Coming to Baltimore for first two games from Canada....

[PDO]

Hi Guys,

 

Tons of questions!

 

I'm looking hard at coming to Baltimore from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  I would be coming with my girlfriend and we would go to the home opener and the Steelers game the following Thursday.

 

I'm about to lay all my questions out... the trip isn't for sure yet, we're also looking at going to New Orleans (to catch the Ravens of course, along with all the fun there), but some advice here could really help us.

 

#1) We would want to stay close to the Stadium... any hotel recommendations?  I understand there are some fairly "rough" spots; where exactly should we specifically avoid? 

 

#2) Is NFL Ticket Exchange the best place to buy tickets?  If not, where?

 

#3) What is there that is "must see" in Baltimore?

 

#4) We both love Seafood... restaurant suggestions?

 

#5) Are day trips Washington and/or Philly reasonable ideas?  I'd love to see an MLB game while there, and the O's don't play until the Friday, where we might be flying out.

 

#6) What is the stadium like for viewing lines?  I've been to Seattle (saw our boys lose there a few years back, and Ray destroy his toe...), and there didn't seem to be a bad seat in the house.  Is the Bank similar?

 

#7) What is tailgaiting like?  Again, my only American football experience was in Seattle, and we showed up hours early and had a great time.

 

#8) What is public transportation like around the stadium?  Cabs?  Will it be hard to get from the stadium to the hotel or from the hotel to the stadium?

 

#9) Anything else I should know?

 

Thanks guys!  Really hoping the trip comes together.

[display name]

1) I think there is a Holiday Inn pretty close by. M&T Bank Stadium is pretty close to some of those "rough spots," and so is this hotel.

2) I think StubHub is also pretty good.

3) There are plenty of interesting things to see. Fort McHenry and the Inner Harbor, Patapsco Valley State Park outside the city, some Civil War battlefields a little further west... You should have no problem finding places to go to.

4) Sorry-can't help you here.

5) If the traffic is good it shouldn't take much more than an hour to reach those cities with no stops.

6) There are no obstructed seats-It's a great stadium.

7) There are plenty of spots to tailgate. I've never actually done it so I don't know much but I've heard that Baltimore is one of the best tailgating cities in the country.

8) The public transportation system in Baltimore is not very impressive, but you should be able to find a cab after the game. (I've been to a few games and I usually left the city by cab.) However the Holiday Inn that I mentioned earlier is within walking distance from M&T Bank Stadium-about a mile away at most. The chances that you will get jumped are very low because you will be exiting the stadium with around 70,000 other people, and the hotel is close enough so that many of them will probably still be with you when you arrive at the hotel.

[Moderator 3]

There is a Holiday Inn and a Days Inn within easy walking distance of the stadium. There are also quite a few other (more expensive) hotels within easy walking distance.

The public transportation system is not too bad. If you want to make a day trip to Washington DC, you can take the Marc train from Camden Yards.

[K-Dog]

#3)  Its kinda hard to give you a MUST see not knowing enough about you.  The BMA ( Baltimore Museum of Art ) usually has some pretty amazing exhibits, Peabody Libary is also kinda neat. If you are at the other end of the cultural spectrum we have a Hooters too.   
The Inner harbor just a few block from the stadium will be cool too.  ( just dont look at the water ) The Science Center and Aquarium are both world class.

 

#4)  G&M is a bit out of town, but will give you the best crab cake ( A Maryland must have ) ever. [/opinion]

For other sea food options think about driving down to Annapolis, Cantlers for example odds are good the fish on your plate was swimming free just that morning.  Wile you are there Down town Annapolis is also good for a day.

 

#5)  D.C. can easily burn up a coupla days.  Tons to see and do and much of it is FREE.  If you do go into D.C. one really cool thing to see is the  Mile 0 ( zero ) marker.   Its just about right in front  of the White House.  Its a, no not A it is THE , mile marker.  All miles and mile markers in the continental US are based off of this one point.  ( kilometers to you I guess )

 

#6) Nope, no bad seat at M&T.   Some are better than others and some have a different vibe and feel but  you will have a good view no matter what.

 

#9) The weather in Baltimore in September still could be rather warm.  Possibly even down right hot.  That said it could be cool, but almost certainly not cold.  At least not for some one from Alberta.

 

Wile crime is not the worst here, depending on where you go it could get pretty bad.  Dont flash your money, dont walk down the sidewalk staring at your smart phone.  Sit in the center and face the exits on the Light Rail, as opposed to having your back to the exit ( ask me how I know )

 

Thank you for visiting our city.

[pmr468]

Do NOT buy from NFL ticket exchange. They charged me a $70 service charge on two $160 tickets

[Moderator 2]

I agree pmr468 the fees are a bit steep, but you know when you show up at the stadium you know those seats are yours, whereas the scalper outside the stadium it's a crap shoot.

Places to stay link. http://www.bookable.com/city/?refid=2574&rs_cid=3000008983&refclickid=baltfooter#1mp

Not sure how much money you have to spend but stay out of Gwynn Oak and what they call Catonsville. Another place no one thinks of is Hunt Valley--you have the Town Center and Wegmans my favorite grocery story, AND on Game Day you can catch the light rail, go to the game, hop the train go to your motel. It's not water front but you can again catch the light rail, get off a non stadium exit walk around the harbor, Fort McHenry, Babe Ruth museum. Google where to stay, I am sure the motels are within walking distance to the light rail. There is a Joes Crab shack--awesome but a chain restaurant .

https://www.google.com/search?q=places+to+stay+in+hunt+valley+md&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

Stuff

What ticket to use.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gameday/tickets/index.html

Stadium and Parking diagram

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gameday/mt-bank-stadium/diagram.html

What to bring and not to bring to the stadium especially if you a traveling with someone that has a purse

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gameday/fan-guide.html

Other things

http://www.baltimore.to/baltimore/

supposed to be Baltimores website, but they obviously not done lol the links they do have look nice.

K-Dog is right on with his safety advice.

The weather can be 95 degrees or it could be in the 50's and drizzling if the marine layer is in.

2011 we went to our condo in FL and it was the beginning of October it was in the 80's when we left, we got home to the 40's and quite breezy and froze at the night game 5 days later!

Good luck!

[PDO]

Awesome guys, I really appreciate all the information, doing some more research and hoping to book here pretty quickly.

 

Really looking forward to visiting the city and seeing a game at the Bank.  Became a huge fan around 2004 when I first got into the NFL because I hated the Steelers and saw Ed Reed do some Ed Reed things.