Just when I thought I already knew everything there was to know about our beloved Inner Harbor, another interesting fact has been brought to my attention. As I scouted the Baltimore Beach Volleyball website, the organization has been reported as the “largest inner-city metropolitan league” on the east coast. Running from May through September, Rash Field (located along Key Highway) holds tournaments and leagues attracting Baltimoreans and out-of-towners alike. In fact, I was surprisingly pleased to find out that the sport helps to welcome 13 million visitors a year to the Harbor!

                                                                    

 

The league – starting the beginning of June - includes divisions of teams between men, women, coed’s, and even juniors. Beyond that, there are drop-in games and tournaments which already started last weekend (May 17th). 

 

I personally love volleyball! If there is one sport that symbolizes the hot summer months, it’s this one. I myself played indoor volleyball in high school which requires knee pads because of the constant sliding and diving. I would say both indoor and outdoor volleyball are equally as hard because jumping in the sand will wear you out just as much as sliding on a hardwood floor. 

 

So if you are looking for a good way to stay fit and active this summer, go down to the Inner Harbor for the league or tournaments and show your stuff! There are levels for all types of players ranging from beginner/recreational to advanced/semi-professional.  For more information on Baltimore Beach Volleyball, click here.

                                                 

Hello everyone! Despite today’s ugly wet weather in Baltimore, I hope all of you had a chance to enjoy the gorgeous weather we had this past weekend. There’s so much going on these days that I wish I could be everywhere at once! However, I somehow ended up at the Inner Harbor this past Saturday afternoon where I was pleased to see so many people out and about. After walking past a national cheerleading competition at Pier 5 and spotting people playing beach volleyball at the courts, I instead chose to do something much less active, but just as satisfying – eating! I realize I’m not the one informing you on where to eat, however, having enjoyed my meal at a table outside, this outdoubtedly falls into outdoor recreation! 

 

Does anyone like sushi? I myself was a bit reluctant to try it until about two years ago when a couple girlfriends of mine brought me out to enjoy it, and I have to say I have been hooked ever since! I prefer the sushi rolls that are cooked, and if you add cream cheese to anything - especially sushi - I will easily become a fan. My lunch date this past weekend was at Edo Sushi at the Inner Harbor, and I have to give them their props: friendly servers and great food! Not to mention, eating at any place overlooking the harbor with people flocking the sidewalk on a beautiful spring Saturday afternoon will most likely always be a relaxing and pleasurable experience. 

 

Here were the top 5 most-crowded places at the Inner Harbor this past weekend:

 

 

Some photos:

April 16, 2008

 

When was the last time you went for a hike, a run, or a bike ride? I don’t know about you, but riding on a bike makes me feel like a giddy kid again. Only now, I don’t ride my little bright green bike around the block I used to live on in Baltimore city. I’m keeping an eye out for different trails to visit and in case you didn’t know, there are so many trails to enjoy on a Sunday morning for a cool breeze and beautiful Maryland scenery – and you might not even realize the workout you would be getting!

 

 

As I mentioned above, I grew up in Highlandtown of Southeast Baltimore, so I like to consider myself a city girl at heart even if I end up living on or near a farm. Although I do not live in the city anymore, I have grown accustomed to the sound of sirens, large trucks, street congestion, pot holes, and pollution just like any urban area – and I love it! In fact, I still remember the first time I slept over a relative’s house in Carney when I was a child; I could not fall asleep due to the sound of one cricket, but put me back in a city house with a roaring fire engine and a fleet of cop cars underneath my window and I could sleep like a baby.

 

Perhaps this is the reason why I prefer a walk or bike ride around or through the Inner Harbor. Of course it’s a tourist area, and if you are a Baltimorean, it’s a refreshing thing to see why the Inner Harbor is the main attraction to our city. If you are really looking for a long workout, make the venture around the Inner Harbor all the way to one of my favorite places: Fort McHenry (there is a bike route along Pratt Street to Key Highway with signs leading to the historic battlefield). Beyond the fact that Fort McHenry was a battle ground which Americans used to defend Baltimore against the British during the Civil War, Fort McHenry is ironically a very peaceful place. I guess for me, it is the bike ride through the city sounds (which I still enjoy) that allow me to seek rest at Fort McHenry and enjoy silence and serenity; this is a much-needed place in our day in age of cell phones, computers, televisions, and stereos. Get back to nature – even for that one Sunday morning – and find your favorite place to either share with someone or keep for yourself!