Maryland holds surprises, secrets and bargains for the cost-conscious.

When you think of Baltimore, do you envision world-class museums, a gorgeous Inner Harbor filled with tall sailing ships, seafood so fresh it’s still wiggling on your plate—and a flat, empty wallet, after paying for the privilege of vacationing in such an exceptional city?

All your dreams of Baltimore’s compelling attractions can come true, but your savings account doesn’t have to suffer, as Baltimore can be downright budget-friendly. Even that fresh-caught seafood doesn’t have to be a splurge, if you’re savvy about scouting out bargains. And Baltimore is bursting with free (and almost-free) activities. They don’t call it “Charm City” for nothing.

Your choice of accommodations can make or break your budget. Probably the best location in Baltimore, both for its scenic views and proximity to major attractions, is the Inner Harbor area. I’ve stayed at two hotels in this area—the Hyatt Regency (300 Light Street) and the Holiday Inn (301 W. Lombard Street). As a AAA Four Diamond hotel, the Hyatt offers plenty of amenities, and many rooms have picturesque harbor views.

The Holiday Inn is about five blocks away from the main action, and many rooms have views of the fire station. However, in a city as filled with cultural entertainment as Baltimore, you probably won’t be spending much time languishing in your hotel room, admiring the view from your window. You’ll be out enjoying life in a quirky, fun city!

If you’re traveling on Daddy’s expense account, then splurge on the Hyatt, and you won’t regret it, as the service is phenomenal. However, if you’re pinching pennies, then you won’t go wrong by booking a room at the economically-priced Holiday Inn. The swimming pool is huge, if you need some exercise after all that scrumptious seafood.

Speaking of seafood, where can you find value-priced meals in Baltimore, without resorting to fast food chains? Visit Baltimore’s website lists many, up-to-date Dining Specials, and I found quite a few more bargains. Talara (615 President Street), a new Latin bistro in Harbor East, offers one of the hottest Happy Hours in Baltimore, with an extensive menu of tapas and cocktails for five dollars each. And their Mango Mojitos are to die for!

And, just a short walk from Talara, that famous Baltimore seafood is calling your name at The Oceanaire Seafood Room (804 Aliceanna Street). Although items on the regular menu can be a bit pricey, twice a year during Restaurant Week (usually in January and August), the restaurant offers a prix fixe, three-course menu, including dessert, for about $35. And Happy Hour is always lots of fun, with the same fresh-from-the-net maritime morsels served in the bar area (try the crab cake bites) for eight dollars or less.

If you prefer your seafood to be served with a decidedly French accent, head for Mt. Vernon to Marie Louise Bistro (904 N. Charles St.), where you can dine like royalty for under twenty dollars. On Thursdays, special wine and cheese tastings are held, buffet-style, in the upstairs lounge for just ten dollars per person.

If you like to indulge at breakfast, your best bets are Miss Shirley’s (750 East Pratt Street) and Langermann’s (2400 Boston Street). Miss Shirley’s offers one-of-a-kind breakfast items, like Funky Monkey Bread (cinnamon-scented, with bananas, chocolate and pecans—all dusted with powdered sugar) and Benne Seed-Chicken ‘N Waffles (fried boneless breast of chicken pieces on white cheddar and green onion waffles, accompanied by a honey-mustard aioli drizzle). You can eat just one item on this eccentric, reasonably-priced menu and feel full all day long.

Breakfast (ordered from a breakfast menu on Saturdays and a Brunch option on Sundays) at Langermann’s (located between the Canton and Fells Point areas) is more formal, yet still very affordable, with items such as Breakfast Blitz (three eggs served any style with choice of meat and toast) for under ten dollars. You can fortify yourself for a whole day of walking and seeing the sights.

If you just want to grab a delicious meal to go, pay a visit to Big Jim’s Deli at the Cross Street Market for an inexpensive picnic lunch—a sandwich, chips, a soda and a Berger cookie (Baltimore’s famous chocolate cookie). While noshing on authentic deli food at Federal Hill Park, soak up the fantastic views of Charm City.

Another good place to get unparalleled views is the Top of the World Observation Level, located on the 27th floor of the World Trade Center (401 E. Pratt Street). You can get a 360-degree panoramic look at Baltimore’s skyline for just five dollars.

Getting around Baltimore is easy, with the Charm City Circulator, a fleet of 21 free (hybrid electric) shuttles that travel three different routes. A shuttle bus arrives every ten minutes at the designated stops on each route. I had never heard of Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (1301 W. Camden Street) until my latest trip to Baltimore, but it’s now one of my favorite places in the world. Geppi’s is devoted exclusively to more than 6,000 pop culture artifacts and ephemera from the past 250 years. Rooms are crammed with items like original Barbie dolls (complete with perky blonde ponytails), vintage comic books, original movie posters, and Star Wars merchandise.

Depending upon the era in which you grew up, you could easily spend hours wandering nostalgically amidst vast collections of Popeye comic strips, Pez dispensers, or stuffed Care Bears. Admission costs only ten dollars for adults, with half-price tickets on home game days for the Baltimore Ravens or Baltimore ­Orioles. (Geppi’s Go Green incentive also offers two dollars off admission, when you show your ticket stub for public transportation for that day.)

Another one of Baltimore’s best-kept secrets, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture (830 E. Pratt Street) both horrifies and amazes. Beside exhibits on the history of slavery and displays of vintage Ku Klux Klan garb, you’ll find tributes to the way African Americans created enduring works of music, literature, dance and art. There’s a particularly good collection of jazz artifacts. (Looking at the piano played by Baltimore native Billie Holiday gave me goosebumps.) General admission is only eight dollars.

If you’ve got kids in tow (or you’re a kid-at-heart), you can’t leave Baltimore without visiting the Maryland Science Center (601 Light Street) or the National Aquarium (501 East Pratt Street). At the Maryland Science Center, you can dig for bones among dinosaur skeletons, create a tornado, or even lie down on a bed of nails! Best of all, admission prices take a dive Fridays after 5 p.m. (Sept. 9, 2011 through March 23, 2012), when children and their grown-ups can indulge in all the hands-on, interactive exhibits for only eight dollars. The “Egg Drop, Price Drop” on Saturdays (January 8 through March 12) gives everyone in your party three dollars off admission, plus an egg to drop (as a science experiment) from the third floor to the atrium level.

And what can I say about the National Aquarium that won’t sound as if I’ve just partaken of some magic mushrooms? Simply put, I was blown away by the up-close-and-personal looks I was able to get at the dolphins, jellyfish and hundreds of other varieties of marine life. I could have stayed there forever. The National Aquarium also offers a “Prices Dive After Five” special. From September 9 through March, all basic Aquarium admission tickets are eight dollars for entry at 5 p.m. or later on Fridays. (Dolphin and 4-D shows can be added on for four dollars each.)

Both the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum are world-class museums that offer free admission, but my favorite galleries are at the spectacularly funky American Visionary Art Museum (800 Key Highway). You can wander through the unique sculptures outside the mosaic-encrusted building for free, and also find treasures in one of the trippiest gift shops imaginable. (Would you believe a whole drawer filled with different sizes of plastic eyeballs?) Free outdoor festivals and concerts (often with big-name entertainment) abound year-round in culturally diverse Baltimore (I was lucky enough to catch a fabulous Flowermart event during my last visit.) Just check the schedule at baltimore.org. There’s always something happening in Baltimore, and most of it won’t break the bank.

Nancy Pistorius has written travel articles on a variety of subjects, including family travel on cruise ships. She has writen for Womans Day, Cosmopolitan, Chicago Tribune, Illinois Times, Social, and Springfield’s Own magazine. She received the 2009 Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award (Fiction). www.nancypistorius.com.