This past weekend, I hopped on a greyhound bus for a 8 1/2 hour ride to Baltimore, Maryland. This mid-Atlantic state was a warm and sunny retreat for me! My backpack was filled with vegan snacks such as chocolate covered goji berry crunch and chocolate brownie PURE Bars to much on during the lengthy excursion. My itinerary was packed for the fifteen hours that I would be in town. Quick trips are a great way to refresh your body, mind, and spirit!
Up on arrival in “Charm City”, my first stop was at One World Cafe (One World Cafe) for a vegan breakfast. I opted for the tofu scramble with a special, spicy sauce. This was possibly the best scramble I have ever eaten anywhere! It consisted of mushrooms, peppers, and tofu. Their display case showcased several vegan cakes, cookies, and brownies.
After a yummy and filling breakfast, I headed over to the Federal Hill neighborhood. This area was filled with shops, restaurants, and rowhouse, historic buildings. I walked up to Federal Hill where our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” was said to have been written.
My next stop was the beautiful Inner Harbor area of downtown Baltimore. This section of town is filled with locals and tourists alike, strolling along the water, watching street performers, shopping for gifts, or dining at one of many fine establishments. The US Constellation ship is docked there, as well as the Chesapeake. Commuters and tourists may also board a water taxi to other neighborhoods. I took the water taxi to the Fells Point area. There, I wandered throughout town, stopping in the gift shops. I paid a visit to Pitango Gelato(Pitango Gelato) for some vegan rhubarb and orange dark chocolate gelato. It was smooth and rich and just so tasty!
It was time to get on the water taxi again for my next stop to Fort McHenry. This fort defended The United States against the British invasion during the War of 1812. Visitors can walk through the barracks and encounter period costume actors recounting tales from history.
I headed to Liquid Earth(Liquid Earth) for a great vegan lunch. My choice was the vegan rueben sandwich with seitan and Jewish bread. They serve a couple of vegan desserts each day, but I had no room in my tummy after snacking on the gelato earlier.
After my lunch, I headed down to the Inner Harbor area again to watch the entertainment and visit the gift shops. A guy performed juggling tricks and rode a unicycle. As a vegan, I obviously do not eat seafood, but I felt perfectly comfortable purchasing a trinket with a Maryland crab pic on it.
I took a cab over to world famous Lexington Market. This building was basically a food court. Meals, desserts, spices, produce, and ice cream could be found here. Other than fresh fruit and veggies, I did not notice anything vegan.
My final tourist activity on my itinerary was the Visionary Art Museum(Visionary Art Museum). This unique and creative space displays works of art from self-trained artists. Out-of-the-ordinary sculptures, art, prints, and paintings are found there.
Dinner and dessert time was upon us. I found a yummy vegan brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at Red Emma’s Bookstore (Red Emma’s Bookstore).
Baltimore has two vegan soul food restaurants: The Land Of Kush and The Yabba Pot. I chose to have dinner at The Yabba Pot (Yabba Pot). The meal I selected was a combo of BBQ seitan with West African Spinach. It was excellent! For dessert, I opted for the chocolate bundt cake. I truly enjoyed the rich and moist, delicious treat!
My visit to Baltimore was complete. I partook in the region’s historic past, appreciated the contemporary arts and entertainment, and dined on amazing vegan eats! I recalled these pleasant memories as I rode back home on the returning bus trip!
