5 Ways to Discover Romantic Baltimore

 

Baltimore is known as Charm City, but when you consider these inspired destinations, you could easily offer a new nickname: romantic Baltimore.

The Rawlings Conservatory

Fans of Downtown Abbey will adore The Rawlings Conservatory. It’s Victorian Era architecture and greenhouses set a romantic Baltimore scene. Five distinct greenhouse rooms offer distinct climates, so you can stroll with your love through gardens from around the world without ever leaving the city.

The mild Mediterranean greenhouse replicates the dry summers and foggy winters of the Mediterranean basin and southern California. The Tropical Forest greenhouse displays plants that originate in the tropics, including those native to parts of Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and some tropical islands. The Desert greenhouse showcases plants that can endure the harsh, windy, and arid conditions of the desert where daytime temperatures can climb as high as 125 degrees Fahrenheit and fall as low as 10 degrees at night, with little rainfall. The Orchid Room features the largest of all the plant groups, which includes over 30,000 species and more than 100,000 registered hybrids. The Palm House grants the visitor an opportunity to return to the Victorian era.

Baltimore Museum of Art Sculpture Gardens 

The two terraced gardens at the Baltimore Museum of Art are filled with awe-inspiring sculptures. The masterworks are both modern and contemporary, ranging from Auguste Rodin’s striding Balzac (1892) to Alexander Calder’s soaring red 100 Yard Dash (1969), providing a 100-year survey of sculpture from the figural to the abstract.
Early 20th century works are complimented by the beautiful flagstone terrace and fountain of the Janet and Alan Wurtzburger Sculpture Garden. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more romantic Baltimore site than the sloping garden paths and lush foliage of the gardens.

The BMA Sculpture Gardens are free to the public and open Wednesday-Friday 10am to dusk, and Saturday-Sunday 11am to dusk. If you visit in the summer, you can enjoy the popular yet intimate Jazz in the Sculpture Garden concerts.

Inner Harbor Ice Rink

The iconic Inner Harbor is a romantic Baltimore spot for its history, views and dining. But in winter months, you can up the romantic ante by taking your paramour to the Inner Harbor Ice Rink. There are even special extended holiday hours, so you can add romance to any occasion throughout the season. We also recommend taking the Baltimore Water Taxi to the Inner Harbor; the unparalled views on the route are a worthy time investment.

Extended Holiday Hours:
December 26th through January 2nd: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Special Holiday Hours:
Thanksgiving Day: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Day After Thanksgiving: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
New Year’s Eve: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
New Year’s Day: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King Day: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Visit The George Peabody Library

The George Peabody Library, housed in the world-renowned Peabody Institute of Music, is part of the Sheridan Libraries Special Collections at Johns Hopkins University. It’s a working research library, but it also happens to be one of the most architecturally beautiful places in Baltimore. So beautiful, in fact, that it’s become a popular wedding space.

The atmosphere of grandeur mixed with the libraries surrounding rare collections make the Peabody a romantic Baltimore destination. The extensive library is a book-lover’s dream–think Belle from Beauty and the Beast–and the design is incredible.

Six tiers of stately cast-iron columns, decorative railings, and classical embellishments touched with gold-leaf in this room that rises 61 feet from its black-and-white marble floor to the massive skylight that caps the central interior. Warmly lit, the space is so perfectly proportioned that, although the room is monumental, the feeling is intimate.

Of course, a stay at The Wayside Inn in nearby historic Ellicott City will round out your romantic Baltimore trip. Click here to see our romance packages, and book your stay today!