Arts & Entertainment Districts Abound

In Graffiti Alley, artistic expression via spray paint is totally legal, creating an ever-changing exhibition. Take in the world’s largest Matisse collection — 1,200 plus pieces — along with the works of Picasso, Cézanne and van Gogh at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Stroll a collection spanning seven millennia at The Walters Art Museum, with highlights including ancient maps and Egyptian artifacts. Named for a Harlem Renaissance jazz great, the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center hosts African dance performances, workshops and local art exhibits. Come evening, take your pick of entertainment, with everything from indie bands to improv. The Creative Alliance, Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Ottobar and Metro Gallery are just the tips of the performance iceberg. Tuck in for the night at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, a swank hotel on the water in Fells Point that’s a work of art itself.

Explore nearby eateries:
Station North Arts Cafe Gallery - Artsy coffee-shop fare
Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen - Vegan & regular crab cakes
The Helmand - Authentic Afghan restaurant famous for its pumpkin appetizer

Wheaton and Bethesda Arts & Entertainment Districts are rich with inspiration and culture. Bethesda comes alive with public art, vibrant murals and a thriving gallery scene, while Wheaton’s events calendar is packed with cultural celebrations. You’ll also find the award-winning Brookside Gardens, where you can marvel at the artistry behind cultivated blooms. And in nearby Travilah, the contemporary Glenstone museum stars the likes of Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol. Let your head hit luxe pillows at The Oaks Bed & Breakfast Inn, where fresh cookies, weekly yoga, and wine-and-cheese nights enhance the experience.

Explore nearby eateries:
Nick’s Diner (Wheaton)  - Banana pancakes & scrapple (spiced pork-scrap loaf)
Cubano’s (Bethesda) - Cuban classics including oxtail stew & yuca fritters 
Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly (Wheaton) - Filipino dishes like sweet spaghetti & chicken adobo

Dip into Chestertown's riverfront to peruse paintings, sculptures and jewelry in small-town galleries. The public-arts scene is nothing to sneeze at either: Snap pics of bike-cog butterflies and metal waves protruding from mounds of grass. The Denton Artsway is another hidden gem — the tiny city center is packed to the gills with creator spaces showcasing fiber arts, pottery, notecards and collages. Let the day’s wanderings paint your dreams at Easton’s Hummingbird Inn — a charismatic Victorian that hosts mind-opening experiences like dinners in the dark.

Explore nearby eateries:
Cafe Xpress (Bethesda) - Bagel sandwiches &  Korean breakfast burritos
Stam’s Luncheonette (Chestertown)  - Sandwiches & ice cream  in a soda-fountain setting 
Caroline’s (Denton)  - Eclectic farm-to-table fare, like sweet-potato pierogi & seared snakehead