Baltimore's Inner Harbor is one of those special places where “it's happening” all the time, in all seasons of the year.

The open-air stage in the center of this bustling shopping and museum zone alone is enough to hold visitors spellbound thanks to an unusual array of performers ranging from fire-eating circus acts to great amateur bands singing their hearts out for recognition and pocket change.

If you are hungry, Inner Harbor offers more restaurants than you can sample in a week. That's definitely the spot to treat yourself to seafood, and crab cakes in particular.

But Inner Harbor also offers some world-class educational facilities for all ages.

The National Aquarium for example is a must see, with an amazing collection of exotic sea creatures including some mean looking sharks, all displayed inside a concrete silo of salt water, right there on the harbor.

The Maryland Science Center is none like other, offering all kinds of fantastic exhibits and shows, including a “touch me” exhibit loved by kids of all ages. The IMAX Theater is where you can watch some mind-blowing 70 mm movies in full color. If you're there, you should not forget to visit the Planetarium either.

The Children's Museum in Baltimore was ranked among the “Top 5” of its kind in the whole United States. A number of interactive displays and shows challenge the children stretch their minds to marvel at the wonders of nature and science.

It's a weekend. You deserve more. Go Inner Harbor. Go Baltimore.