Estates of Wilmington and City Seas in Baltimore

As you leave Philadelphia, drive on and slip into the lush gardens and ornate mansions of Wilmington, Delaware. Start your day at Nemours Estate, an incredibly gorgeous French-château-style mansion dating back to the Gilded Age. The gardens here are no joke – you'll notice inspiration pulled from the gardens of Versailles. This estate has the largest jardin à la française in all of North America.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday: Closed

Head over to the quaint, historic little neighbourhood of New Castle, a well-preserved colonial town located right on the Delaware River. Walk the cobblestone streets, admire the historic brick homes and buildings, and stop at the Read House and Gardens while you explore the town.
Built at the tail end of the 1700s, the Read House & Gardens serves as a prime example of Federalist-period-style architecture and was the grandest a house could be at the time of being built. Built for a wealthy statesman who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, today the house designates itself as a National Historical Landmark. Stop in to peek into its 20 charming rooms and find tranquility in the estate's gardens.
Buy tickets online at the estate's official website. The interior of the house is closed Monday to Wednesday, but you can still peruse the gardens and admire the exterior if you visit when the interiors are closed.
Opening Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Wednesday: Closed

Round your trip out in New Castle with lunch at Jessop's Tavern, a pub serving up colonial-inspired fare. Servers wear period costumes and you can order period food like shepherd's pie, fish & chips, or a “Hutspot” Dutch pot roast.
This 300-year-old building was originally built in 1674. The tavern is named after a cooper (colonial slang for barrel-maker) named Abraham Jessop, who lived in the building and worked his barrel-making business here in 1724.
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Welcome to Baltimore! For your first stop, you'll head to the National Aquarium, one of the world's best aquariums committed to the conservation of our earth's sea life. Before heading to the aquarium, park at the Harbor Park Garage, where you can then get your parking ticket validated by the aquarium.

This trip involves a lot of historic sightseeing – step back to the modern day for a little at the National Aquarium, where you'll see the living animals that inhabit our seas. Stopping at the National Aquarium is well worth the visit to view a few of the 20,000 animals that reside inside the aquarium's waters. Spot jellyfish, puffins, dolphins, sharks, sloths, and so much more.
Check the official website for more information about booking your visit and the most up-to-date hours, as they are subject to change.
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Grab your car from the garage and head out over to your hotel, where you can check in, park or valet, and set your home base for the rest of your stay in Baltimore.

Check into your hotel after the aquarium – stay at a hotel near the waterfront, so you have easy access to Fells Point and the Inner Harbor for dinner and an evening stroll. Plus, the waterfront will captivate you with its history and charm! The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore is the perfect option to anchor yourself for the night. Check in, drop your car and bags off, then head out to the surrounding attractions to explore. Book Now
If you are a TCS member and would like to book a hotel with 3% cashback, please follow the instructions via this link.

Head out to Fell’s Point, an iconic district in Baltimore, known for its hip streets filled with pubs, taverns, bookstores, and live music galore. The neighbourhood is one of the oldest in Baltimore, and once served as a bustling port. While it is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in America, this is no sleepy neighbourhood! The streets come alive at night, making it the perfect time to stroll through and enjoy dinner.

Head to Barcocina for tapas, which sits on the harbour with idyllic views of the Patapsco River. You'll enjoy the lively atmosphere and delicious food in their open-air restaurant. Start with the chilled elote dip and a margarita if you enjoy, then pick your tapas selections from their menu of main plates, tacos, and sides.
Visit their official website or call +14105631500 to book a table at the restaurant.
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Venture out into the night to visit the city's oldest bar, which is rumoured to be Edgar Allan Poe’s last stop before his mysterious death. There’s even a designated seat at the bar marked as Poe's Last Stop! Even if you don't enjoy a drink, this place is worth a stop for its unique history. It’s also America's oldest continuously operated saloon, established in 1775, which means it even lasted through prohibition!
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 4:00 p.m.– 1:30 a.m. Friday – Saturday: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

If you're still up for night crawling, have a moonlight stroll over to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The view from the harbour offers beautiful views of the twinkling city lights as well as a wide lens of the historic seaport. Look out into the harbour to spot 19th-century ships that still reside at the port. On your walk, you’ll weave through more pubs and taverns, which you can pop into if you’re looking for a nightcap.

On the city's charming waterfront promenade, walk back to your modern seaside hotel to check in for the night. Tuck yourself into your warm bed under the city lights. Book Now
If you are a TCS member and would like to book a hotel with 3% cashback, please follow the instructions via this link.