“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” – William G.T. Shedd
My guest blogger Sara recently visited the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore. I’m excited that I can feature the work of my guest bloggers, but there is always a slight pang of jealousy in realizing that I will not be personally experiencing a particular hotel. In this instance, the pang was more of a shudder as I adore waterside properties, and the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore is luxuriously positioned at Baltimore’s teeming Inner Harbor.
I also chose the above quote to reflect my thoughts on how travel has forever changed my life and how I see the world. The world is meant to be explored, tasted, seen, and most importantly – felt. Life gets busy, and we need to be forever vigilant in pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones, and simply getting out there and experiencing the world. That’s what life is for. But if you find your ship in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, no one can in good conscience blame you for luxuriating at the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore.
Click Here to view a short YouTube video featuring the property.
Here is Sara’s take on her experience at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore.
Location
The Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore calls en vogue Harbor East, home. Harbor East, once an industrial district, is now a vibrant neighborhood enveloped by historic neighborhoods, monuments, museums, trendy retail, restaurants, and of course the beautiful inner harbor.
Baltimore sits in a geographically convenient location – 50 minutes from Washington D.C., 60 minutes from Philadelphia, and two hours from New York City.
The property casts a dramatic waterside figure. Here is an image of the sublime panoramic, courtesy of the hotel:
This pool is maintained with salt water – so you don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals. It’s negative edge and glass railings give the illusion of being at one with the harbor. If you fancy yourself a yogi, try Floyo (standup paddleboard yoga) with the city and the inner harbor as your picturesque backdrop – another excellent opportunity to take in the view.
The Property
Being a guest of the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore is like staying in a museum – they truly embrace fine art. The ambiance throughout the property is evocative of an upscale gallery. Guests can admire curated collections of paintings (like those from Baltimore-based painter Karl Connolly), photography and sculptures.
The, just over five-year-old property, boasts several creature comforts to keep their guests as youthful as the property. Take for instance the 5th-floor terrace where they host morning yoga classes (and with views over the serene harbor waters it’s easy to find your center.) The reflection pool is another source of peace in this remarkable outdoor space. You can imagine how this is the perfect backdrop for weddings. With all this beauty, Four Seasons, Baltimore was voted “Best Wedding Venue of Baltimore” by the way!
Accommodations
The hotel’s 256 guest rooms and suites break the mold of a traditional hotel room footprint – the space feels new, exciting, and homey. Guest living spaces are thoughtfully appointed with art pieces from their formal collection. When you’re not admiring the art in the rooms, you’ll be gasping at the gorgeous harbor views every time it catches your eye. There isn’t a stay long enough to adequately appreciate the view.
Beyond the rooms themselves, the considerations they have employed to ensure guest comfort is extraordinary. From a vanity-mirror television (a multi-tasking guest’s delight!) to a screen cleaning cloth a thoughtful housekeeper left behind upon seeing my laptop on the desk.
Here are some images of the rooms and suites, courtesy of the hotel:
Dining
Lucky are we the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore is home to Wit & Wisdom by Michael Mina – “comfort food with a contemporary Easter Seaboard twist.” Whether you choose to partake on the patio or in the dining room, you’ll enjoy a backdrop of Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor. From fun cocktails, to annual crab feasts (complete with buckets of beer, mallets, potato salad) and Michael Mina – hosted events, there is always something special to experience at Wit & Wisdom.
Here is an image of Wit & Wisdom, courtesy of the hotel:
If you consider yourself a “foodie,” you can’t miss the “Kitchen Table” (think: chef’s table), a different dinner series that changes every Wednesday. You’ll also appreciate the on-site Sommelier to guide you to the perfect glass or through interesting wine tastings and an UBER-talented Pastry Chef – so gifted they’ll host a dessert “dinner series” at the Kitchen Table complete with sweet and savory desserts too!
Note: if you’re not able to make it down to Wit & Wisdom, no worries! The hotel room service is served out of Wit & Wisdom (as opposed to a banquet kitchen) so you can enjoy the culinary delights in your comfies.
If you find yourself in the mood for lighter fare, try Splash; serving up favorites like fish tacos, burrata salad, smoothies, and cocktails. Click Here for more information on the hotel’s dining options.
As to Splash, there are poolside bars, and then there is this, image courtesy of the hotel:
Spa
The Spa experience at the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore is “a haven of beauty and wellness.” Hotel guests can access the Spa anytime during their stay, and Spa memberships are available for locals. Throughout the 10,000 sq ft Spa, you’ll find 11 treatment rooms, including a couples suite and deep soaking tubs. And, don’t miss the heat experience – steam room, sauna, and the most incredible heated ergonomic lounge chairs you’ll ever sit on (now I know why lizards on warm rocks are so content and cozy) – this is a can’t miss! The Spa also includes access to the outdoor pool and cabanas – everything you’ll need for self-care year round.
Can I interest you in this luxuriating in this Spa space? (Image courtesy of the hotel)
Click Here to view a short YouTube video of the property’s Spa.
The Little Things
It is the little things that will make your experience unforgettable. Each staff member has a smile on their face, are pleased to meet you and will gladly assist in any way they can. For example, forget your sneakers but still want to get in a workout? No problem, the spa has shoes on hand. What do you need? How can your stay be more enjoyable? Someone is always there to make that a reality.
Closing Thoughts
The hospitality of the Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore is of the highest quality. The property is a perfect balance of visually interesting and comfortable. And the staff are superior. During my stay Nor’easter Stella made her arrival. What could have started with, “Unfortunately Nor’easter Stella hit” quickly turned to “Fortunately Nor’easter Stella hit.”
Forced to stay on the property due to canceled flights I was able to experience everything the hotel had to offer (indoors that is!). I even had various staff members emailing me links to articles covering the weather and flights. Watching the snow fall and cover the property was magical. This is a unique space; I’ll always remember this visit fondly and can hardly wait to go back again.
The Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore – Location and Social
The Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore (Website)
200 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202 (Google Maps)
Click on the links below to further learn about and connect with The Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore:
Click Here to read the reviews on Trip Advisor
More Pictures!
Thanks so very much to Sara, Kristan, and to everyone at the resort for welcoming Sara and for taking such great care of her! Thanks also very much to the Four Seasons for the use of the high resolution images!
Please take note that the resort welcomed Sara as a special media guest, but that her opinions are entirely her own.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read this article, and happy dining and traveling!
#ltg
