There’s a lot to love about living and learning in Baltimore.
There’s good reason The University of Baltimore has called Baltimore our home since 1925. It has it all.
Baltimore is home to mom-and-pop shops and Fortune 500 companies, to world-class museums and iconic theaters, to truly unique traditions and can’t-miss events.
“Whatever stage you are at in life, or whatever your interests, Baltimore can satisfy your every need,” said Matthew Walsh, a B.A. in English student focusing on creative writing.
Only here in Charm City, you can spend a peaceful morning amazed by the variety of pieces on display at The Walters Art Museum, crack hard-shell crabs overlooking the harbor at lunch, and still make first pitch for an evening in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Only here can you enjoy an incomparable lemon stick at Flower Mart as winter melts into spring and a cacophony of human-powered vehicles buzzing through city streets during the Kinetic Sculpture Race as summer inches near.
Only here can you enjoy the boom of fireworks after twilight’s last gleaming within reach of the fort where “The Star-Spangled Banner” was born.
CITY OF CULTURE
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where The New York Times ranked Baltimore, Maryland on its 52 Places to Go in 2024 list.
Charm City has earned recognition over the years from various outlets for its distinctive culture, renowned restaurants, affordable living, and more. This year, Niche.com positioned Baltimore, based on analysis and reviews, in the top 100 for Best Cities for Young Professionals in America and Best Cities for Outdoor Activities. U.S. News & World Report ranked Baltimore at #116 for Best Places to Live, based on value, job market competition and quality of life.
Jason Whiting both lives in the city and learns here as a B.S. in Business Administration student specializing in finance. Whiting loves the culture, food, and accessibility and options of both.
“There is such a vibrant culture of art, talent and music showcased at places like Baltimore Center Stage and the Baltimore Museum of Art, which you can easily get to by convenient public transportation options throughout the city,” Whiting said. “As a vegan, I’ve enjoyed the variety of options available at local restaurants including one of my favorites—Dodah’s Kitchen, which has the best vegan sweet potato cake! I cannot forget about the diversity of people, cultures and backgrounds that I have been exposed to being in Baltimore, all of which unite at festivals like AFRAM, Pride and Artscape, where the community unites for much fun, great food and irresistible joy!”
DIVERSE AND ENRICHING
Farhan Aslam has had multiple perspectives of the city and University as an M.S. in Accounting and Business Advisory Services student, graduate assistant in the Merrick School of Business, and vice president of operations for UBalt’s Student Government Association.
“Baltimore provides a diverse and enriching learning environment that promotes personal and intellectual growth,” Aslam said. “What particularly resonates with me about the city’s atmosphere and UBalt’s culture is its unparalleled welcoming nature, making it one of the most inclusive educational institutions I have encountered throughout my academic journey.”
Beyond the classroom, Baltimore has more options to learn and grow, Aslam notes, because of its museums and cultural opportunities that “serve as endless sources of inspiration, offering numerous opportunities for exploration.”
Its people are why this city is called Charm City.
Walsh echoed some of Aslam’s sentiments about the city’s undeniable stronghold on arts and culture.
“Baltimore's arts scene is thriving, and a person is hard-pressed to find equal anywhere else; with over 60 museums ranging in specialty from Babe Ruth or Edgar Allan Poe, to the Walters Museum, consistently rated nationally as a must-see, or the George Peabody Library which is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world.”
Walsh also lists its culinary diversity, recreational options, affordability and accessibility as all being part of the city’s endless charm. Most of all, he adds, the best of Baltimore comes from its people.
“They are vibrant, they are eclectic, they are professional, but mostly they are charming," he said. "It's people are why this city is called Charm City, because even the most hardened heart can't help by be swayed by their generosity, kindness, humor and accommodation. It is a melting pot of so many geographic backgrounds and cultures creating unique pockets and yet, for their differences, they all share a universal voice of unapologetic love for their city.
"From Ravens game days or Orioles playoffs, holiday fireworks in the harbor, or city-sponsored events every calendar month of the year, no other city in America bonds together in the way that Baltimore does.”
Well said, hon.
Charm City Must List
Some things are quintessentially Baltimore. Here are some ways you can truly experience our city.
- Visit the Walter’s Art Museum. It’s far from the only museum, but it is free, close to campus and has its memorable Chamber of Wonders.
- Eat some crabs. Hard shell, soft shell, caked—however you prefer them, we encourage you try them. Then get a snowball. Just trust that it’ll be worth it.
- Root for the home team. Camden Yards, home of the Orioles, and M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens, are both easily accessible from our Light Rail station on Oliver Street.
- Enjoy a performance. Whether you enjoy classical theater, musicals or concerts, there’s always something happening at The Lyric (just next door), Hippodrome Performing Arts Center, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (home to Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) and Center Stage.
- Be a tourist. Head to the Inner Harbor to visit the National Aquarium, climb Federal Hill or the World Trade Center, and get out on the water by dragon boat or water taxi.
- Experience the neighborhoods. Visit Hampden for a bite before strolling the Miracle on 34th Street, grab a meal overlooking the water in Fells Point, and explore Pigtown, which nods to its namesake and history with a running of the pigs during a fall festival.
- Get outside. Enjoy all the different views this city offers by taking a walk around Lake Montebello, having a picnic in view of Patterson Park’s pagoda, enjoy the gardens at Cylburn Arboretum and play disc golf at Druid Hill Park (Bonus: Druid Hill Park is home to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and Rawlings Conservatory.)
Read more UBalt features.