Things to do

Some quick suggestions for first-time visitors:

THE OUTDOORS AND WALKING

Visit Patterson Park, Earth Treks Timonium climbing center, or try kayaking with the Canton Kayak Club (seasonal memberships). For $10 (students/seniors $7, children under 12 free), you can take a walking tour of Fells Point with an urban ranger departing from the Fells Point Visitor Center, 1724-26 Thames St., Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.

For horseback riding, visit Misty Manor Riding Stable in Marriottsville, recommended by two horse-owning visitors.

For a more offbeat experience, try a Baltimore Wicked History Tour in Fells Point or Mount Vernon. Or try the Heritage Walk, departing from the Baltimore Visitor center, 401 Light St., Monday-Friday at 10 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you prefer to tour Mount Vernon, arrange a cultural walk by calling 410-878-6411. Tours run April through early November. For details, visit National Park Service: Baltimore: Guided Walking Tours.

ART

Our utterly unique American Visionary Art Museum receives our  highest recommendation.

We also have the Walters Art Gallery and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Or come for America’s largest free art festival, Artscape, held every July.

Right here near Charm City Homestay, only steps away, are a set of five murals and a mosaic to Billie Holiday. Ask for our free tour of the street that blues great Billie Holiday grew up on.

If you want to explore smaller galleries, check out this Baltimore Sun article, These under-the-radar Baltimore art galleries are worth a visit. The nearest one is the S.A.N.D. Gallery, near the Shot Tower at 823 E. Baltimore St.

EATING

See our *neighborhood* eateries below. And if you want a food tour of Fells Point, Little Italy, Mount Vernon or Federal Hill, contact Charm City Food Tours — it can arrange a food tour for a group as small as four people, if you don’t see the dates you like. Or visit a roving food truck, find out where by visiting Charm City Food Trucks.

MUSIC

In the summer, try the free concerts in Patterson Park, paid concerts at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Pier VI, the Preakness InfieldFest or the Moonrise Festival. Year-round, major venues include Royal Farms Arena, Rams Head Live, the Lyric, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff, the Ottobar, and others. You can catch many free, and some paid, concerts — classical, Renaissance, jazz, modern — at our gorgeous Peabody Institute performance halls.

THEATER

We have the Fells Point Corner Theater right in our block, a community theater, and its great! Also in Fells Point is the wonderful Vagabond Theater. For nationally touring shows, check out the Hippodrome, the Lyric,

RETAIL

Hampden is fantastic, with Atomic Books (where hometown hero John Waters gets his mail, and a great graphic novel selection), Trohv Home and Gift, Ma Petite Shoe — Shoes and Chocolate, Common Ground Cafe and Coffee,  Cafe Hon and other merchants. Look for the Honfest in June and the Hampdenfest in September. Around Christmastime, visit the Miracle on 34th Street.

Learning about Baltimore? I offer custom Experiences.

ARCHITECTURE

Check out the Charles Village Painted Ladies, Bolton Hill or events in October, Baltimore Architecture Month. Also the amazing Clipper Mill, these critics’ faves or the Bromo Tower.

NATIONAL AQUARIUM

Love dolphins, skates, rays and other sea creatures? Visit the National Aquarium. You can buy tickets online and go for half price on Fridays after 5 p.m. Look also for discounts for Maryland residents and the military.

ESCAPE ROOMS

Try Escape It! in Golden Ring, and check to see if you can apply a Groupon.

PSYCHICS

Baltimore has more than its share of psychics. You can check out the following:

• Mary Shock Tarot Readings, has the best Yelp! ratings
• Fells Point Psychic, your nearest option
• Psychic Reader Sage, in WIndsor Mill
• Sister Lisa Miracle Lady
• Psychic Vision by Vivian