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Cover Story
Baltimore has evolved into quite a fun day trip
Date published: 2/15/2007
BY SARAH KEITH An "ever-evolving destination" is how the Web site Baltimore.org describes Maryland's famed waterfront metropolis. Baltimore boasts layers of history, dating back to the Civil and Revolutionary wars. (Anyone who's ever heard the "The Star-Spangled Banner" or read Frederick Douglass' famous slave narrative will know something about the city.) Over the past several decades, though, the one-time industrial hub has added tons more cultural attractions for tourists. Baltimore boasts an aquarium, a zoo, museums and countless shopping opportunities. Despite the roughly 90-minute drive (in favorable traffic), it's worth it to see this wonderful city. On a recent visit, I found it enriching and quite entertaining. WE'RE OFF TO SEE 'WICKED' For several years, my mother and I had been dying to see the Broadway musical "Wicked," which gives the "untold story" of "The Wizard of Oz," focusing on the relationship between Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. When the touring production came to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre, we saw our chance. The show was unlike any that I had seen before. Most of the songs involved the whole cast, and the ones that didn't have as many participants were just as theatrical. The plot, based on the novel "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire, also tied in well with the classic "Wizard of Oz" movie, itself based on L. Frank Baum's book. Though the story had a lot to live up to, it had me laughing, then crying, proving itself as a very powerful production. TAKING IN THE HARBOR Our next destination was the Inner Harbor, a spread-out shopping center located around a branch of the Chesapeake Bay. The Hard Rock Cafe towered over it and cast neon shadows everywhere, giving it a sort of fall carnival feeling. We passed by the National Aquarium and a few mall-like centers. Potent smells filled the air at one of the malls, as we walked by a perfume store, a candle shop and Bath & Body Works. After passing the Cheesecake Factory and Uno's Pizzeria, we headed to a less crowded alternative for dinner: the ice-cream store. The city boasts, among its many "firsts," being home to the first commercial ice-cream factory in America, according to Baltimore.org.
Date published: 2/15/2007
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