Day 7:

Question: Did you know that the railroads in the game of Monopoly were actual railroads?

Answer (circle one): Yes No

I ask because my destination on Day 7 of this here Maryland trip was the B & O Railroad Museum. And, folks, this isn’t just another railroad museum. This is the birthplace of American railroading. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first commercial railroad to operate in the USA, and this site was its base of operations for something like 150 years!

Based on what I’ve heard about this museum, I seriously considered scheduling two days for it. As it turned out, it isn’t that big. There’s a lot to see, but I managed to see just about everything in a single day. I didn’t take any pictures, because if I’d have started down that road, I would have been there for a week. Some of the rolling stock (the formal term for ‘railroad cars’) are unique, if not bizarre.

I seriously and highly recommend the B & O Railroad Museum to anyone who has even the slightest interest in US history and/or railroads.

Day 8:

Cedric rested. Again. Already. Damn!

Day 9:

My destination on Day 9 of this here Maryland trip was the National Aquarium. Much like the B&O Museum, based on what I’ve heard about the National Aquarium, I seriously considered scheduling two days for it. As it turns out, this place is indeed huge. There’s a lot to see, but I managed to see just about everything in about six hours. The most unexpected (and most enjoyable) part was the Amazon rainforest canopy. It features several beautiful tropical bird species and real live (but not lively) sloths!

I’ve been to aquariums in Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee, and probably another state or two. The “National” Aquarium (it’s actually owned and operated by a private non-profit, not the government), here in Baltimore is the best I’ve seen. Highly recommended!

Day 10:

I had scheduled Day 10 to be devoted to Doors Open Baltimore – a single day of each year when certain landmark buildings around the city are open to public exploration. I have participated in equivalent events in other cities (Doors Open Denver and Open House Chicago) and very much enjoyed them.

But during my short stay thus far, I have already learned that many historic areas of Baltimore are damn near impossible to park in, and driving in this city is absolutely nuts! Furthermore, my hips were bothering me after two full days of strolling through the B&O Museum and the aquarium, and I had to make certain my hips aren’t a problem tomorrow. On top of all that, as I was searching for a place to park within decent walking distance of the first building on my list, I realized I had left my camera at the hotel.

So, instead of checking out the buildings of Doors Open Baltimore, I decided to drive around ALOT and just see the city from my car. Miles and miles of old rowhouses, several amazing churches and other buildings along North Charles, until finally I made my way back to Crab Towne for more pinball.

Day 11:

This is why I’m here. This is the whole reason I selected these particular days and year to come to Maryland. Y’see, earlier this year, Six Flags announced that the park known simply as Six Flags America would be closing forever at the end of this season, which is next weekend. I’ve only been to this park once before, and that was clear back in 2008 or 2009. But what I remember of the coasters warranted a farewell visit. I summarize today’s visit thusly:

Joker’s Jinx: This is a magnetically launched steel coaster with a huge number of turns, twists, and inversions on an incredibly small piece of land and the most frightening series of “head chopper” moments I’ve ever seen! It is best described as a spaghetti bowl. This thing was an absolute BLAST!

Roar: This is a tall and long wooden coaster that I somehow missed the last time I was here. (It was built in 1998.) This was fun but rough – not unusual for a coaster of its age.

Superman – Ride of Steel: Obviously a steel coaster, this one is a hypercoaster, which is industry speak for a coaster that’s at least 200 feet tall. In 2008/9, I rode this thing over and over on a cold autumn evening, until I gave myself one of the worst colds of my life. Today, it’s still one of my favorite steel coasters.

Wild One: This is a historic wooden coaster that, at 98 feet tall, was HUGE for its day. (It was originally built in 1917.) Even more fun than Roar, but even more rough, as well. So rough that I could only handle it once today.

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The Last Word:

If there’s anything I have learned from this trip, it’s that I never need to drive in Maryland again. Otherwise, cool trip.