ractice your warrior pose with a waterfront view. Explore Baltimore’s attractions via a guided kayak tour. Refuel with some vegan soul food, then unwind with a restorative spa treatment. Our collection of outdoor and wellness activities is just what the doctor ordered when you want to feel good about yourself and have fun while you’re at it.
Calming Retreats
The Ivy Hotel Spa Seating
Named one of the top spa hotels in Maryland by US News & World Report, The Spa at Four Seasons is a luxurious experience complete with amazing views of the harbor. Favorites include the night spa package for private, undisturbed use of the spa for two and the platinum hydrafacial.
If you need to relieve a little stress, give your skin some TLC or simply want to be pampered, The Spa at the Ivy Hotel gets rave reviews for their attention to detail, great product lines and a great spa experience.
Hotel Revival hosts their own low-cost workshop series to improve personal wellness in the community. Remedy at the Revival is an immersive experience dedicated to guiding individuals on a journey to self-discovery and fulfillment through a variety of activities including breathwork, journaling and group exchanges. Not to mention, the $15 registration fee includes a pre-workshop happy hour.
The Royal Sonesta’s wellness center includes a rooftop health club with panoramic views of the water, a heated indoor pool, a whirlpool, a dry sauna, racquetball and a multiuse exterior court. Yoga and fitness classes are also offered, as are massages by appointment.
The waterfront Sagamore Pendry hotel boasts a 24-hour fitness center equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment. They also host a variety of wellness programs, from poolside pilates to outdoor yoga, and offer in-room massages to soothe your sore muscles and help you de-stress. Other hotels with 24-hour fitness centers include Hotel Indigo, Canopy by Hilton and the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor.
Spend your days relaxing by Sagamore Pendry’s waterfont pool. Photograph by Jason Varney.
Baltimore’s luxury hotels make it easy to treat yourself for a weekend, from five-star dining establishments to breathtaking friends. Find more places to pamper yourself here. For an added bonus, book an in-room beauty or wellness treatment from The Escape by K, which brings their services to you for added convenience!
Exercise and Spa Treatments
Yoga at AVAM
Enjoy your workout with a view with Waterfront Wellness, a series of free fitness classes at West Shore Park and Harbor Point that includes bootcamp, Core & Cardio and yoga. The Baltimore Peninsula also hosts a “Wellness on the Waterfront” series, which consists of a full body, bootcamp-style class on Mondays and yoga on Wednesdays.
For a higher-intensity workout, take a class at Upton Boxing Center or practice your flips and ollies at Jake’s Skate Park in the Inner Harbor. There’s also GRIND Gym, located in the historic Power Plant building with unparalleled views of the Patapsco River, which offers daily passes for $20.
If your goal is to relax rather than pump up, Art of Balance Wellness Spa is a favorite spa amongst locals, with a selection of custom facials and messages, as well as modern aesthetic treatments. Sweat it out at The Loft, which offers private, infrared sauna spaces and cold plunging facilities for you to benefit from contrast therapy, a practice in which you expose your body to extreme hot and cold temperatures to improve circulation, reduce stress, relieve sore muscles and more. The Loft also has a variety of skin treatments, from HydraFacials to lymphatic drainage massages. Tribe offers body dance, yoga, pilates, restorative movement and more based in the ancient Chinese philosophy of wuxing while Baltimore Breathwork hosts private and group meditations, sound baths and manifestation breathwork workshops.
InnerPath is an integrated wellness center whose services are designed to treat and nurture the whole individual. They offer traditional treatments such as psychotherapy and acupuncture, as well as more innovative and experimental modalities such as psychedelic therapies and cannabis coaching.
Find more spa and wellness facilities in Baltimore.
Trails, Parks and Waterfront Destinations
Loved by runners, cyclists and picnickers alike, Jones Falls Trail is about 11 miles long and travels through urban areas, gardens, dense woods and historic monuments. Hills are mild, and there is free parking in designated areas around the trail, which is divided into three parts for ease of navigation.
Opened in 1888, the Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens is considered by many the most beautiful building in Baltimore. It features five distinct greenhouses and ½ an acre of gardens with year-round flower beds, as well as a seasonal farmers market, but the orchid house alone is worth the trip.
Druid Hill Park is the third largest established park in the United States. Home of the Maryland Zoo, the Druid Hill Reservoir and the Rawlings Conservatory, the park also features athletic fields, picnic areas and pavilions. The 1.5-mile loop around the reservoir is very popular for walkers, runners and cyclists.
Canton Waterfront Park is an 8-acre park along the harbor with beautiful views, landscaped green areas, trails, a fishing pier and a waterfront promenade. Don’t miss the Korean War Memorial while you’re there, which honors the 527 Marylanders who lost their lives in the conflict.
The Baltimore Water Taxi is the oldest of its kind in the country. For a single price, you get unlimited on-off service to more than 30 attractions and neighborhoods.
Take in the sights and sounds of the Inner Harbor from the Water Taxi. Photograph by Jason Varney.
Kayak tours offer experienced paddlers guided tours of the harbor departing from the Maryland Science Center landing. Expect to see and learn about the historic Torsk submarine, the USS Constellation and Mr. Trash Wheel.
Bordering Highlandtown, an artsy neighborhood on Baltimore’s east side, Patterson Park offers a variety of picturesque pathways to knock out a couple of miles. Be sure to pass by the historic and ornate Patterson Park Observatory, or enjoy one of Patterson Park‘s many amenities: tennis courts, a swimming pool, an indoor ice skating rink, playgrounds and a dog park.
The Baltimore Blueway makes it possible to work out and explore Baltimore’s attractions and waterfront at the same time. The network of water trails and public access points for non-motorized crafts connects cultural, historic and natural sights within a 3-mile waterfront radius. The 2.5-mile Middle Branch loop is perfect for beginners and birdwatchers as it offers glimpses of osprey, egrets, heron and bald eagles. The Inner Harbor North Shore Loop is a moderately challenging 5.5-mile loop and the Patapsco River Trail is 7.5 miles round trip and more suitable for very experienced paddlers.
Tucked along the Jones Falls waterway, Cylburn Arboretum boasts a variety of plant life and terrains for nature lovers to explore. Unlike other area parks, this 200-acre urban oasis is devoid of courts and recreational facilities, making it the perfect place to peacefully connect with your surroundings. Explore the three miles of woodland trails, wander through the gardens or beat the heat inside the historic Cylburn mansion.
Explore more of Baltimore’s scenic running paths and trails.
Healthy Eating in Baltimore
Golden West Cafe has a takeout window for easy meals on the go.
If you’re looking for fresh and healthy eats, Charm City offers eclectic dining options where eating well means both delicious and better ingredients.
Land of Kush serves up an award-winning menu of vegan soul food. The restaurant, which has become a favorite for local and visiting celebrities, features vegan versions of classic soul food dishes like fritters, BBQ, baked mac and cheese and cornbread. Greenhouse Juice is known for juicy vegan burgers and a fantastic variety of fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies. For a late-night option, Golden West Cafe is a 20-year-old local institution serving its own take on traditional New Mexican specialties that includes plenty of vegan options. Locals rave about their vegan breakfast burrito and baked goods. Find more vegan restaurants in Baltimore.
For a more exotic approach to dining, the aptly named Foraged takes a novel approach to farm-to-table. Chef Chris Amendola works with local farm partners and also forages Maryland woods to source new ingredients for his beautifully presented dishes. The menu changes daily, but examples include wild Maryland catfish, hominy cakes infused with dandelions and forest mushroom stews.
Baltimore’s farmers markets are the ultimate one-stop destination for fresh produce, artisanal goods, plants and small bites from local eateries. Designed to foster community, these markets often also feature live music, performances and showcases from area artists. And they aren’t springtime events only! Some, such as the Waverly Farmers Market, operate year-round, so you can always get your healthy, hyperlocal food fix.
If you’re looking to drink less, Baltimore’s zero-proof scene has got you covered. Restaurants with exciting mocktail programs include Clavel (recently nominated for a James Beard Award for best bar!), Wicked Sisters, Duck Duck Goose and The Urban Oyster.
Hopscotch is a zero-proof bottle shop offering alcohol-free beer, wine, and spirits, they also offer functional beverages with nootropic ingredients, designed to improve clarity and brain function.
