In the heart of the US state of Maryland, on the American east coast, lies Baltimore – one of the 30 largest cities in the USA. Baltimore presents itself as a multifaceted city whose history dates back to the 18th century. Edgar Allan Poe, Frank Zappa, Tom Clancy, Babe Ruth: The names associated with the big city are reminiscent of a colorful history that makes Baltimore a recommendable destination on the East Coast. The city can also score with a coastal location including a well-known port. The city also became the focus of an international audience because of the famous series milestone The Wire.

Background and special features of Baltimore

Over 580,000 residents call Baltimore home. The lively settlement has a prominent skyline that rises above the cityscape. The largest building in the metropolis is the Transamerica Tower with a height of 161 meters, which is also the largest building in Maryland. Baltimore is a city with a chequered history, but can refer to the affectionate nickname “Charm City”. Baltimore is a city full of charm. It is unquestionably the cultural center of Maryland – and is one of the prominent settlements on the US East Coast. It covers almost 210 km² of land and a water area of about 29 km². Part of this water surface is occupied by the famous harbor, of which the Inner Harbor is considered a historic part. The port has long been a central point of arrival for immigrants on their way to the United States. The city is also considered the birthplace of a famous cultural asset: The US national anthem “The Star-Sprangled Banner” was inspired by the British-American War, during which the British were sustainably beaten back at Baltimore.

In contrast to the many high-rise buildings, Baltimore can boast noteworthy green parks: Almost 2,000 hectares of the city area are considered parkland. These include, for example, Patterson Park and Federal Hill Park. Baltimore is considered a culinary hotspot of the East Coast. Menus with seafood and crabs such as the regionally popular Marylander Blue Crab are known nationwide. In addition to its culinary facets, Baltimore also boasts a vibrant arts scene, which spreads in neighborhoods such as the Station North Arts & Entertainment District and the Bromo Tower Arts and Entertainment District.

The sights of the Charm City

The central city in Maryland naturally knows how to score with numerous cultural institutions and museums. The Walters Art Museum in the Mount Vernon-Belvedere district, whose history dates back to 1934, is known nationwide. The art museum is one of the most important museums of its kind in Maryland and has a permanent exhibition dedicated to ancient and historical art. In addition to Egyptian, Sumerian and Etruscan exhibits, works by famous painters can also be discovered here – including Claude Monet’s Spring work. About 90,000 exhibits, on the other hand, are waiting in the Baltimore Museum of Art, whose history dates back to 1914. On an exhibition area of about 20,000 m², works by legendary painters such as Picasso, Matisse, Césanne, Gauguin, Renoir and van Gogh await here. Fans of historical works of art will thus be offered a multifaceted selection in Baltimore.

But the city’s fascinating museums don’t just deal with timeless art. A popular attraction is the Baltimore Maritime Museum in the harbor district. The most famous exhibit on site is the U.S.S. Constellation, a historic warship from the mid-19th century. She is one of the oldest ships of her kind and was used in the American Civil War. In the harbor you can also discover the Taney, a warship that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. In the harbour area, you can also discover the Port Discovery museum, which is especially aimed at families with children. Several hundred thousand visitors come here every year – and witness the exhibitions, some of which are interactive. An absolute highlight of the port region is the National Aquarium, which, like Port Discovery, awaits you in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The aquarium attracts over a million visitors annually, making it one of Mary’s most popular attractions. The aquarium presents a biodiversity of about 750 species, which can be examined here. The aquarium encompasses various theme worlds – from exotic reefs to tropical water worlds.

One of the city’s most famous personalities is the influential poet Edgar Allan Poe. Died in Baltimore, the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum can be admired here. If you are interested in the life story and works of the poet who exerted a lasting influence on Charles Baudelaire, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft, the museum should not be missed. But there is also a Baltimore far away from the museums. An important landmark of the city is the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon-Belvedere, which was built in the early 19th century and has since commemorated George Washington.

Special excursion destinations around Baltimore

Baltimore is home to some of the most beautiful natural scenery on the American East Coast – including Sandy Point State Park, Great Falls Park, but also the beautiful beaches of Cape May, a day’s trip away. Key sites in U.S. history — such as Gettysburg and the world-famous Mount Vernon — can be reached in one- to two-hour drives. About 40 km from Baltimore is the actual capital of Maryland: Annapolis. If you are interested in historic architecture and the culture of the state of Maryland, you can stop by here. The fact that Baltimore is only about 50 km away from Washington D.C. is one of the geographical advantages that makes a tour to the US capital inevitable.

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and the economic center of the U.S. state. The fascinating destination is located on the Cook Inlet between Turnaigan Arm and Knik Arm.

The founding of the city of Anchorage took place in 1914. It is home to numerous companies from the mining, oil and chemical industries. In addition, Anchorage is not only the largest city in the 49th US state, but is also its most important tourism center. Anchorage is surrounded by wild and picturesque nature, where Alaska presents itself in all its beauty. Visitors will find a variety of viewpoints from which they can observe the beautiful Northern Lights. Furthermore, Alaska’s wildlife with its moose, wolves, beavers and bears can be experienced up close.

Even though temperatures in Anchorage rarely climb above 19 degrees Celsius even in the summer months, the city and surrounding area are excellent for a vacation. Among other things, glaciers and fjords can be visited

Getting to Anchorage

The journey to Anchorage is usually by plane via Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which has the most flight connections to the USA as well as other airports in Alaska. The Alaska Railroad also operates in Anchorage. This is Alaska’s only rail line. It leads over Denali National Park towards Fairbanks to the north and to Seward in the south.

Fishing in the city

Anchorage is one of the few cities where you can fish in the city center. In summer, anglers are in high season and try to catch salmon. The Silver Salmon are in demand until the beginning of September, and in spring they are on the lookout for the King Salmon.

Anchorage and its sights

Eleven different cultures live in Anchorage. There are also more than 200 languages. One of the city’s attractions is the Native Center, where you can experience the culture of the country’s indigenous people, not only in the present, but also in the past. The indigenous people attach particular importance to art and the telling of stories. On the path of Lake Tiulana, guests can gain insight into the local living culture.

Visit to the Anchorage Museum

If you want to learn more about Alaska Natives, the Anchorage Museum is the right place for you. There the visitor gets an overview of Alaska’s history as well as the culture of the Native Americans. Among other things, the migration of peoples across the Bering Strait and the extraction of oil are explained. In addition, there are exhibitions about art objects.

The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum

Friends of flying will get their money’s worth at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. On the southern shore of Lake Hood, about 30 bush planes can be viewed in the hangars.

Keep an eye out in Resolution Park

Below the monument dedicated to the British navigator James Cook is a wooden platform. From there, there is a fascinating view of the bay, which was discovered by Captain Cook in 1778. In the summer and autumn months, whales can be seen from time to time.

Visit the Alaska Zoo

The Alaska Zoo on O ́Malley Road is also worth a detour. Most of the animal species are specimens from Alaska or the Arctic region. However, some exotics can also be admired.

Lake Hood Seaplane Base

One of the special attractions is the Lake Hood Seaplane Base. The branching lake is located next to the International Airport and is considered the largest seaplane airport in the world. The airport is extremely important because many parts of Alaska can only be reached by plane. In summer, more than 400 take-offs and landings take place here. Airtaxi companies also offer sightseeing flights over the Chugach Mountains.

Reaching the National Parks from Anchorage

There are a total of 17 national parks in Alaska. Five of them can be easily reached from Anchorage by car or plane. These include Denali, Katmai, Wrangell-St. Elias, Lake Clark and the Kenai Fjords.

Der Chugach State Park

On Anchorage’s doorstep, so to speak, lies Chugach State Park, which has a size of 2000 km². It is found in the glacial landscape of the Chugach Mountains. Best access is via Eagle River via Glenn Highway and Eagle River Road.

Chugach State Park also marks the starting point for a 40-kilometer hiking trail on the Iditarod Trail, which goes over the mountains towards Girdwood and lasts two days.

Skiing in Girdwood

The Girdwood Valley is located about 60 kilometers southeast of Anchorage and is considered the best ski resort in Alaska. The slopes are located at altitudes between 70 and 1200 meters. Up to 15 meters of snow can fall in Girdwood per year. In summer, the gondola lift can be used to reach Mount Alyeska, which takes it to an altitude of 1201 meters. The Seven Glaciers panoramic restaurant is a good place to eat. Further down in the valley, a gold digger camp from 1898 awaits visitors.

Tip – Cycling in Anchorage

Anchorage is one of the most bike-friendly American cities. It has a 200-kilometre-long bicycle network. Some of the cycle paths run along the sea, such as the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Even in winter, the locals cycle undauntedly on special fat bikes with their extra-wide tires.

Alternatively, a dog sled ride can also be taken. There are numerous corresponding offers. An excellent opportunity to take in the enchanting surroundings of Anchorage.

In the Texas capital of Austin, modern innovation meets charmingly idiosyncratic down-to-earthness. “Keep Austin weird” is also the city’s self-proclaimed slogan. The typical Texan cliché of cowboy hat, truck and broad southern accent is rather less found in Austin. Young career-conscious people from one of the many large local companies, over 50,000 students who will later claim to have had the best time of their lives here and a strong creative and alternative scene provide a pulsating, lively energy.

Art and culture are omnipresent

There’s always something going on in Austin. In addition to the state museums, there are countless small themed exhibitions by associations and private individuals, galleries and art in public spaces.

The University of Texas campus is home to the nation’s largest art museum and is home to over 17,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures from the fields of art and architecture. There are days when admission is free.

The Bullrock Museum is the official state historical museum of the state of Texas. The exhibition is designed for a wide audience and is also suitable for children. The topics range from early Indian cultures to the settlement of Europeans to special exhibitions on civil rights or sports and music in Texas.
Built from 1882 to 1888, the Texas State Capitol is six feet taller than the Capitol in Washington, D.C., a fact that residents like to proudly mention. Guided tours of the seat of government take place every half hour and are free of charge.

Music – Austin’s Soul

In the 1970s, country singer Willie Nelson returned to his hometown and founded Austin’s musical history. Times have changed, the hippie atmosphere is no longer immediately noticeable and in addition to country, blues and jazz, all musical styles can be found on the countless live stages today. Nevertheless, its status as the self-proclaimed capital of live music has been retained to this day. Nowhere else in the world is there such a density of clubs with live performances, music pubs and stages as in Austin. Musicians still come to the city and present themselves on one of the countless stages, on street corners or parks, and many a national career has still started right here: on a small, simple stage in a pub in Austin.

The famous 6th street is home to the city’s entertainment district. Here, the bars with live music, where singing, dancing and partying are lined up close together.
Regular festivals and events such as the Pecan Street Festival, the Texas Bikers Rally and the popular Halloween celebration are visitor magnets and known beyond the Texas borders.

Austin’s Parks and Bats

Numerous parks and recreational areas can be found all over the city, Austin has an impressive green infrastructure.

Popular with locals and tourists alike is the inner-city Zilker Metropolitan Park. The well-kept 14-hectare park offers a wide range of opportunities for outdoor activities. Especially in the early evening hours, you can find peace and relaxation while paddling, swimming or walking along the extensive paths with beautiful views of the Austin skyline. The outdoor pool “Barton Springs” on the grounds of the park is supplied by water from natural hot springs and provides refreshment with a year-round bathing temperature of 21 – 23 °C.

Peacock lovers will feel at home in the small Mayfield Park. The not-so-well-known 2-hectare gem in the middle of Austin offers beautiful photo opportunities with the cottage gardens around a historic cottage and numerous peacocks.

The Austin Zoo is home to special animals. On the southwestern outskirts of the city on Highway 290 West, domestic and wild animals as well as exotic animals from confiscations, experimental laboratories and private households live.

The flight of the famous bats, which have now become the symbol of the city, is spectacular. America’s largest urban bat population breeds under the Congress Avenue Bridge at Ladybird Park between March and September each year. At sunset, millions of bats fly out from under the bridge at the same time, offering the spectator on the bridge and in the boats a breathtaking spectacle.

The city of short distances

Compared to other major American cities, Austin is the city of short distances. All central points in Downtown Austin can be reached quickly on foot or by public transport. The best way to experience the energy of Austin is through direct contact with its open-minded residents. The locals meet visitors with typical southern friendliness and are happy to share one or two insider tips.

Parking spaces in the city are scarce. It is a good idea to use the parking garage at the Bullrock Museum in the city center for 10 USD all day. Nearby are the University of Texas campus, the Blantom Art Museum and the Capitol, as well as parks and the downtown area with its many small shops, coffee shops and restaurants.

Austin has grown rapidly in recent years and the transport infrastructure in the outskirts of the city still has room for improvement. The attractions here are difficult to reach by public transport.

Cheap rides are available through the ride-sharing services Faster or the non-profit provider RideAustin.

The best time to travel is spring with mild temperatures. In summer it will be very hot and dry with sometimes over 30 °C, in autumn milder again with cool nights. With 300 days of sunshine a year, Austin has few rainy days and even these short periods are perceived as more of a refreshment

California, relaxed lifestyle, Mexican food and plenty of sun – these are things that tourists associate with a trip to San Diego. And there is a lot more. Probably nowhere in the entire United States of America is the myth that you can make it from rags to riches at any time more alive than in this American metropolis. The film city of Los Angeles is only two hours away by car, and it takes half an hour for the Mexican border to come into view. It’s no wonder that San Diego is a true melting pot of cultures. Because both Latin American migrants and Americans who flock from rural areas to the sun-drenched city to try their luck here know that you can still make it to the top here with hard work.

San Diego and its dream beaches

The climate in the Californian city of San Diego is pleasant all year round. The thermometer rarely drops below 20 degrees, even in winter. In addition, the metropolis, which has a population of around 1.4 million, is located directly on the Pacific Ocean. Thus, guests, as well as locals, can swim or surf on the fine sandy beaches of the city all year round. Surfing is one of the most popular leisure activities here. Even if you don’t want to get on a surfboard yourself and throw yourself into the water, you will spend wonderful hours at Pacific Beach, for example.

Because watching the goings-on of the talented surfers is more than exciting. The brave will find surf schools with certified surf instructors and the possibility to rent complete surfing equipment on almost all beaches. Those who want to take it easy head for La Jolla Cove, a picturesque bay where you can lie on the beach away from the crowds. By the way, seals often pass by here, which make a great photo motif. Mission Beach is extremely popular with families with children.

The infrastructure on this beach is excellent, because right next door is Belmont Park, an amusement park with restaurants, carousels, bumper cars and roller coasters from which you can overlook the beach and the sea during the wild ride. Partygoers feel most at home on Ocean Beach. Here you will find the coolest bars and the best party music. Finally, film fans like to take a trip to the Coronado Island peninsula, which is directly off San Diego in an easterly direction. Here you will find the whitest of all fine sandy beaches in the entire region, around San Diego, and also the opportunity to visit the original film locations of the Marylin Monroe comedy “Some Like It Hot”.

Sightseeing in the Sun City

Sightseeing in San Diego is immensely fun, because it is almost always sunny, warm and rarely rainy in the city. The best conditions to set off on foot into San Diego’s Old Town. Here, Mexican and Spanish influences mix with the legacy of the first European settlers of the Americas. In the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which is integrated into the old town, you can see traditional buildings from the early 19th century. In no time at all, visitors feel transported back to the time of the Wild West. The park is surrounded by excellent Mexican restaurants, all of which are worth a visit. Here you can find the best burritos and tacos in the whole city.

If you want to learn about America’s military history, visit the USS Midway Museum afterwards. This is a disused aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum. From 1945 to 1992, the aircraft carrier was used by the US Navy and was used both in military conflicts and as part of humanitarian aid expeditions. In the museum you can learn a lot about the life of the US Marines on board and during the missions. If you like it a little more old-fashioned, visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego, which is housed on an old sailing ship. A walk through the Seaport Village rounds off the city walk. There are always numerous street musicians and performers who offer their great art for a small donation from passers-by. All with stunning views of the harbour.

Art & Culture in San Diego

But that’s not all. San Diego is also a city of art and culture. There are several theaters as well as an opera house for all music lovers. San Diego also has its own Philharmonic Orchestra. The San Diego Museum of Art is housed in a strikingly designed building that is worth the journey alone. The works of important American, European and Asian artists are exhibited here. The museum is home to masterpieces by Claude Monet, Peter Paul Rubens and Salvador Dali. Outstanding American artists include William Merritt Chase and Asher Brown Durand. At the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, many works by contemporary artists can be viewed.

Zoos and parks

San Diego is also particularly rich in zoos and green spaces. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, which is home to 300 different species of animals from all over the world, is particularly recommended. Right next door is the city’s most extensive green space, Balboa Park. The park measures five square kilometers. Walkers walk through a flora and fauna that is as lush as it is remarkable, as well as various themed gardens. Most of the buildings in the park were built in the neoclassical style. Among them are several museums.