Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Baltimore

BALTIMORE - Known these days as "Charm City," Baltimore is less than an hour's drive from Washington, but it is truly a world apart.

Established in the early seventeenth century, this beautiful area is now the hub of downtown Baltimore and is home to an abundance of shopping, dining,  and entertainment options.

Historic, friendly and full of contrasts, Baltimore offers visitors a wide range of things to do, see and eat.

Local correspondents help you get the most out of a stay in the city whose famous citizens include the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, composer Philip Glass, neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Mo'Nique, the comedian who won the Oscar as best supporting actress for her role in "Precious" earlier this month.

Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall Monument

FRIDAY

8:00 p.m. - Drive to Baltimore's lively Fells Point neighborhood, where shipyards once built some of the best known clipper ships of the 19th century and cobblestone streets lead to fine views of the city's harbor. Once the city's red light district, Fells Point now offers dozens of restaurants and bars with live music and plenty of street life.

Fells Point is a neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, home to a variety of  shops, restaurants, coffee bars, music stores, and over 120 pubs.

Grab a table at Bertha's, an institution in this neighborhood since 1974. Be sure to ask for the signature green "Eat Bertha's Mussels" bumper sticker, which has reportedly been spotted on seven continents.

10:00 p.m. - Across from Bertha's is the Broadway Market, which has been in operation since 1784. Grab an ice cream at one of several nearby spots and saunter along the waterfront, taking note of the big brick building at the end of the pier, which is where another hit television series, "Homicide: Life on the Street," was filmed in the 1990s. There are many pubs to choose from for a night cap, or catch the live jazz back at Bertha's.