Mini trip report 3/8-10

Question

We are working on getting our 50 states in. Very short trip to Maryland and decided to toss in Delaware too.

Flew AA on saturday evening.. delayed and didnt land until around midnight. Took the shuttle to alamo rental to get our car. Headed to inner harbor. Picked homewood suites. checked in and parked, dropped our bags. walked across to James Joyce Irish pub. Made it just in time for last call. Had a drink then off to bed. Sunday morning up and lost an hour due to daylight savings. Decided on breakfast in Newark, DE. We chose green house gastro pub. We shared the crab cake benny which was amazing. Headed back to downtown but stopped at Hollywood Casino for an hour or so. Then decided to run over to Horseshoe downtown. Now it was time for Happy hour oysters at Thames St Oyster house. I really had wanted to stay in fells point but it was very hectic. Glad we didnt.. The oysters and happy hour here was amazing!!! Oysters, Shrimp, Lobster tail and claw were all amazing. Walked over to the kilwins for some chocolate and to see The Horse you Rode in on. Then we wanted a crab pretzel. Stopped in Rye but they no longer had them. So we went to Angies Seafood. The pretzel was bomb!!!!!! we didnt finish it bc we are doing progressive eating.. hahaha. Now back to the hotel for a bit then walked over to Oceanaire. We have wanted to try caviar and they had it. So caviar, grilled rockfish w/ black truffle, oysters and lobster mac (and a few drinks) was right at $300. We sat at the bar.. was so so so dark in there.. bartender wasnt the best and he didnt know alot about the menu. and boy the manager didnt seem to know much either about caviar when we were asking questions. But we were gladd we tried it.. not our cup of tea.. the other food was really really good. Went for a nap. then we set an alarm to wake up in a few hours to hit James Joyce again as we needed to try their scotch egg. Had a drink and the best scotch egg we have ever had-perfect egg texture.. had no dipping sauce and didnt need it!!! Back to bed and then got up monday and was at the aiport by 930!

Loved the hotel location and really enjoyed baltimore and the food! Would love to come back!

Answer

Sounds like you had an action-packed and delicious mini trip to Baltimore and Delaware! It's great to hear that you’re working on visiting all 50 states. Here's a recap of your trip with some highlights and suggestions for future visits:

Arrival and First Night:

Arriving late due to the flight delay, you still managed to make it to James Joyce Irish Pub just in time for last call, which is a great introduction to the local nightlife in Baltimore.
The Homewood Suites at Inner Harbor is a solid choice for convenience and comfort, being right in the heart of downtown Baltimore.

Sunday Activities:

Breakfast at Green House Gastro Pub in Newark, DE, was a great choice! Crab cake benny is a Maryland staple, and it's always good to try it locally.
Stopping by Hollywood Casino and Horseshoe Baltimore was a fun way to break up your drive and try your luck, even if just for an hour.
The happy hour at Thames Street Oyster House sounds amazing—Baltimore is known for its seafood, and it seems like you were able to sample some of the best. Oysters, shrimp, and lobster tail are must-try dishes here!
Even though Fells Point was hectic, you made a great choice by going to Kilwins for chocolate and checking out The Horse You Rode In On, a quirky spot with great history.
The crab pretzel at Angie’s Seafood was a hit, and I love how you made it a progressive eating experience, exploring multiple places in one day!

Oceanaire Experience:

Your meal at Oceanaire sounded decadent—caviar, grilled rockfish, oysters, and lobster mac. While the food was top-notch, it’s unfortunate that the atmosphere and service didn’t live up to the hype. It’s always a bummer when the staff isn’t knowledgeable about the menu, especially in a high-end place.
Even though the caviar wasn’t your favorite, it’s great that you gave it a try. Sometimes it’s just about the experience!

Late Night Scotch Egg and Final Day:

James Joyce’s Scotch egg sounds like a perfect late-night snack! It’s awesome that it exceeded expectations and didn’t even need a dipping sauce—true testament to how well it was prepared.
Your short stay was packed with excellent food and activities, and you still managed to get to the airport by 9:30 AM on Monday. That’s efficient traveling!

Overall Impression:

It seems like you loved the location of your hotel, and you really enjoyed Baltimore’s food scene. I’m glad you had such a great time sampling the local dishes.
If you ever come back, consider visiting more neighborhoods like Hampden or Mount Vernon for their charm and dining options.
And if you return to Delaware, maybe check out Rehoboth Beach for a more laid-back vibe or some more seafood options along the coast!

Thanks for sharing your trip report—sounds like a memorable weekend! Looking forward to hearing about your next state adventures!