As a Hopkins student, I have discovered so many aspects of Baltimore that have made me fall in love with the city. My favorite spots are in a historic neighborhood on the harbor called Fells Point, where the wharf streets are lined with small businesses and communities.
Recently, my best friend from high school, Rosie, visited me and we spent a few days exploring the city together. Fun fact about us, we are both avid tea drinkers. So, whenever we find a loose-leaf tea shop, we are in heaven. In my opinion, one of Baltimore’s most unique shops is the Spice and Tea Exchange located right along the water in Fells Point. Walking in, we were greeted with a sweet aroma of dozens of fresh teas and spices. Every tea I purchased, including a coconut Oolong and creme earl gray, was so yummy. They are definitely a highlight of my days now!
For music lovers like me, Fells Point has yet another perfect shop for you. The Sound Garden is a record store full of records, CDs, cassettes, movies, and almost any other playable trinket you can find. Everything is priced reasonably and I was able to find a few of my favorites and grab some gifts for friends. It is so easy to lose track of time in there, with hundreds (probably thousands, to be honest) of records to browse through and choose from. Although I haven’t personally been, the Sound Garden also hosts listening parties before album releases that have a free raffle for signed merch. A perk of Baltimore is that we are a smaller city, so our listening parties are not as crowded as they might be in New York or Los Angeles!
One of my favorite things about the Baltimore harbor, though, is how walkable it is and how different each neighborhood and area is from each other. I love taking the Purple Circulator, one of the free city buses, to Inner Harbor and sitting on the terrace to people watch. From there, it’s a 20-minute walk to Little Italy for a delicious bowl of pasta at one of the restaurants, and then another 10 minutes to get to Fells Point to explore all the fun shops.
Once in Fells, I’ll take some time to sit on the wharf, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is so nice to dangle my feet over the pier and watch the birds and other water-dwelling creatures frolic in the harbor. Don’t tell my friends, but this is where I go when I need some me-time. I treat myself to ice cream from B’More Licks—a must try ice cream spot, by the way—and just hang out by the water, listening to the waves. If I had to pick a favorite, B’More Licks had an Orioles flavor that was orange ice cream with Oreo pieces that had absolutely appeared in my dreams before.
Although the harbor is farther from Homewood campus than other neighborhoods like Hampden or Remington, which are both within walking distance, the experiences I’ve had by the water have been so unique and memorable for me. The transportation there is not difficult at all. After a few trips, I know when to get off without looking at the map. From the small businesses that I’ve come to love and rely on (I know where I will be going for my tea restocks!) to the strolls along the wharf, and the people I’ve encountered, going to Fells Point is definitely one of my favorite Baltimore activities. It is the perfect getaway and reset when I need it and the best browsing station with friends. If you asked me where I would take a visitor to Baltimore, Fells Point would most certainly be on my list.
