Hotel at a Glance: Hyatt Place Baltimore/Inner Harbor

There are enough activities within a 1-mile radius of Hyatt Place Baltimore/Inner Harbor to fill a weeklong itinerary. Stroll along the bustling Inner Harbor, grab a bite to eat in Little Italy, and admire thousands of sea creatures in the renowned National Aquarium. Pint-size travelers will love Port Discovery Children’s Museum, where they can explore a three-story urban treehouse and go grocery shopping in a miniature convenient store.

• Wake up to a complimentary continental breakfast; typical offerings include cage-free eggs, all-natural bacon and sausage, and Greek yogurt.
• On-site eats: Nosh on sandwiches, tacos, and salads in the hotel’s cafe, which also serves Starbucks coffee, beer, and wine.
• Go for a swim in the indoor pool or squeeze in a workout at the on-site fitness center.
• In-room amenities: 42-inch flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, and a sofa or sofa-sleeper

Baltimore, Maryland: World-Class Museums and Historic Waterfront Neighborhoods

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor—a busy port that was redeveloped as a tourism district in the mid-20th century—has become one of the city’s best-known and most beloved landmarks. Water taxis ferry visitors from one historic, cultural, or family-friendly attraction to another. Sites along the routes include the star-shaped Fort McHenry (where US forces repelled the British during the War of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”) and restaurants where you can sample the city’s famous crab cakes.

You’ll find several unique museums here, too, from the National Aquarium—which houses more than 16,000 sea creatures in realistic habitats—to the wonderfully oddball American Visionary Art Museum, one of the country’s leading institutions for outsider art. For a stunning view of the skyline, the Inner Harbor, and Chesapeake Bay, head up to the 27th floor of the Baltimore World Trade Center, where you can see the city from 360 degrees at the observation deck.