Things to Do in Towson

Since 1947, Baltimore Ski Club has loaded up its bus with ski poles, parkas, and club members, setting off for trips to some of the world's oldest mountain ranges. A nonprofit group, the ski club functions thanks to the annual contributions of its members, who in turn get access to ski trips and monthly get-togethers. From December through April, the club sponsors trips across the East Coast, the Western states, and European mountain ranges. Trips include the price of transportation, lodging, and lift tickets, allowing skiers to ride local slopes or legendary Alps without having to stuff their boots with dollar bills.

Even as a flight attendant and marketing salesperson, Belinda Magruder never forgot her younger years as a crewmember aboard international sailing charters. The freedom of clinging to the wind as the boat raced across open waters continued to call to her, and one day she got an opportunity to go back. After a chance ad for a marketing position led Belinda to work for Getaway Sailing, she eventually took over the company. Since then, Belinda has filled Getaway Sailing's school with American Sailing Association–certified instructors, many of whom were raised on the bay and grew up manning the rigging of their families' ships. Some of the school's captains hold merchant mariner's licenses and boast year-round experience in running freighters via tugboat or beating Poseidon in weekend poker games.

A fleet of 17 boats at lengths of up to 35 feet conveys passengers through classes covering navigation and cruising, as well as certification courses and team-building trips. With the water gently patting hulls, boats cut through the sunshine and across the Inner Harbor or to the Francis Scott Key Bridge on day charters, or take longer trips to farther-flung stretches of aquamarine around Rockhall, Oxford, and St. Michaels. Evening races let larger boats jockey competitively with snails snapping a staccato rhythm against the darkening sky, and harbor sails put small groups out with a skipper, leaving them free to bar-hop or heckle passing schools of fish. Getaway Sailing's instructors immerse their students in the insular sailing world and have drawn members from as far as Hershey, including patrons who have volunteered to help staff the school's booth at boating trade shows.

As a part of the Maryland state-park system, Graham Equestrian Center allows riders to unravel the several miles of trails winding throughout Gunpowder Falls State Park. The center draws its name from Dr. Albert Graham, who deeded his farm and 22-stall barn to the park system in order to help fortify the bond between Maryland citizens and their natural surroundings.

Through horseback-riding lessons, the center's trainer, Jim McDonald, educates children and adults on all aspects of horsemanship and horse management, from basic riding techniques to advanced grooming methods that don't require kiddie pools full of marmalade. His lessons and events also help riders understand herd dynamics as they strengthen relationships with both horses and their landscape.

Since 1996, the staff at Seadog Cruises has welcomed explorers aboard sophisticated, open-air speedboats for city tours. Over the years, they’ve led more than two million sightseers through Baltimore and Chicago on cruises that elucidate city histories, paying special attention to landmarks such as Baltimore’s Naval Reserve Center and Chicago’s Tribune Tower. Their fleet of watercraft uses low-sulfur diesel and four-stroke engines that produce lower emissions than older models, allowing eco-conscious passengers to rest easy and allowing fish to finally open their windows for some fresh water.

Upper Chesapeake Bay Charters' USCG-licensed captains and career fishermen know the Chesapeake Bay waters like the back of their hands. They use this knowledge to ferry small groups on charters aboard one of the company’s two vessels, helping clients to snag catfish and use trotlines to mine blue crabs. During all trips, the expert fishermen supply equipment, clean catches, and snap pictures of people holding fish while looking quietly triumphant, like a cat who just learned how to flush a toilet.

Additionally, Upper Chesapeake Bay Charters' crew uses their watercraft to embark on sightseeing tours. They point out wildlife as well as Baltimore landmarks such as the USS Constellation.

Exotic Car Rental of Baltimore/DC’s sports cars upgrade clients’ wheels for special occasions or leisurely joyrides. The current fleet contains a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS convertible, which commands the roadways with a 426-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. A rear vision camera with park assist helps drivers sidle into tight parallel parking spaces, and an antenna integrated into the spoiler makes ladybugs self-conscious about their inferior bodies. The staff plans to add a Plymouth Prowler, Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, and Lamborghini Gallardo to its growing armada.