Mountain Leather and General STR

Mountain Leather is a store uptown that sells a lot of Western-themed gifts. When you enter, you're greeted by the smell of leather from various clothing and accessories (like wallets) - brown, black, tan, etc. leather. They have ceramic and cloth gifts, too - a lot of striped patterns. It's a store to check out because you might just find an unexpected gift for someone there.

Classic Car Wash

This is a great place to have your car cleaned - there are individual slots for each car, and about five slots so your wait period is never long. The cleaning is very quick and the car sparkles and shines afterwards, with a good wash, vacumming, and optional waxing, plus they have some nice-smelling air fresheners to pick from. My boyfriend always gets pine because he loves nature, and I'm more of a vanilla type of girl.

Chapman Keith

Keith Chapman's store is tiny, but every piece of jewelry is gorgeous and well-designed - there's not one piece of jewelry I doubt I wouldn't buy here! I recently bought one of their engraveable silver rings, which is so shiny and the font used for the engraving is so pretty. I've received many compliments on it, and can't wait to pick up a necklace. This is my favorite jewelry store - the selection is gorgeous!!!

Chrysler Museum Of Art

What's great about this museum is it's interesting and well-put-together, yet there's hardly ever a crowd. It feels like a rare little treasure find - a secret discovery. They have a beautiful collection of glass vases, goblets, and bowls color-categorized, which is quite equisite, which is the main attraction why I go there. Check out this little gem!

DEA Museum

This museum is a bit controversial because its theme is marijuana! America has museums geared towards everything under the sun - Lucille Ball, Albert Einstein - why not a recreational drug? It has devices that are used for smoking pot (rolling paper, bongs, hash pipes, etc.). It's a rather small museum, but has thousands of photographs and a selection of drugs to view. It talks about the history of drugs (what the purposes were originally, its history), and its widespread abuse. I didn't really like it, and didn't feel too comfortable around all the marijuana-related devices, but I guess it'd be interesting if you're interested in that.

PROS: Free
CONS:

National Museum of American History -Smithsonian Institution

This museum is loaded with over three million artifacts and objects from American history, from television history, to scientific and medical progress (birth control pills, DNA testing), to fashion trends & social role changes - this museum has something that'll interest everyone. It traces social movements (such as slavery) and each artifact has a card nearby to explain its origin and significance. A VERY interesting museum, and one you'll need to visit multiple times to see everything.

PROS: Free admission!
CONS:

Maryland Science Center

This is a fun museum not geared toward preserving history on factual cards, but having colorful, interactive displays where kids can let loose, explore the world, and satisfy their curiosity. The science arcade is reminiscent of a video arcarde in malls, except it teaches about the world of light, sound, and mechanics. Kids can spend hours in each section, and the exhibits rotate every few months, so coming back is always a treat to find out what new gadgets and gizmos they added to explore and learn about.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

This national park has gigantic ponds filled with green lilly pads and colorful, water-dwelling plants and flowers. It's 12-acres, and also has trails for walking and seeing some unique species of birds, like bald eagles and herons. There are marshes that echo the sounds of croaking frogs, and at night, bring a flashlight to see when beavers come out! Overall, a very wonderful national park to spend the day. I'd give it ten stars if I could.

PROS: Diverse animal & plant species; huge!
CONS: None

Marian Koshland Science Museum

This museum is original and one-of-a-kind. It isn't boring and stiff, nor does it have the new-age look so many museums do (solar-powered exhibits, interactive lights, gigantic movie screens). Instead, it's a cross in between - an interactive look at real problems we face today, such as global warming. Displays work in a mechanical fashion (read: they're engineered and don't just sit there as cut-outs) to literally SHOW you different processes we ordinarily just read about on paper. I love criminology and was fascinated by the DNA exhibit, which showed how to crack a case using small fragments of human fingerprint, hair, and fiber traces.

PROS: $5 Admission!
CONS:

Fulton St Warehouse B & O Rlrd

After being closed for renovation for nearly two years, the finishing product is breathtaking - it gives you the chance to look at old fashioned railroads and sit in a real railroad car. Cards scattered throughout the museum give facts on different locomotives, steam engines, and the history of the railroad - the gift shop is quite nice, too. I really liked the presentation and atomosphere to this museum, and will definitely be returning.