Escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Baltimore with a trip to Druid Hill Park, covering 745 acres of pristine green territory and dotted with streams, lakes and natural springs. The park is also home to Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens, where multiple massive greenhouses showcase plants and flowers from diverse environments, including Mediterranean, desert and tropical settings. The site also includes an orchid room, palm house and outdoor gardens. The park is less than five minutes northwest of the city center, and you’ll find an assortment of nearby lodging options.
Book a stay at a mid-range hotel, such as Inn at Colonnade Baltimore – A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, just eight minutes from the park and mere steps from Johns Hopkins University. An upscale lobby greets you, including columns, hand-painted ceilings and marble floors. Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies are available at check-in as well. You’ll find tennis courts and a running track directly across the street from the hotel. Tucked away on 72 acres in the trendy neighborhood of Roland Park, and just steps from Cylburn Arboretum, the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys is less than 10 minutes from the Peters Rawlings Conservatory. For recreational enthusiasts, the hotel has tennis courts and an outdoor pool. The hotel also provides free shuttle service to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Find inexpensive accommodations at Motel 6 Baltimore City, a little more than five minutes from the conservatory. Set on the outskirts of downtown, the hotel permits pets, completely free of charge. Kids 17 and under also stay free when with a registered adult. The hotel is within walking distance to a movie theater and Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center, which stages major theatrical events, concerts and stand-up comedy shows. Econo Lodge Near Pimlico Racetrack is off the beaten path and 10 minutes north of Druid Hill Park. The hotel provides free continental breakfast each morning and ample parking for large trucks and buses. You are also less than five minutes from Pimlico Racetrack. which features horse racing from April through June.
Book a stay at a boutique hotel, such as Hotel Brexton and Mount Vernon Hotel, both less than 10 minutes from the conservatory and just outside downtown. Housed inside an ornate Victorian brick building in the neighborhood of Mount Vernon, Hotel Brexton dates to the late 1890s. Guest rooms include upscale toiletries, newspaper delivery and MP3 player docking stations, and your stay includes complimentary European-style breakfast. Based in the same area, Mount Vernon Hotel’s lobby includes a baby grand piano alongside a quaint cafe open for breakfast and dinner. Speak to the front desk staff about the availability of the hotel's car sharing service. For added privacy, reserve a room outfitted with a small loft.
Treat yourself to lavish accommodations in the heart of downtown, just 10 minutes from the conservatory and gardens. Hotel Monaco Baltimore is near the city’s famed Inner Harbor and housed inside a historic 1906 building that once served as the B&O Railroad Headquarters. The elaborate interior includes massive marble staircases and ornate crystal chandeliers. Some in-room amenities include sweeping views of the city, 12-foot ceilings and deep spa soaking tubs. Also near the Inner Harbor, the Hyatt Regency Baltimore is just steps from Camden Yards. Stay on the hotel’s club level and you’ll have access to a private lounge with free breakfast, and appetizers and drinks are served throughout the day. Many of the rooms have MP3 player docking stations, plush bathrobes and vistas of the water or city. Enjoy a cocktail as you lounge by the outdoor pool or print your boarding pass from the comfort of the lobby using the Hyatt Fast Board kiosk.
