Baltimore's Best Guided Tours (Even For Locals)

Baltimore is a land with a long and fascinating history, and it continues to be one of the richest cultural centers on the East Coast. People visiting Baltimore are likely to be interested in local attractions, but often Baltimore residents are too busy with their day-to-day lives to really explore some of the interesting tours that there home county has to offer. These are some of the more interesting and entertaining tours that out-of-towners will enjoy and Baltimore residents may find surprisingly good as well.

Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail
401 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 878-6411
www.nps.gov

Baltimore is a city where the African American culture has taken large strides, dominating areas of music, religious heritage, cuisine, education and architecture. The Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail highlights some of the cultural achievements of the local African Americans by taking guests through the locations that mark the local Civil Rights legacy, residential and church architecture, and the thriving African American entertainment culture as it has evolved from its roots to the present-day entertainment innovations. The tour begins at State Center Station (Baltimore Metro Subway) and concludes near the Upton Station. Call ahead for arrangements.

Baltimore Ghost Tours
731 South Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 357-1186
www.baltimoreghosttours.com

One of the more creative and interesting tours available in Charm City, Baltimore Ghost Tours offers several different walks that explore some of the real-life ghost stories and supposed hauntings in Maryland's thriving urban setting. Join the group on its Fells Point Ghost Walk which takes guests through the colorful and diverse Fells Point district, exploring the local spooks. Or try the Fells Point Haunted Pub Walk, where tourists may drop in on several of the established pubs in the area, sampling the local spirits while hearing tales about the local haunts. Another tour option is the Mt Vernon Ghost Walk Tour, wherein participants may see another of Baltimore's cultural centers and hear about its spooky legacy. With Baltimore being a harbor town, maritime ghosts abound, and it's well worth the chills it brings to see and hear about these fantastic phantoms.

Charm City Chews
653 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230
(443) 509-5193
www.charmcitychews.com

The most famous thing about Baltimore has to be its food. As one of the nation's most renown centers for seafood, Baltimore has innovated its local maritime bounty into a delectable variety of unique dishes. But seafood is not the only culinary delight that Charm City has to offer. Local neighborhood and urban centers have taken soul food and other eats and combined them for an astounding range of mouth-watering tastes. Join Charm City Chews as it takes guests through a walking tour of local venues - including public markets and eateries - learning about the history of Baltimore foods and sampling a wide range of flavors sure to inspire the taste buds of every person who joins the tour.

Related: Best Sightseeing Tours In Baltimore

Maritime Memories
2202 Pine Valley Drive
Timonium, MD 21093
(410) 561-1119
www.greenspringtours.com

As a harbor town, Baltimore has seen a maritime history that includes naval battles stretching back to colonial days, plus a rich history of sailing and fishing. Explore that history with Maritime Memories, a tour that takes its attendees through several options, including an exploration of the Inner Harbor's most famous historic ship, the USS Constellation; the marine science of the National Aquarium; and the most famous battle of Maryland's history in Fort McHenry. With this tour, enjoy a stroll through the Fells Point maritime district which includes a look at Frederick Douglass - Isaac Myers Maritime Park. The tour also features lunch at Bo Brooks in Canton.

Baltimore Heritage Tours
11 1/2 West Chase St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 332-9992
www.baltimoreheritage.org/tours

The Baltimore Heritage Center works hard to preserve and promote the history and culture of Baltimore, working with volunteers all over the city to preserve historic landmarks, architecture, art and culture. As part of its ongoing efforts, Baltimore Heritage offers a catalog of tours that take the participants into explorations of every aspect of Charm City history. Call or visit the website to see the ongoing, seasonal and new tours. Ride bikes, climb scaffolding or walk through the most interesting areas of Baltimore. Sample local drinks and food, and join the army of volunteer tour guides, which include such informed and professional people as nuns, architects, scholars and activists.

Related: Best Museum Tours In Baltimore

Joel Furches is a freelance writer and researcher for The Examiner and Logos Software, and also manages his own catalog of writing on Hub Pages. Joel is on the board of directors for Ratio Christi. He has a bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Education.