Baltimore, MD — Frommers

"Hi, hon!" If you're lucky, you just might hear the old Baltimorean greeting. But so many visitors have made "Charm City" their home, the old phrase is disappearing. No matter. The "charm" remains every time Baltimore reinvents itself.

Baltimore has welcomed visitors since 1729. Founded as a port and shipbuilding town, its citizens have adapted to constant change. Baltimore clippers were once cutting-edge technology here. Then it was cars and steel. Now the city is on the rise once again with top-notch healthcare, high-tech industries, and nonprofits.

That doesn't mean Baltimore is all business. Far from it. Arrive on a sunny May weekend for an old-fashioned Flowermart. Come to Harborplace in midsummer and you'll wonder what the party's for. (It's just Baltimore having a good time.) On a wintry night when it looks like the city has gone to bed, head east to Power Plant Live, Fell's Point, or trendy Canton, and you'll find hot crowds and cool music. Baltimore also revels in its historic sites, museums, and neighborhoods, including Federal Hill, Mount Vernon, Fell's Point, and Canton.

As always, Baltimoreans are happy to see new faces. If you hear a "Hi, Hon!" you can be sure you're welcome.