"Good morning, Baltimore!" sings Tracey Turnblatt in the musical Hairspray, and it is a good morning indeed when interesting things are happening in this Maryland city. Luckily, that's almost always the case, since with a city this size one group or another is always putting something on. Whether your preference is local R&B Hip Hop music or faithful Italian Opera, you'll be able to find something to keep you occupied. Listed here are just a few of the interesting things you could check out if you happen to be in Baltimore.

The Harborplace

If you're with a group that has diverse interests, the Baltimore Harborplace is a great location to visit because it caters to a variety of interest groups. The shopping obsessed members of the group who are on the prowl for Maggie Sottero wedding gowns can visit the upscale retailers at the Gallery while the sports fans browse the Ravens and Orioles merchandise. Then you can meet up together for a dinner of blue crab at one of the local specialty restaurants.

National Aquarium

Baltimore's connection with the sea has long been the source of its wealth, and now it's one of the top tourist attractions as well. More popular even than hockey school in Ontario among local and visiting kids, the aquarium has 560 different species of aquatic and costal animal life including rays, dolphins, and sharks. There's a rooftop rainforest, a coral reef, a 35 foot waterfall, an Australian habitat, a 4D theater, and an animal rescue center.

Music and Theater

The opulent Hippodrome Theater is the venue for traveling Broadway shows that come to Baltimore as well as an array of local music and theater shows, so leave your PDAs at the hotel in their TREO leather pouches and come out and enjoy a show. If your preference is classical, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is internationally renowned. The community theater group Center Stage puts on a variety of stage shows, along with several other local troupes. Baltimore also has an opera company and a women's chorus.

Oriole Park

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the city of Baltimore, which houses its major league team in what is arguably the most elegant stadium in the country. Built in 1992 to replace the old stadium, its retro style is much imitated and is worth the trip from your Toronto bed & breakfast just to see it. Even if it's not baseball season when you come to town, Camden Yards, the park in which the stadium is located, is still worth a visit. It was converted from an old rail yard and still retains its architectural and historic integrity. New features include a statue of Babe Ruth and a sports legends museum.