Baltimore

Stuck at BWI? Go Take a Bike!

Rent a Bike at BWI
Time to kill at BWI? Take a bike ride.

Did you know that you can rent a bike at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport for just $5 a day?

If you find yourself at the airport with time on your hands, you can take a bike ride on the BWI Bike Trail.  

The 12.5 mile bike trail encircles the airport passing through pine forests and Andover Park, where the Thomas A. Dixon Observation Area offers a great vantage point for plane spotters.

Rent a Bike at BWI for $5 a Day

Zagster rents bikes outside the airport’s International Terminal, near the BWI Marshall Airport Light Rail stop.

You can reserve one of ten self service bikes for a daily rate of $5 for up to 12 hours.  This has got to be the deal of the century!

Bikes come with seven gears, front and rear lights, a bell, and a front basket.  Riders can make reservations with Zagster via an app available from the App Store or on Google Play.

The BWI Bike Trail

BWI Trail
Thomas A. Dixon Observation Area.
Photo from accounty.org

The BWI Bike Trail begins at the Linthicum light rail station, runs past a historic property on the grounds of the airport, the Benson-Hammond House.

The trail continues along Aviation Boulevard to the Stewart Avenue Bridge.

At the bridge, continue traveling west to the Thomas A. Dixon, Jr. aircraft observation area where there is a playground, bike racks, and restrooms.

Most of the trail is paved, with some boardwalk areas over wetlands.

This trail seems to be a favorite for bikers and plane spotters alike.  Now you can enjoy it even if you don’t have a bike.  BWI, which was originally named Friendship International Airport, is indeed the friendliest airport around!

 

The Culture Flyer — Half Price Show Tickets in Baltimore

Culture Fly: Half Price Events in Baltimore
Culture Fly: Half Price Events in Baltimore

New York has TKTS.  Washington has TicketPlace. And Baltimore has Culture Fly.

Every Thursday, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance sends out the Culture Flyer — a guide to free and half price performances and events for the coming week.

You won’t find tickets to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra or to traveling Broadway shows here.

But there are plenty of offers for free and half-price theater and dance events, art openings, concerts, and other fun stuff.

If you are interested in the offbeat and the avant-guard, Baltimore definitely beats straight-laced Washington, DC!

Culture Fly: Half Price Events in Baltimore
Culture Flyer: Weekly Newsletter

For example, this week the Culture Flyer features:

  • Rocky Horror Show at Spotlighters Theatre
  • Cabaret Macabre by Happenstance Theater
  • Bay Street Brassworks Concert
  • 3-D Printing Lab for Teens

and dozens of other discounted offerings.

You can find the Culture Fly calendar online, or you can sign up to receive weekly emails of the Culture Flyer newsletter.

 

$3 per Day Parking at BWI

Save 40% on Parking at BWI with Econopark Express
Save 40% on Parking at BWI at
Econopark Express

I live just six miles from Dulles International Airport (IAD) but often find myself flying out of  Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).

Because BWI is a hub for Southwest Airlines, there is more competition and you can often find cheaper airfares.

The last time we flew out of BWI, we found cheaper long-term parking with a  an “offsite” vendor.  In reality though, the parking was no further away from the airport than the “onsite” parking.

Park for $3.20 a day at BWI

There’s a terrific deal available from Groupon for 40 percent off parking at BWI with Econopark Express.  

The deal offers long-term parking for $4 a day, but there is a coupon today (3/19/2014)  for 20 percent off, bringing the rate down to an amazing $3.20 a day.  Use coupon code LOCAL20 at checkout.

There are 3 options available:

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Kind Bars — Best Travel Snack — Deep Discount

Kind Bars from Relay Foods
Kind Bars from Relay Foods

When I travel, I like to throw a few healthy snacks in my overnight bag.  Just in case.  Kind Bars are my latest healthy snack obsession.  These delicious bars are made from nuts, fruit, and whole grains and are packed with fiber, protein and antioxidants.

I love them, but they are expensive.  I’ve seen them sell for $1.50 per bar at Walmart, and for $4.00 apiece at an airport vendor.

When The Girl and Globe alerted me to an opportunity to save $30 on $50 at Relay Foods, I jumped on it.  Relay Foods sells over 20 varieties of Kind Bars — and until October 31, 2013, they are on sale for $1.

With the introductory discount, you can pick up Kind Bars for as little as 40 cents each!

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Where Can You Find the Best Crab Cakes in Maryland?

Hint:  It’s not the Eastern Shore.  

IMHO, the best crab cakes in Maryland can be found at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).

Baltimore’s famous Obryckis, known for their tremendous crab cakes, has closed their downtown location and opened two venues at BWI.  This Baltimore landmark, founded in 1944, is a favorite of seafood lovers.

A Delicious Crabcake
A Delicious Crabcake

The next time you fly out of BWI, check out Obryckis Restaurant and Bar located at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport between gates B-9 and B-11.  The service is fast and the food is delicious — a far cry from the usual airport fare of soggy sandwiches.  Obryckis also operates a bar on Concourse A.

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National Pinball Museum in Baltimore to Pull up its Anchor

National Pinball Museum Joel Shprentz Photo
National Pinball Museum, Baltimore
Joel Shprentz Photo

One of my favorite quirky attractions of all time — the National Pinball Museum — has announced that it will be closing its doors on March 3, 2013.  This gem of a museum near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore traces the history of pinball over the last 100 years.  There are three floors packed with exhibits, and best of all, dozens of pinball machines set to free play.

There are just two weekends left to get in on the fun.

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