 5 Hotel

This low-rise hotel with 66 rooms sits just beside the National Aquarium in Baltimore and features Ruth's Chris Steak House and McCormick & Schmick right in the building. Walk to stores and entertainment, including ESPN Sportzone and Rams Head Live! at the PowerPlant. Visit the USS Taney Coast Guard cutter, steps away. A Crabby Hour 5:30-6:30 p.m. weekdays will teach you how to make crab dip, and Saturday afternoons you can try out the "Wish upon a Star Chocolate Bar." Pets welcome. In the summer, stroll over to catch Steve Miller, Duran Duran, Hall and Oates and other acts at the Pier VI concert pavilion. Pier 5 and Brookshire Suites offer a Girlfriends Escape including a spa outing and trip to a special wine cellar attached to a restaurant. Valet and self-parking available, as well as a pass to premier health club MAC Wellness.

Pier 5 Hotel
711 Eastern Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(866) 583-4162
www.harbormagic.com

Hilton Garden Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor

If the weather doesn't permit activities, or even it does, check out the 183 rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn in the glittery new Harbor East neighborhood. The hotel is attached to MAC Wellness, a shiny new health facility with four saltwater swimming pools, squash courts, all manner of weights and equipment and an endless list of yoga, zumba and spin classes. Walk to Whole Foods to eat or try some of Harbor East's restaurants, including Cinghiale, Pazo, Charleston, James Joyce Irish Pub, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Baltimore, Fleming Steak House or Oceanaire Seafood Room. Go to the movies at the Landmark Theater nearby or walk into funky Fells Point, due east. Self-parking runs $25 a day. No pets permitted.

Hilton Garden Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor
625 S. President St.
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(410) 234-0065
hiltongardeninn.hilton.com

Article Written By Jeannette Belliveau

Award-winning writer Jeannette Belliveau has written travel books and worked at the National Institutes of Health and "The Washington Post," as well as the business and sports desks of "The Baltimore Sun." She began writing professionally in 1975. Belliveau graduated summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Science in journalism.

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