Visit Baltimore, Get Your Gas Costs Covered

Do you dream of a long weekend getaway that cashes in on great fall deals after the summer vacation crowds have gone back to school or work? Does the cost of gas make you think twice about the trip? This fall, at least one prime weekend destination on the east coast is helping visitors calculate just how much it will cost them to drive there and then offering incentives to defray the gas tab.

Baltimore's Area Convention and Visitors Association offers a "Deal Driver" that can tell you how much your trip will cost based on the national average per-gallon price of gas, your address, your vehicle's average miles per gallon, and the demographic of your travel group. The site then offers information and discounts on Baltimore area attractions, shopping and dining to match the estimated cost of your trip.

"Fall is prime travel time for couples and singles of all ages," notes Tom Noona, President and CEO of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. "In Baltimore, the summer heat is gone, yet the schedule of events, festivals and attractions are still hot. And with our Deal Driver, visitors can find discounts, deals and even free hotel offers to offset the cost of driving here."

Visitors traveling to Baltimore this fall will find events, attractions and incentives for virtually every taste, including:

* "Bedazzled: 5,000 Years of Jewelry" - The Walters Art Museum features a collection of jewelry spanning 5,000 years and diverse cultures. The exhibit, which runs Oct. 19, 2008 to Jan. 4, 2009, highlights more than 200 pieces, many never before displayed.

* Free Fall Baltimore - Throughout October, the city will feature hundreds of unique and free arts performances from music and theater to film, workshops, dance, lectures and museum exhibits.

* The Baltimore Museum of Art will host the first major American retrospective on the work of Franz West, an internationally acclaimed Austrian artist known for his intriguing sculptures, provocative collages and giant outdoor installations. More than 120 objects of West's work will be on display.

* From free breakfast and parking to discounted admission at area attractions and gift bags, Baltimore hotels are offering great deals and incentives for fall.

* Whether touring historic sites, cruising for antiques on Antique Row or taking in a free movie, there are plenty of things to do in Baltimore that won't cost you a penny. Baltimore.org offers a list of 50 Free Things to Do.


There are more reasons than ever to visit Baltimore this fall, including having the cost of your gas covered by deals and discounts. Log on to www.baltimore.org to start planning your trip. Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.