Fort McHenry National Monument

Not to be mistaken with Fort Henry, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is located in Baltimore, Maryland while the former is located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. To be able to find your way to visit Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, it would be wise to arrange to charter a bus to bring you and your family there instead of driving there yourself. The reason is quite simple actually – you don’t have to trouble yourself in finding a place to park your car when you are there.

Being chauffeured to Fort McHenry National Monument in the charter bus, you and your family can be quite sure that you will be dropped off near the entrance, so you don’t have to walk very far to get there. This also makes another good reason to charter a Baltimore bus for this trip. When you arrive at the destination, begin your tour at the Visitor Center with a 10-minute film on the war of 1812 and how Francis Scott Key got his inspiration in writing the Star Spangled Banner. At the end of the film, as the Star Spangled Banner is sung, the screen will reveal the Flag of Fort McHenry and many visitors always find this a rather moving conclusion to the whole film. It is shown twice every hour – on the hour and half past the hour throughout the whole day. Do give yourself and your family members at least an hour to tour the whole grounds of the fort and it is self guided only. However, we do know that if you take your time to leisurely tour the grounds of the fort, it would take you at least two hours; but it is entirely up to you just how long you wish to take to finish touring the fort.

If you and your family members happen to be there at the right time, you may even be able to watch a flag changing ceremony. They do have special events throughout the year, so if you would like to coincide your trip with one of their special events, you can always find out more from their website for details. At the end of the tour, just right before you leave the Fort McHenry National Monument with your family in the Baltimore charter bus, you can always stop by the gift shop that is in the Visitor Center to buy some memorabilia home to keep or to give away as gifts to friends.

The Best of Italian Delicacy at Di Pasquale’s Italian Market

For the people working hard behind Di Pasquale’s Italian Marketplace, it all began more than one hundred years ago and with the mission and vision of its original owner, Luigi Di Pasquale, this Baltimore tourist attraction is now one of the most visited hotspots in the city. Not only do tourists and foreign visitors who are here for a short bus charter holiday and vacation come here for a short break in their shuttle bus, coach charter, mini bus, school children and the local residents find it worthwhile to bring their kids for a day of exploration and fun regularly too.

Di Pasquale’s had its beginnings as a small corner grocery shop and in all sincerity, they served the elite and rich community of Highlandtown. But it has been more than four decades now and the business has been inherited by one generation after another so much so that it is now known as a superior retailer, importer and distributor of Italian products.

With so much experience to their name, we are sure the experienced deli staff are capable of telling you which is the best of their product is suitable for you. Based on our bus charter Baltimore customers’ experiences, they have extremely authentic Italian recipes that dates back to the Old World - so, it is really worth your time if you are looking for something a little bit more original and old school. The highlight of the place is, of course, none other than their freshly baked breads which are produced daily, every single morning but do take a look down the wine, alcohol and juice aisles. There are some of the best home-made wine and juices available for you to take home with you so that you can enjoy the delicious authentic products with your family and friends who did not make it to the bus charter Baltimore trip with you.

The Italians, obviously, have their own unique way of preparing food and the unique kitchen utilities that you are looking for could be right here because they offer some hard-to-find cooking tools like pasta making machines and coffee brewers.

In a place where you would expect the staff to be uppity and unfriendly, this place is not at all so - they are unpretentious, offer great food at great prices. Praises have been sung about them having some of the best freshly baked bread and prosciutto on this side of New York City...something that is off the charts and not in line with what the locals expect. So, do drop by Al Pasquale for the best meats, cookies, pastas and fabulous wines during your Baltimore bus rental visit....we are sure you will not be disappointed.

Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore

Children’s museums are usually fun – but then again, there are some that are just amazingly, crazy fun! And that is exactly what you get when you bring your kids over to the Port Discovery Children’s Museum at 35 Market Place, Baltimore to spend a whole day touring and learning (yes, they get to learn too!) through all their interactive and educational displays. Sounds like an exciting time for your kids, right? Well, pick up the phone and make a booking for a Baltimore charter bus and load your kids into it and come on over to the Port Discovery Children’s Museum for some exciting fun time!

When you and your kids arrive at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in your Baltimore charter bus, you will almost immediately know why it has been voted as one of the Top 12 Children’s Museums in the country by Forbes in the year 2012. A huge building with three floors filled with interesting exhibits and displays that will enable the children to touch, learn and play throughout – it almost seem like a really big toy town for the kids! If you happen to have a younger child among you, don’t worry, they do have a separate room just for the toddlers.

Some of the fun things to do at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum is learning to stay healthy in their Kick It Up! program, learn to cook and serve the food, learn a ‘chicken’ dance, play with huge drums and so on. Out of all the exhibits and displays at the museum, a very important aspect of the museum would be the Gardens Initiative that was launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fight childhood obesity, which is to help children learn to make healthy food choices and encourage physical activities via their interactive displays and programs. Parents (especially the mothers!) traveling in the Baltimore charter bus with their toddlers especially love the Toddler room because it is safe, clean and fun to keep the young ones occupied and having a good time without much fuss.

The staff at the museum work really hard to keep the museum clean and fun for the children, while the exhibits are ever-changing too to keep the museum afresh and relevant with new things all the time. After all, if you want to keep the little ones coming back, you can’t be having the same old, same old all the time. We won’t be surprised if your little ones are pestering for another trip to the museum soon after they get on the chartered Baltimore bus to go home.

Fort McHenry - An Inspiring, Fun and Educational Visit

Fort McHenry might not look like much at first sight but based on what happened in 1812 during British invasion, Fort McHenry served as a front that successfully defended Baltimore Harbor and also inspired the poem called ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ which turns out to be used as the American National Anthem. So, in a lot of ways, there is really more to Fort McHenry than meets the eye. It would be best to do up a little bit of research before heading over during your Baltimore bus charter trip tour.

The Fort was also, used as again during the Civil War and during World Wars, the fort was used as a U.S. army general hospital and coast guard training station from 1942 to 1945.

However, with all that said, it might sound a bit dreary and boring but worry not, today, the fort has been turned into a tourist attraction suitable for little kids, teenagers and grownups alike. Bird watchers will have a field day with Jim Peters’ bird walk along the wetlands near the Fort McHenry park. The activity is particularly fun during winter months when the weather is not as punishing so, we think it would make an incredible winter Baltimore charter bus family getaway option.

The bird watching tour will take visitors around and along the Sea Wall Trail which also means a bit of an excerise. The birds one can expect to catch are the likes of Canada Goose, Bufflehead, Wigeon, Ruddy Ducks and if you are lucky, you might catch sight of a Gadwall. Jim Peters who designed the trail and tour is an award-winning ornithologist so, he is a perfectly qualified man for the job, we are assured. On top of bird watching, there are snakes, insects and other reptiles to excite the little ones.

Parents and educators should learn up about the Fort McHenry Junior Ranger program which is designed to help young kids learn the history and culture of the place. The interactive program is suitable for Baltimore charter bus rental holiday programs. The activities will start at the visitors’ center whereby kids are encouraged to watch, learn and investigate the exhibits and ready them for quizzes later on. When they are done with the activities and fun quizzes, the juniors would have walked off (with a proud smile on their faces) with their well-earned Junior Ranger Badge.

So, if you are ready to get started with your group Baltimore charter bus rental vacation at Fort McHenry, we invite you to come check out some of the unbelievably-priced charter bus, shuttle bus, coach charter rental packages.

Wine tasting in Maryland

Wineries in Maryland produce more than 400 different premium wines in seven grape-growing regions, from Eastern Shore just inland of the Atlantic to the mountains of Western Maryland.  To help promote the state's burgeoning wine industry, the Maryland Wineries Association has mapped out five regional wine trails that showcase 42 local vintners for charter bus visitors.  When you visit the Old Line State, you find a wealth of premium wines to taste and savor, and a great way of doing it is with a bus, charter bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Baltimore Bus Charters.

Featuring eight wineries totaling 120 acres of vineyards, the Frederick Wine Trail boasts more than half of Maryland's wine production.  The trail for Baltimore charter bus visitors begins with four wineries located around Mount Airy, including Black Ankle Vineyards, Loew Vineyards and Berrywine Plantations Linganore.  In Frederick itself, tours take place at Frederick Cellars, where charter bus visitors can sample such selections as Frederick Red, a semi-sweet wine made from Cabernet Franc grown in Washington County.

The Patuxent Wine Trail meanders through scenic Calvert and St. Mary's counties, bordered by the Patuxent and Potomac rivers and Chesapeake Bay, making this a pleasant ride in a charter bus.  Along the way, charter bus visitors are treated to views of lighthouses, marinas and acres of verdant farmland.  This region of Southern Maryland features Cove Point Winery, Fridays Creek Winery, Running Hare Vineyard and Solomons Island Winery which features a tasting room that showcases offerings including Rose of Merlot and Riesling Icewine.

Northeast of Baltimore and a short charter bus ride away, the Piedmont Wine Trail includes the wineries of Harford County. The scenic countryside features Thoroughbred farms and bald eagle nesting sites.  Charter bus visitors can sample wines at among others Basignani Winery, Boordy Vineyards (boordy.com) and Legends Vineyard, where vintners earned the 2009 Linden Green Award for Best Maryland Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage 2007.

Home to the state's oldest wine festival, the Carroll Wine Trail features such wineries as Cygnus Wine Cellars and Galloping Goose Vineyards on 27 acres replete with vinifera and hybrid vines. Charter bus visitors can check out a tasting at Serpent Ridge Vineyard, the first vineyard to open in Westminster.  Charter bus visitors can also take the Chesapeake Wine Trail, which leads charter bus visitors to Maryland's Eastern Shore. Wineries include Little Ashby Vineyards in Easton, Great Shoals Winery in Princess Anne and Costa Ventosa Vineyard and Winery in Whaleyville. Each year, the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival takes place at the Bay Bridge Marina on Kent Island.

For a charter bus tour of Maryland’s finest vineyards, give Baltimore Bus Charters a call to organize your trip with a selection from their fleet of charter buses and friendly, personalized service.

Beach fun in Maryland

Bordered on the east by Chesapeake Bay, Maryland boasts of many great beaches that allow charter bus visitors great opportunities for fun in, on and around the water.  Encompassing over 500 miles of shoreline, Maryland’s beaches run from Brooklyn in the north to Rose Haven in the south.  Brooklyn in the north to Rose Haven in the south.  Pay a visit to some of Maryland best public beaches with a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Baltimore Bus Charters.  Travel to the beach in style and comfort with a charter bus, and spend the day having fun in the sun.

A great charter bus beach destination is Sandy Point State Park.  Located within the city limits of Annapolis, Sandy Point State Park covers 786 acres along Chesapeake Bay's northwestern shore near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  Charter bus visitors can swim at the park's southern beaches, which are supervised by lifeguards during the summer season.  Showers are available after a day on the beach at the park's bathhouse or visit the snack bar.  Playgrounds and picnic areas are adjacent to the swimming beach and 22 ramps provide access for boats to the bay.  Charter bus visitors can also observe the 1883 Sandy Point Shoal lighthouse standing 37 feet tall and visible from the beach 1,000 yards to the east and fishing is permitted from designated areas of the shoreline.

For charter bus visitors interested in swimming in Chesapeake Bay, get your charter bus driver to take you and your charter bus group down to Mayo Beach Park, which also borders the mouth of the South River.  There are lifeguards patrolling the designated swimming areas of the sandy beach during open season at a ratio of one guard per 50 swimmers.  You can launch a boat or let the kids climb the structures at the nearby playground after a swimming session.  Picnic areas and a rental pavilion are also available to charter bus visitors wanting to hold celebrations or get togethers.  Mayo Beach Park is located in the town of Edgewater in southeast Anne Arundel County.

Anchoring the northern point of Pasadena and extending into Chesapeake Bay, Fort Smallwood Park has beach access, although swimming is not allowed. This does not mean that charter bus visitors will be at a loss for things to do.  Charter bus visitors can take in the views of the bay from the beach area while relaxing on a chair, or launch a canoe or kayak nearby.  Those with dogs may bring their best friends along to play at the dog beach.  There is a 380 foot fishing pier where charter bus visitors can try their luck at fishing, while history buffs in the charter bus group may prefer to visit the historic gun battery and abandoned barracks.  Other park amenities include picnic areas, horseshoe pits, walking trails and a playground.

For a good time at the beach, give Baltimore Bus Charters a call and let them plan a fun filled, fuss free trip to the beach for you with a selection from their fleet of charter buses and friendly, personalized service.

By the sea in Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland is a great place to visit at any time of year, winter or summer. While most outdoor activities center around the sea during the summer months, fine dining in Baltimore is a year round thing, and easily accessible with a charter bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Baltimore Bus Charters. With a charter bus, you and your group can travel around Baltimore in style and comfort while your reliable charter bus driver takes you round the city for a gastronomic tour.
Seafood has to be fresh, for the best results in cooking, and they don’t get much fresher than at the Black Olive restaurant. The waiter will invite charter bus diners into this Greek restaurant’s kitchen to view the day’s catch, where they can see for themselves exactly how bright-eyed and glossy the fish are. Choices are wide, though seasonal, including pompano, sea bream and Dover sole, among others. Head back to your table and your meal will soon arrive, burnished by the grill and garnished with little more than a hint of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a couple of capers. The secret of the Black Olive is this, fish this fresh needs nothing more to show off its delicate flavors. Add a bottle of intriguing Greek wine from the comprehensive wine list to complement your meal, and finish it off with a hand made baklava for dessert.
Glamor has always been a part of properly executed fine dining, and nowhere will charter bus visitors feel more like royalty than at Sascha’s 527 Cafe in Baltimore. This dramatic restaurant, brainchild of owner Sascha Wolhandler, sets the scene with a red velvet curtain entrance, 16 foot tall ceilings, towering flower arrangements and a vintage chandelier that looks like it come out of Versailles. While the surroundings are palatial, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. There certainly isn’t any pretentiousness in the menu, which is bistro style international without being overwhelmingly haute cuisine. Sascha’s menu is seasonal, and changes frequently, but some favorites are the tapas style shrimp, coriander encrusted scallops and grilled rainbow trout.
Gunning’s Seafood Restaurant looks a little anonymous and nondescript, but it’s well worth the charter bus ride out to this place for their steamed hard shell crabs. Three generations of the Gunnings family have been in the business of seafood preparation for over 40 years, and they do know their crabs. Best visited in the summer, when the blue shelled crabs that hit your plate come straight from Maryland’s own Wye River, supposedly the best place in the country to find the fattest, tastiest crabs. And not just the steamed crabs, batter-dipped crab cakes, fried stuffed hard-shell crabs, soft-shell crabs in season are all on the menu, with the house specialty, battered and deep-fried green pepper rings, dusted with powdered sugar.
For a seafood soiree through Baltimore, give Baltimore Bus Charters a call to find out how they can help you arrange your charter bus trips with a selection from their fleet of charter buses and friendly, personalized service.