Fall In Love With Fells

Last updated on April 11, 2018.

I’ve visited Baltimore so many times now that I’ve lost track. It’s no secret that I love Charm City. But in all of these visits, one thing has always remained the same: I love Fells Point. The history and the beauty of this particular spot in Baltimore just has this special charm that speaks to me. The old row houses and cobblestone streets are a joy to walk along, and there are so many interesting places to visit!

Advice for Fells

An important thing to know before visiting Fells: the neighborhood is full of old, historic streets. They are tiny! Which means parking can be difficult to find. You can risk it – with enough patience, you’ll find a spot eventually. You can use ride share such as Uber or Lyft. Or, the best bet, you can use a water taxi. The Baltimore Water Taxi has stops at several places around the Baltimore Inner Harbor and offers day passes for $8. This way you can avoid the traffic and enjoy the view from the water! Keep in mind that service ends at 8pm, so if you plan on staying out late, you will need another way back!

Fells Point Fun Festival

This past weekend, once again in Baltimore, I visited Fells with some friends. But this time the Fells Point Fun Festival was going on and it was amazing! The festival is free to attend, but you can purchase drink packages ahead of time. For $20 you could receive 3 drink tickets, a wristband, and a commemorative glass. We opted not to do the drink package because there are so many bars and restaurants around the area – and most of them offered drink specials throughout the festival. The only concern is that everywhere is extremely crowded. But worth it and dog-friendly (there were so many dogs)! The festival lined the streets with vendors – artwork, crafts, Maryland souvenirs, clothing, brewery keepsakes, and more! Mixed between the vendors there are food trucks and stands offering a wide variety of food, so you definitely won’t go hungry. There are also multiple free music performances; some small and some on the large mainstage. If you’re in town for the festival, it is an experience you shouldn’t miss.

But… if you do miss the festival, you still have to visit Fells. It is charming all year round. My favorite place to visit is The Horse You Came In On Saloon. Local rumor has it that this bar is the last place that Edgar Allen Poe was seen alive. Either way, the place has an awesome vibe. The bar food is standard, but the drinks are great! Along with the local beers (some themed after Poe), they specialize in cocktails made with infused Jack Daniels whiskey. Order a Honey Jack lemonade on a hot day. You won’t regret it.

Shops to visit in Fells

Across the street from The Horse, there is a shop called Ten Thousand Villages. No trip to Fells is complete without a visit to the shop. All of the items sold there are handcrafted from around the world and resold through fair trade practices. I bought a Kenyan stone carving for a wedding gift; if you’re looking for something unique and meaningful, this is the place!

The shop next door is also fantastic, Su Casa Furniture. If I could buy everything in the store and redo my entire house, I would. But my bank account won’t let me! Su Casa is full of the cutest and most unique furnishings for your house and is another spot that is great for gift buying. They have lots of Baltimore-themed items as well which make for the perfect souvenirs to take home.

Other Fells sights to see

Right in the heart of Fells Point you’ll find City Pier. What was once a police precinct, and later the filming site for “Homicide: Life on the Street“, has now been transformed into an amazing hotel and restaurant. The front of the building is a wall of glass through which you can see the bar and restaurant. Since I have so many friends who live in the area, I’ve never had the need to stay at a hotel. But during my next visit, I plan to check out the restaurant for sure!

Throughout the town there are other historic markers and a long list of bars and restaurants. The Fell Family Cemetery is tiny, hidden along a residential street. It holds the graves of four members of the Fell family, including William Fell, the founder of Fells Point in 1730. If you wander towards Upper Fells, you’ll find the rowhouse where famous Jazz singer Billie Holiday once lived. If you have the time, book a ghost tour through Fells to find more places to visit and stories to hear.

Lastly, you also can’t beat the views of the inner harbor if you walk down one of the piers. That is a must!

Happy travels!

[amazon_link asins=’1467123986,1467136786,3740801581,B01M0KHFIO,0785814531′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’wanderlusto0c-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’531e279f-caf6-11e7-b135-c7722fe28890′]