Moving to Baltimore, looking for neighborhood advice? (Annapolis, Mount Vernon: apartment, lease)

[rachel65]

My fiancee has just been offered a position with Enoch-Pratt Public Library. He will be getting a short-term lease, but when I graduate law school, I will be moving to Baltimore to join him, and neither of us have much knowledge of the city. We would be looking for a 2 bedroom apartment or townhouse in a quiet, safe neighborhood that is not too far from the library. Closeness to a park and grocery store would be great as well. Does anyone have a neighborhood to recommend?
Also, we are both cyclists. He commutes regularly and I enjoy riding on the weekends. Any information on bike trails or routes would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks so much!

[barante]

If you haven't already, please consult the sticky: Neighborhoods in Baltimore. It gives you many choices which you can research by searcing. Patterson Park should be a leading candidate on your list.

[Juliomakeover]

I have a friend that I did the rehab for him new home one block from Paterson park, I could give you his info so you can rent there

[Tallybalt]

Bolton Hill is a pleasant, quiet and historic neighborhood adjoining Mount Vernon, and one of the prettiest in Baltimore. Your fiancee should be able to cycle to the Pratt Library in ten minutes (presumably he is going to the main branch in Mount Vernon?).

Bolton Hill is near Druid Lake Park, but if you are committed cyclists the nearest long trail is in Gwynn Falls Park on the city's west side, but the most popular and prettiest option is the Northern Central bike trail, a former railroad track that takes you through some of the prettiest countryside in Maryland. The trail is about twenty-twenty five minutes north of Baltimore City and runs a good 30 miles from beginning to end.

Originally Posted by rachel65

My fiancee has just been offered a position with Enoch-Pratt Public Library. He will be getting a short-term lease, but when I graduate law school, I will be moving to Baltimore to join him, and neither of us have much knowledge of the city. We would be looking for a 2 bedroom apartment or townhouse in a quiet, safe neighborhood that is not too far from the library. Closeness to a park and grocery store would be great as well. Does anyone have a neighborhood to recommend?
Also, we are both cyclists. He commutes regularly and I enjoy riding on the weekends. Any information on bike trails or routes would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks so much!

[barante]

Bolton Hill is a good choice, within walking distance from the Enoch Pratt Central Library, near light rail and Penn Station. Not that far from the Inner Harbor either.
I lived in a walkup in Bolton Hill and then moved to Sutton Place, a highrise at Howard and Park. I was able to take my bike on the elevator to the eleventh floor and store it in a closet of my one-bedroom apartment.

[are you kidinme?]

http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...90805145129601

Be careful riding in Bmore.

[jonjj]

Bicycle Almanac: Bike Safety Statistics

Be careful riding anywhere on a bike. Seriously, I would much rather ride through the city then among the car-crazed burbs.

[lu_schultz]

google this:

Jones Falls trail - awesome

The Baltimore and Annapolis Trail (B&A) - easy

The Northern Central Railroad (NCR) and York County Heritage (YCH) - fantastic!!! my fav!! goes from Baltimore to York/Pennsylvania in a 42 mile long trail deep in nature.

Have fun!
Luciana

[Zea mays]

The Northern Central Railway has an interesting history in the Civil War. Several skirmishes occurred along its right-of-way between Union and Confederate cavalry. (Once in 1864 Confederate cavalry skirmished with Union cavalry along York Road as far south as Govens.)

Abraham Lincoln traveled on the Northern Central on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address in November 1863. After Lincoln's assassination, his body was transported over the same rails on the funeral train's journey from Washington, D.C. to Illinois.

Some things to think about as you bike along. Yes, it is very scenic.