Solstice Travel Vacations

Visitors flock to Baltimore, Maryland, for a taste of the city’s world-famous seafood and to enjoy one of its many festivals and events, such as Restaurant Week and the annual Preakness Stakes. Just about all visitors make a stop at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, home to many popular restaurants, unique shopping, famous museums, live entertainment, local pubs and taverns.

Throughout the Inner Harbor, visitors will find relics of Baltimore’s fascinating maritime history intertwined with a number of contemporary attractions. These include the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Port Discovery Children’s Museum, the updated Harborplace and The Gallery shopping centers, and the new sports stadiums for the Ravens and Orioles.

Baltimore’s most visited attractions include the National Aquarium - with around 10,000 creatures and a magnificent Atlantic Coral Reef display; Maryland Zoo - known as the third-oldest zoo in America and including many popular jungle animals; the Maryland Science Center - a stunning modern building with numerous exciting hands-on attractions and information about modern science; the Pimlico Race Course - a world-famous racecourse, home to many of America's major horseback racing events; and Baltimore's Lexington Market - the oldest continually operating market in the USA.

Other tourist attractions in Baltimore include the Washington Monument at Mount Vernon Place - a famous memorial to America's George Washington, built in 1815; the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine - birthplace of the American national anthem; the Star Spangled Banner Flag House - one of the city's oldest buildings, with information about the War of 1812; the Baltimore Conservatory and Botanic Gardens - featuring three greenhouses, landscaped gardens and a host of exotic plants; and the Cylburn Arboretum - a vast nature preserve with gardens, woodlands and period buildings.

Baltimore also contains a number of highly regarded museums, such as the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum - reputed to the oldest railroad depot standing in the western hemisphere, with numerous classic locomotives; the Maritime Museum - featuring popular tours of the USS Torsk submarine and three WWII vessels; the Babe Ruth Museum - celebrating the life of this famous baseball star; the Streetcar Museum - with interesting information about the history of public transport in the city; the Port Discovery Children's Museum - full of hands-on exhibits and dedicated to providing fun education for children; and the Baltimore Museum of Art - boasting approximately 100,000 works, including art by Picasso, Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh.

Tourist attractions situated near to Baltimore include the Ellicott City Firehouse Museum - with historic information about the area's fire-fighting services; the Howard County Center - dedicated to black Americans who have made major contributions to America's history; the Historic Oakland Manor - a stunning mansion surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens; and the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin - a historic building, with information about the development of the region.

The daily mean temperature for Baltimore is 55°F, ranging from 33°F in January to 77°F in July. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport) serves the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

The city of Brindisi blazes its own trail into the East as an important trading port in Italy. Its unique beauty is reflected from the crystal waters of its vibrant harbor, sparking the interest of the Greeks, Romans and other groups, who were determined to seize its rich treasures. Brindisi continues to attract a multitude of onlookers who are drawn to the tranquil sounds of its bays crashing into the Adriatic Sea. It is an old city with a warm heart, where iconic gems embrace the legendary souls of the past, while its multihued marina captures the mystique of the future. Brindisi, Italy is filled by the harmonious flow of the Italian language and the splendor surrounding its landscape, which never loses its luster with each passing tourist. The city beckons every inquisitive passenger to explore all that this ancient Italian beauty has to offer.

Brindisi nestles in the region of Apulia on Italy’s heel. Its long history is depicted through artistic expression displayed in its iconic antiques and beams within the traditions of the city’s passionate locals. Its winding roads may seem like a maze at first, but with perseverance travelers will become more familiar with its ancient Messapian culture with each step. From remote territories to the sun-kissed coastline, Brinidisi offers something for every interest. Built in Baroque décor, Brindisi’s Cathedral displays furnishings of an ancient wooden chair and mosaic floor. The Swabian Castle provides impressive views of the port and hosts to some of the city’s most important cultural affairs. The Roman Columns are testament of the impact of Roman infrastructure and paves the way into the city’s medieval center, while the Brindisi Castle conceals timeless legends of historical events. 

Becoming accustomed to Brindisi’s narrow trails can definitely work up an appetite. Its restaurants are eager to please your senses with authentic Italian dishes. Delicious temptations like bluefish, pasta, pizza, blue sweet pea, and seabass are simmered with olive oil as well as fresh vegetables and prepared in Italian style. With a bottle of Italy’s luxurious wines, eat like the Romans as you savor every bite of Brindisi’s rich flavors.

Brindisi is characterized by a Mediterranean climate. The city’s warm season is typically dry lasting from June to September and experiences temperatures in the mid-80s to a low in the 70s at night. During November to March (cold season) the weather ranges between a high in the upper 50s and low-40s.

Papola Casale Airport is the main gateway into the city. Brindisi is also accessible via ferry and train from other destinations within Italy and the rest of Europe.  Buses also service transportation to an array of Italian cities. Renting a car makes it easy to navigate through the city; however, its historic center and narrow roads can be explored on foot.

PHOTO: Pouring a draft beer. (photo via Aksakalko/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Beer lovers unite.

ShoreTrips has the perfect getaway for you in Northern Iceland.

Not only will you be able to tour the beautiful scenery in Northern Iceland, but you’ll also be able to taste beer and plunge into a unique beer bath.

Travelers will start out in the lovely city of Akureyri and drive along the coastline. Soak in the stunning seaside views from your luxury SUV.

You’ll also learn about Iceland's past and how herring had a big impact on the economy despite being just a small fish. Plus, this tour includes a stop to the filming location for the Icelandic TV show “Trapped.”

However, the stop at Kaldi Brewery is the highlight of the tour.

Enjoy a guided tour around the brewery to learn how one of Iceland’s best micro-breweries got its start. You’ll sample some beers before it’s time to change and hit the beer tub.

Sit back and relax for 25 minutes in a huge tub that’s filled with beer, yeast, water and hops. Of course, you won’t want to drink the beer in the tub. Stick to the samples provided by Kaldi.

After your beer soak, it’s recommended you jump into the outdoor hot tub. Here you’ll warm up and take in some truly spectacular views.

By now you’ll be quite hungry for lunch, so once you change out of the bathing suit you brought head next door to a local restaurant for some fresh fish or try their beer burger.

After lunch, you’ll gather back to the luxury SUV and travel back to Akureyri to end the trip.

Touring local villages, sampling and bathing in beer plus enjoying gorgeous scenery makes this ShoreTrips tour quite the catch.

So, if you’re headed to Iceland for the Northern Lights, make sure to sign up for an unforgettable beer experience.

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