I sometimes refer to the days in which I worked in the field in which I went to school for, as my “former life.”? In my former life, I was an Exercise Physiologist and I did my intern in Cardiopulmonary Rehab at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.? I lived in a small down called “Dundalk,” just outside of Baltimore. I truly enjoyed my time there and felt like I was going home when we recently returned there as part of our family vacation.
If you are looking for a great family vacation close to NY, the Inner Harbor is a great place to start.? Whether you are a football/baseball fan? or not, you have two great parks at your fingertips.? Camden Yards is one of the most beautiful ballparks around and you can get tickets as low at $8. You can’t do that in NY or Boston.? Of course, our trip was planned around the Red Sox visit to Baltimore in a 3 game series.
I have to say, people in Baltimore are SOOOO nice, too nice really.? Kind of strange compared to New York and New England areas. It didn’t matter where you were, or what you were doing, everyone was just nice. And that was nice 
When we arrived to Camden, we were asked if this was Brayden and Kieran’s? first game to Camden Yards, in which they presented us with a nice certificates for each kid to commemorate their first game.
Later on I took Brayden for a little walk closer to the Bullpen area in which John Lester was warming up.? Not trying to be a “taddle tail,” but I caught a kid, with my camera, spitting off the bleachers and turned him into security. In return, security let me go down in the pass restricted area to get some shots of Lester warming up.? I was like a gitty little girl being 5 feet away from one of the best pitchers in baseball.? Not only that, he is a survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. And for those of you how don’t know, I lost my brother to cancer about 2.5 year ago at the young age of 36.? To me, Lester is a hero. Not only did he beat it, he is back and better than ever.
After I snapped about 100 shots of Lester warming up, Brayden and I headed back to the area where the Orioles were filming their pre-game show.? There he got an autograph from Rick Dempsey,? 83′? World Series MVP. As much as we love to brag about our kids, mine made NESN.? During the last couple innings of Monday’s game, we got phone calls from both grandparents that Kieran was on NESN and noted as the “Future” of Red Sox Nation.
I do have to say, although we were at a “historic” game for Orioles fans, for me I had two prized memories from this day: 1) My hubby caught a home run ball from JD Drew in batting practice and 2) my boys feel asleep on me after a 2 hour rain delay.
The next day we spent the day at one to the best places for kids and fellow DINOSAUR lovers, the Maryland Science Center At Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.? This was such a great museum for kids in the fact that it was so interactive.? If they wanted to climb on Dino bones, they could.? Across from the Science Center is the National Aquarium which featured dolphin shoes and the “Jellies.”
Our last day in the Inner Harbor was spent shopping and enjoying the sites.? Brayden was promised a trip on the “Dragon Boats,” so that is what we did.? Of course, as quickly as the blue skies were there, the gray clouds came in.
