I've always been interested in travel, but mostly only when it pertained to exotic locations or destinations steeped in history. Lately, though, I've been more interested in exploring the US. There are so many wonderful places that are worth, at the very least, a weekend trip. Baltimore is definitely one of those cities, and if fate hadn't stricken my friend, Laurel, with an illness that wasn't the 'travel bug', I would have had the chance to tour some of the historical sites in the area, too. 
We had hoped to go to Gettysburg, possibly; Antietam for sure, but she didn't have the energy. Instead, she took me to a wonderful cafe called Artifact Coffee. I'm slowly learning that "split shots" are something they only do in Seattle. They wouldn't make me one, but they did make me a maple latte! Funnily enough, just last week I had been contemplating why I had never seen a maple latte. Well, now I've had one, made with real maple syrup, and I can honestly say they're amazing!
Shaggy dog street art on the way to the farmers' market
Clouds have been one of my favorite things to photograph since forever.
Floral Laurel
Laurel and her husband, Jon, hosted a wonderful brunch, complete with deviled eggs, waffles, bacon, and a million cheeses. Afterwards we all enjoyed the sun in the field behind their house.
Trevor, post-brunch
Laurel spent a lot of time on this skipjack, the Sigsbee, last summer.
Growing up in Seattle has really given me an appreciation for old architecture and brick. It's so rare on the West Coast, and Baltimore, like the rest of the East Coast, is filled with it!
Great architecture near the waterfront
Home I go in a cloud sandwich!(Missing picture #1 Berger cookies , a Baltimore classic. So good we ate them before I could take any pics!)
(Missing picture #2 Me! I always forget to have people take pictures of me on trips!)
