Historical Sailor's Boarding House with Modern Updates

There are traditional pubs, cobblestone streets, and a brass works near Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore; it almost feels like 19th-century London at times. This is where you’ll find the red-bricked Admiral Fell Inn, situated on an inlet on the bay. The inn has a historical feel to it as well—it dates as far back as the 1770s, when some pieces of its multibuilding complex also served as a ship's chandlery, a theater, and a seamen's YMCA. European elements are evident throughout the property, too: inside the lobby, broad wooden slats stretch out before a crackling fire surrounded by regal high-backed chairs and low, sprawling couches.

Each of the uniquely decorated standard rooms exhibits a more American style; they evoke coastal New England towns with white walls, understated bedding, and cherry-wood accents. Each room has a different view, offering sights such as the historical Fell’s Point Square, an inner courtyard, or tugboats chugging along in the harbor. Beyond the historical aesthetic are modern amenities, such as complimentary wireless Internet.

Within the hotel, the American Meli Patisserie & Bistro has a dining room and bar where you can get late-night drinks and desserts until 2 a.m. Lauded in Baltimore magazine's Best Restaurants 2011, Meli—which means "honey" in Italian—infuses each of its menu items with the sweet nectar, whether it be in one of the lip-smacking cocktails or starters such as the potato gnocchi with roasted butternut squash, broccolini, and mushrooms in a honey-sage butter. Even the ceiling pays tribute to the sweet syrup—it’s modeled after the classic tessellation of a beehive.

Baltimore, Maryland: Historic Waterfront with Urbane Pub Scene

Shipbuilding and fishing largely shaped the village of Fell’s Point, dating back to its roots when William Fell established the wharf in 1726. You can encounter many fabled spots on various neighborhood walking tours or even by embarking on a private stroll around the harbor. The village also has plenty to offer laid-back revelers in the form of eclectic shops and cozy taverns.

The harbor began to transform in the 1970s from a burgeoning seaport into Baltimore's cultural center. It has a bevy of galleries, shops, street performers, and harbor cruises where you can get skyline views of the city's plentiful churches and monuments.

Blocks away from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, bright lights emanate from the Power Plant Live compound, which features popular lounges and piano bars. Fresh seafood from Chesapeake Bay is always on hand at a variety of upscale and quick-eats restaurants, or by simply snatching a striped bass right out of a passing baby's hands.