Baltimore Maryland

Baltimore is an exciting place to visit. Baltimore attractions include the Baltimore Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History, Fort McHenry and others.

Baltimore, Maryland is a vibrant city situated along the shores of Chesapeake Bay about 180 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major tourist destination in the Mid Atlantic region of USA near Washington, D.C. Named after Lord Baltimore in the Irish House of Lords, the city has a flourishing population of more than 650,000 with rich cultural heritage.

Spanning over an area of 80.8 square miles, the city is a perfect mixture of the old with the new. A few of the ethnic neighborhoods have been restored into modern shopping and dining locales but they still retain the old character.

The major tourist attraction is the Inner harbor. This historic seaport is an iconic landmark and perfect blend of the old with the new. The breathtaking view of the waterfront is simply amazing and the docks and streets surrounding the inner harbor houses  hotels, museums, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. The new Inner harbor is now home to the Harborplace, an entertainment center and the National Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Port Discovery Children's Museum, and the World Trade Center of Baltimore are also located around the basin.

Baltimore does not experience the extremes of weather change that occur in other parts of USA. The weather is relatively mild and the best time to be here is from April to November.

The city is well connected by road, air and sea. From Washington DC it is less than one hour north on Route 95. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is only a half-hour drive south of downtown.

Moving inside the city is easy and loads of options like light rail system are available. The water taxi is an unique and interesting option . It is a nice way to get around during the warmer months, and offers unique views of the Baltimore skyline.

Baltimore's world-renowned Inner Harbor is surrounded by historic neighborhoods where you will find city living at its best with unique shops and restaurants for every style and taste. The city enjoys a vibrant arts scene and embraces its history and influence on American culture.

Area's longest running boat show docks at Baltimore Convention Center January 21-25, 2009

The 2009 Baltimore Boat Show, Maryland's largest and longest running indoor boating event, is returning January 21-25, 2009, packing the Baltimore Convention Center with hundreds of boats and marine accessories at the best deals of the year. The Show offers visitors more boats, more exhibits, and more family fun than ever before.

WHEN:

Wednesday, January 21 - Sunday, January 25
Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (Special Preview Night)
Thursday and Friday, 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Affordability Pavilion - Boating is very affordable compared to other family leisure activities. Visitors can check out this special selection of boats that can be owned for less than $250 a month.

Green Boating Zone - Visitors can about the latest green boating products and practices to protect the environment and preserve boating fun for future generations

Daily boating and fishing seminars - The Show features daily seminars with boating experts offering advice on everything from fishing to financing.

Discover Boating Center- From the beginner to the seasoned boater, visitors of all interests and skill levels can take advantage of unbiased advice from the experts at the Discover Boating Center.

Ravens Appearances - Meet Linebacker Jarret Johnson and members of the Raven's cheerleaders. Fans can win a day long fishing trip with Jarret at BaltimoreBoatShow.com

Five days of family fun and entertainment - The Baltimore Boat Show features family-friendly activities and attractions, including the Take Me Fishing Center and Miss GEICO, the world's fastest offshore racing boat.

Special Preview Night - The 2009 Baltimore Boat Show opens with its annual Special Preview Night Benefiting the Wish-A-Fish Foundation, an opportunity for guests to have an exclusive first-look at the 2009 Show, enjoy live entertainment and contribute to a worthy local cause.

TICKET PRICES:

$10 for adults
$5 for youth 13-15 years old
FREE for kids 12 years old and under
$20 for Special Preview Night Benefiting Wish-A-Fish

About the Baltimore Boat Show

The Baltimore Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world's largest producer of boat shows. NMMA is the leading association representing the $37.5 billion per year recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the U.S. For more information about the NMMA, visit www.NMMA.org.

TWIC Program compliance date for Baltimore draws near

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) remind owners and operators of facilities located within the Baltimore Captain of the Port zone that Dec. 30, 2008, marks the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program compliance date.

As previously announced by the Department of Homeland Security, the final compliance date for the full implementation of the TWIC program was extended to April 15, 2009. Beginning in October, the Coast Guard began phasing in nationwide compliance with the TWIC regulations by region. The Dec. 30, 2008, compliance date for Baltimore is one such regional phase-in.

Owners and operators of facilities and marine terminals are expected to implement TWIC access control procedures and restricted area procedures sufficiently in advance so that the terminal is in full compliance by midnight on Dec. 29, 2008.

This announcement does not apply to Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated vessels. MTSA-regulated vessels are not required to comply with the TWIC regulations until April 15, 2009.

Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners must obtain a TWIC by April 15, 2009. Until that time, and while traveling to locations where TWIC compliance is in effect, a valid Coast Guard-issued Merchant Mariner License, Merchant Mariner Document or Certificate of Registry and photo identification will be sufficient to obtain unescorted access to respective terminal and facility areas where TWIC is required.

TWIC was established in the MTSA and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program has opened more than 150 fixed enrollment centers and over 370 mobile sites nationwide. More than 725,000 workers have enrolled to date, however, it is highly encouraged that all commercial maritime workers enroll as soon as possible to avoid potential delays as may occur with an "enrollment surge" prior to the compliance date.

Information regarding the TWIC program can be found on TSA's Web site at www.tsa.gov/twic as well as on the Coast Guard's Homeport Web site at http://homeport.uscg.mil/

The addresses for the Baltimore TWIC enrollment centers are: 2200 Broening Hwy., Suite 220, Baltimore, Md; 3225 Old Washington Rd., Suite 2106, Waldorf, MD; and 212 West Main St., Suite 204C, Salisbury, Md.

Baltimore is famous for its outstanding seafood. From the nearby Chesapeake Bay come blue crabs, oysters, striped bass and other delicacies. Other Maryland seafood comes the Atlantic coast, including sea scallops, lobsters, sea bass and other fish.