Isaac's Birthday Adventure to Baltimore, MD
November is Isaac’s Birthday month and in typical Tucker fashion, we took a weekend trip to explore and celebrate… the destination this time? Baltimore, MD! Read on to see where we stayed, what we ate, and what we did (and didn’t do).
We planned the trip with the intent of seeing Misterwives in concert but as we were driving down, got word that the show had been cancelled due to illness! Flexible and ready with back-up options, we decided to see Donovan Woods instead– little did we know that too was canceled because the main singer needed emergency surgery! Because the third time’s the charm (sometimes) we bought tickets for and actually attended a concert at the Baltimore Sound Stage. We should have taken the hint from the universe to pass on live music this trip, because this show was, well, crappy. In hindsight we wished we’d instead stayed back at the hotel- which we happened to love!
Despite the musical setbacks, we still had an amazing trip, our hotel being a highlight! Isaac booked a room at “The Canopy” by Hilton, a new hotel right on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, closeby to the Fell’s Point Neighborhood. We stayed in a corner suite on the 9th floor with panoramic 180 degree views of the water. We watched the sun set over the harbor as sailboats peacefully trolled along.
Our first night, we decided to partake in some of the local cuisine- choosing to have dinner at the Choptank- a classic fish and crab house located at the 200 year-old Broadway market. Known for their Maryland inspired dishes like cream of crab soup, MTO Blue Crabs, and Crabcakes (are you sensing a theme) the menu also contains many “turf” options. For all you sauce lovers, the menu features 7 different side sauces to pair with your steak or seafood! This spot was delicious with lots of gluten free options. We split snow crab legs and I had a flank steak with herb butter.
Conveniently, there was a local Whole Foods nearby where we picked up some forgotten toothpaste, bought matching Pact black hoodies that were on sale, and perused for the kids’ stocking stuffers. The rest of the day was spent in downtown Annapolis, MD checking out their cute shops and small businesses. Some of our favorites were Old Fox Books, Mango and Main, and the antique stores on Maryland Ave.
Old Fox Books is a fairytale of a book shop with an adorable storefront and a very special founding father namesake: George Washington; known as “The Old Fox…” With a coffeeshop in house, every great vacation should include aimless browsing through shelves of books for all ages- and this was the spot. We picked out a few books for the kids! Anyone want to open one of these in downtown Dillsburg?
At Mango and Main you’ll find artisan jewelry, clothing, accessories, home decor, specialty food, and more, all sourced ethically. Partnering with creators from over 25 countries, their selection is a global collection of fair trade pieces. I bought a canvas banner that says “Dreams Really Do Come True…” which you may notice is now hanging on the walls of the cafe!
After shopping, we ate an early dinner on the marina in Annapolis at The Point Crab House and Grill before driving home. Receiving a slew of awards like “best waterfront dining” and “best Maryland crab soup,” we got the impression that this was a spot not to be missed. With an expansive menu, this would be a good option for lunch, apps, or dinner with lots of comfort food on the menu. This restaurant would be particularly lovely in the warmer months when most of its dining is open air just at the edge of the pier, but in the winter the floor to ceiling windows also make for a picturesque view of the water. I ordered a pound of old bay shrimp with fries and Isaac tried the fish tacos and old bay fries.
After dinner we hopped back in the car and headed home to Dillsburg. The car was the easiest option for this trip- we valet parked it in Baltimore and explored on foot- then drove to Annapolis and easily found parking on the street.
While the trip didn’t turn out quite as planned (but do they ever?), the purpose remained the same: to celebrate Isaac and spend quality one-on-one time together like we’ve been doing since we were teenagers just starting out.