Ten Things to Do in Baltimore During Preakness Week

Camden Yards is just one place to visit during Preakness week. (Photo by WikiCommons/Waldo Jaquith)
There is no shortage of activities to keep you occupied in Baltimore, especially during Preakness week. Baltimore is known as "Charm City" for a reason. It has all of the big-time nightlife you could ever want, yet still offers uniquely local activities that make visiting Baltimore memorable. Spend some time exploring, and you'll see why so many people dub this city a "quirky" gem.
Between racing events and non-racing happenings this week, it's hard to narrow a list down to just 10 things to do, but we'll try. We'll also include the approximate distance and time (which will certainly vary depending on traffic this week) between Pimlico Race Course and each of the stops on our "Ten Things to Do Around Baltimore" list:
1. Catch a Ball Game, Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Distance from Pimlico: 5.5 miles, 15 minutes)
As the husband of a die-hard Baltimore Orioles fan from Severna Park, Md., I just had to start the list off with this one. Seriously though, aside from being the location where I actually proposed to my amazing wife, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is one of the best places to take in a sporting event anywhere. There isn't a bad seat in the house and you'll find great eats all over the park. You've got to grab an "O" shaped butter pretzel and wash it down with the signature brew that has a cult following in Baltimore, National Bohemian - or, as the locals call it, "Natty Boh." If you want to catch an O's game, make sure you squeeze it into the early part of your week. The Orioles are home to play the Detroit Tigers from Monday to Wednesday, before hitting the road the rest of Preakness week.
2. Eat, Drink and Crab Derby, Lexington Market (Distance from Pimlico: 5.0 miles, 13 minutes)

Photo by WikiCommons
Despite being one of the oldest markets in the country, dating back to 1782, this Baltimore landmark is as vibrant and active today as it has ever been. For starters, it's a one stop shop for local food favorites, including delicious award-winning Maryland-style crab cakes at Faidely's. Follow that up with a stop at Berger's Bakery for a world famous Berger Cookie and your appetite and soul will be more than satisfied. Lexington Market is also the site of a wide array of live music performances during the year. During Preakness week, acts include a Caribbean Steel Drum performer and a few Jazz musicians. But the highlight will be Thursday's Crab Derby, an actual crab race in which local celebrities try to jockey their assigned crustaceans across the finish line first. If you don't believe me, just YouTube "Crab Derby."
3. Get Your Pre-Preak On, ABR Party at Mt. Washington Tavern (Distance from Pimlico: 2.6 miles, 7 minutes)

Come see and be seen. For the first time, America's Best Racing is hosting a massive Pre-Preakness bash. There will be jockeys there, along with other racing industry personalities, drawings for Black-Eyed Susan, Preakness and Belmont Stakes tickets, food, drinks and more. The best part is that the ABR Pre-Preakness Party is absolutely free and open to all, encouraging new and young fans to come spend a night schmoozing with industry personalities. The fun starts on Wednesday at 7 p.m. (immediately following the Preakness Stakes post position draw) at The Mt. Washington Tavern (5700 Newbury Street). Yelp Baltimore is the official mobile check-in app for the event.
4. One Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall, Mahaffey's Pub (Distance from Pimlico: 8.6 miles, 18 minutes)

Who needs 99 bottles of beer, when you can have 100 at one of Baltimore's hottest craft beer spots? This local spot has a great atmosphere, tasty eats and, oh did we mention ... beer?! You might not be in town long enough to throw back 100 beers but Mahaffey's does have a popular "beer club" that offers rewards to loyal customers for every 100 beers they purchase. Rewards range from a free mug and shirt for the first 100 to becoming a ‘Sir’ or ‘Dame’ and getting a polo with your last name on it. Of course, anyone who downs 100 beers also gets their name on the wall of Mahaffey's. On second thought, making the 100 beer club is totally doable if you get into town early enough on Preakness week! Mahaffey's was voted the city's best bar by the Baltimore Sun's Guide to Baltimore.
5. Why Stop There? Explore the Rest of the Top 50
Whether you're looking for a $5 cocktail, an outdoor patio or karaoke, Baltimore has you covered. You can sip an Edgar Allan Poe-themed martini. You can try the latest concoction from a seasoned mixologist. The cost of your beer can change based on a stock-market style pricing guide. And heck, it's almost summer. Go for the alcoholic snowball. Check out the entire Baltimore Sun list of Top 50 bars and find one (or a few) to try. 
6. Aqua-excursion, National Aquarium (Distance from Pimlico: 7.3 miles, 14 minutes)

Photo by WikiCommons/Wallstreethotrod
If you're in town with kids for the week, the National Aquarium should be high on your list of things to do. You can't miss the sharp looking angular glass structure when walking or driving around the Inner Harbor. Baltimore's National Aquarium features some of the most colorful jellyfish and coolest-looking sharks. If that isn't enough, there are dozens of birds, frogs, turtles and a whole lot of terrifying looking snakes to see, too. There's also a 4-D Immersion Theater. Yes, 4-D! The Travel Channel named it one of the best aquariums in the United States, it attracts about 1.5-million visitors a year and I've never spoken to anyone who didn't have a spectacular time when visiting.
7. Gourmet on the Go, Aggio Pop Up Dinner (Distance from Pimlico: 2.9 miles, 8 minutes)
This menu will be a must-try for the foodies coming to town. Maryland-based chef (and Top Chef alum) Bryan Voltaggio is opening an Italian restaurant in Baltimore later this summer. But for two nights only in May, you can taste a preview at the Aggio Pop Up. Aggio will open Thursday and Friday for two seatings each night. The team will take over Artifact Coffee on Union Avenue for the pop-up restaurant. Make sure to call early if you want a reservation. Seats are sure to fill up quickly.
A bonus to watch out for:
Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Md. just released a new beer sure to quench anyone's taste for old bay. It created 'Dead Rise' to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Maryland's spice from the gods. And you'll only find it in the Mid-Atlantic. The beer is brewed to have citrus notes and a tart finish, and it's a perfect pairing for blue crabs. There's an added bonus to sipping this brew: part of the proceeds will go to "True Blue," an organization that looks out for the Chesapeake Bay's waterman and crab population.
8. Rise and Shine, Sunrise at Old Hilltop (at Pimlico)

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
If you're out late, eating and drinking on the town, you're going to have a tough time waking up for this sunrise walking tour - but make it a point to get out there. Set three alarms, if you must. The Sunrise tours run from 6-9 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. Preakness.com lists the details of the tour, which include "... sunrise on the grandstand apron while watching the Preakness contenders’ morning workouts ... an insider's perspective on racing during an escorted tour of the stable area. You never know whom you may run into on the backside ... trainers, owners, exercise riders, and jockeys can be found there! The barn area is one place you can count on an interesting story!" All of that action won't cost you a dime, either.
9. Fly High, Hot Air Balloon Festival (Distance from Pimlico: 18 miles, 24 minutes)
Resisting the urge to drop a line about this event not being a bunch of hot air (OK, I guess I just dropped it), the Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival is a truly a unique experience. You can watch - for free - as an endless stream of breathtaking hot air balloons ascend into the Maryland sky. Tethered balloon rides are another option, at a reasonable $15 for adults and $8 for kids. This event is perfect for children as well as those young at heart. The festival, which runs from Thursday through Saturday, will also feature handmade crafts, retail and food vendors, and live entertainment.
10. A Night with the Stars, Stargazing at the Maryland Science Center (Distance from Pimlico 8.2 miles, 16 minutes)

The Maryland Science Center offers a beautiful view of the stars and the moon every Friday night. The telescope is on the building's roof. What could possibly make a night on a rooftop in Baltimore's inner harbor better? The stargazing is free. Weather permitting, the festivities start at 7 p.m. and run through 10:30 p.m. Call anytime after 9 p.m. to make sure there are no weather issues (410)-545-2999.