5 Weird Weekend Adventures in Baltimore

If you’re an adventurer who’s buying a home for sale in Baltimore County or Howard County, you’re going to love these five weird weekend adventures in Baltimore.

Check out these off-the-beaten path attractions and things to see in and around Baltimore to plan your next weekend adventure:

The Book Thing
Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities
Curtis Creek Ship Graveyard
Round Falls
Old Town Mall

Here’s a closer look at each.

Weird Weekend Adventure #1 in Baltimore: The Book Thing

The Book Thing, founded in 1999, is a free book shop – seriously. You can swing by and pick up any book you’d like, and their collection is incredibly impressive. The shop operates on donations (but they’re often overwhelmed, so they may not be accepting any at the time you visit), and every book is stamped with “Not for Resale.” They won’t take a cent for the books, even if you insist (so don’t). The Book Thing is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it makes for a great stop while you’re in the city.
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Weird Weekend Adventure #2 in Baltimore: Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities

If weird is what you’re looking for, Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities definitely fits the bill. Nestled in the back room of Protean Books & Records in Downtown Baltimore, this quirky little place was originally opened in 1954 in Greencastle, Indiana and its collection passed through several owners before moving to Baltimore in 2015. Today, the space is packed with oddities from the past, including something purported to be Elvis Presley’s third nipple and a variety of mummified creatures. Parental discretion is advised when you visit; the crypt is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Mondays.

Weird Weekend Adventure #3 in Baltimore: Curtis Creek Ship Graveyard

The Curtis Creek Ship Graveyard contains dozens of ships from World War I to the present day, all retired and no longer in use. One of the most notable is the Flying Dutchman of Baltimore, which was stranded in 1899 and abandoned in the Outer Banks; it traveled all the way to Maine without a captain before making its way back down the Eastern Seaboard, where a tugboat captured it and dragged it into Curtis Creek. The best way to visit this place is in a kayak or canoe, which you can launch from the Jaws Marina at 6100 Chemical Road – though you can see many of the ships from the I-695 bridge.
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Weird Weekend Adventure #4 in Baltimore: Round Falls

Round Falls, located near Druid Hill Park, is actually the remains of a grist mill dam from the early 1800s; the water that cascades down the 10-foot drop-off ends up in the Inner Harbor. The best thing about these falls is their seclusion – most people don’t even know they’re here. You’ll have to trek along the Jones Falls hiking trail to find them. They’re only marked by a wooden sign along the trail that says “James W. Rouse Memorial Deck at Round Falls” (and they’re on the map here).

Weird Weekend Adventure #5 in Baltimore: Old Town Mall

Once a thriving shopping area and business district, Old Town Mall is a ghost town in the middle of the city. Originally built in 1808, Old Town (formerly known as Gay Street) had 64 shops and stores designed to attract people from all over the city – but after the Civil War, the area began to decline. After a few revitalization attempts by the city (totaling millions of dollars), the area slid into complete disrepair. Today, there’s only one open shop; the clock tower serves as the Baltimore City Fire Museum (also a worthy stop on your weekend adventure). Find it here.
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