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An Outdoor and Wellness Guide to Baltimore

Enjoy the great outdoors and treat your body with the best of Baltimore’s wellness scene.
D

o yoga with monkeys. Unwind at a luxurious spa. Try some vegan soul food. Take a guided kayak tour. 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.

Hotels with Spas

Make it easy on yourself and stay as close as possible to the nearest spa. Both the Ivy Hotel and the Four Seasons have their own world-class in-house facilities. 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.

The Ivy Hotel Spa Seating

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.

 

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.

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. For an even “wilder” experience, Yoga at the Zoo is a series of 60-minute Vinyasa-style yoga classes hosted by the Maryland Zoo where you get to exercise to a backdrop of lions and penguins. 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. If you like your workouts with a little more sweat, The Loft is an open concept treatment space featuring private, infrared sauna spaces. You can use the sauna to detoxify and relax, or you can use it as a private fitness studio for stretching, yoga or even a Peloton session. Learn more about some of our favorite wellness facilities.

Trails, Parks and Waterfront Destinations

  • Jones Falls Trail– 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.
  • Rawlings Conservatory– 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.
Skyline of downtown Baltimore with Water Taxi

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.
  • Tucked along the Jones Falls waterway, Cylburn Arboretum boasts a variety of plantlife 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.

Healthy Eating in Baltimore

If you’re looking for fresh and healthy eats, Charm City offers eclectic dining options where eating well means both delicious and better ingredients. STEM Farm Kitchen is a mix of educational greenhouse and kitchen. The greenhouse is a STEM education center training young entrepreneurs that also provides ingredients for their restaurants. The kitchen is a modern food hall where ten talented chefs give their own twists to plant-based grain bowls, salads, juices and smoothies. To satisfy that sweet tooth, Gangster Vegan offers a range of raw vegan desserts that has people driving from miles across town, alongside cold-pressed juices, salads and bowls.

Golden West Cafe in Hampden

Golden West Cafe has a takeout window for easy meals on the go.

For a more hearty alternative, 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.

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.

Visit Baltimore Merch

Show off your Baltimore pride in style with t-shirts, hats and hoodies featuring the Visit Baltimore logo. Plus get your hands on our one-of-a-kind posters.