My flights to Baltimore went really well yesterday and I landed in Maryland safe and sound.
I had a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina and spent my time selecting a new book to read on my next flight since I forgot the book I initially bought for the trip at home. (I intended to read the prequel to The Maze Runner series that I loved so much. Have any of you read it yet? Thoughts?)
At the Charlotte airport, I decided on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a previous PBF book club contender that didn’t win the majority vote in the end.
When I bought it, the woman behind the checkout counter handed me a bookmark and explained the Read & Return program offered by many different airport stores. Apparently I can read the book and then return it for a 50 percent refund at a number of locations at airports across the nation within six months. I’ve never heard of anything like this before and thought the concept was so neat!
I had a little bit of time to kill before my flight and popped into Starbucks for a sweet treat to eat on the plane.
My cookie got a little crumbled in my bag before I dug into it, but it was still a tasty little pick-me-up!
Arrival in Baltimore
When I arrived in Baltimore, I spoke with a man at the information booth at the airport who explained the cheapest way to get to my hotel. I boarded the light rail (only $1.60!) and within 35 minutes, I was checking into my hotel.
After throwing my bags on the chairs in my room, I opened the curtains and was greeted by an incredible view of the harbor.
Isn’t it gorgeous!?
Dinner
Since it was a little after 7 p.m., dinner was on my mind and I headed to Brittany and Sarah’s room at the hotel across the street to hang out for a bit before we met up with a fun group for dinner at Brio.
From left to right: Allison and Brittany (two fun PR reps in town from Washington, D.C. – Brittany actually knows my sister!), Sarah, Brittany, me, Monica, Tina and Lindsay.
Our group initially had plans to eat at another restaurant that fell through, so after walking around for a bit and feeling too impatient to wait 45 minutes for a table at another local hot spot, we settled on dinner at Brio. Even though I prefer dining at local restaurants when I travel, Brio is a pretty darn delicious chain restaurant and I was a happy camper once I had the strawberry balsamic salad in front of me.
See ya in a bit! I’m off to check out the second half of the Fitbloggin’ presentations!
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The Read & Return program sounds like a great concept! It’s new to me, too, and it definitely justifies buying another book when you have a pile at home to read (*cough* me *cough*). 😉 Have a great time at the conference!
Brio is the best! Its actually located in the lower level of my building! Great happy hour specials!
Ps. Not to freak you out, but please be careful on the light rail!! It can get kinda sketchy. Also if you do plan to take it on Sunday, there is a Raven’s game Sunday night at 8:20, alot of people take the lightrail to get to the games, so it could be really crowded and delayed.
Enjoy your stay here and the conference!
I tried the read & return but never returned. 😉
ehhhh the prequel was okay…i honestly was disappointed by it (but i also didnt like book 3 in the series at ALL)! Cant wait to hear your thoughts about it!
i’ve heard this from a lot of people! bummer!
Have fun at FitBloggin, so wish I was there.
I read that book for our Chicago Healthy Living Blogger bookclub! I loved it because I studied Biology in college and now I’m in law school so it was all relevant to things I’d learned.
Saw a similar photo on Run, Eat, Repeat! That view out your window is beautiful. Hope you’re having tons of fun.
I live in Baltimore…9 blocks from where you’re at. You should check out Pazo for some cocktails with some of the ladies at the conference. It’s absolutely stunning. Great atmosphere….and really beautiful.
This sounds like it is going to be such a fun conference. Especially with such fun bloggers. I follow a few of the ones that you are pictured with too!
Try the Jones Falls Trial if you guys are looking for a great relaxing run!
That is a cool idea for the book return.
Have FUN! (p.s I love Brio. So tasty!)
Did you pick Henrietta Lacks specifically because you are in Baltimore, or is that just a fun coincidence? Either way, that book was awesome. Have a great time!
I was wondering the same — I LOVED the book!
OoooO sounds like a great trip already! I hope to go to a conference like that soon~:)
I read the first book of Maze Runner due to a recommendation on the site goodreads.com (probably one of my favorite website finds) and loved it! So I’m glad to know that you liked the series as a whole. It’s on my list to read next when I get the chance!
That book is great, I just read it for a Nursing class!
I got engaged on Federal Hill! Check it out if you have time! The inner harbor is amazing!
What a great view from your hotel room!!
I love the idea of read and return, especially for people who do lots of traveling!!
I didn’t even know there was a prequel – on my reading list for sure! 🙂 Have lots of fun at Fitbloggin – can’t wait to hear (read!) all about it!
Surprisingly I was able to check out the prequel the first day it came out at the library and I was not impressed! It was too dark for me and I would have been just fine if I didn’t read it. I did enjoy the maze runner series though! I can’t wait to hear what you think… Have fun on your trip!
I’ve never heard of brio before or that book sharing program but they both sound awesome! Enjoy your trip!
Welcome to Baltimore!! The harbor IS gorgeous, isn’t it?? Too bad you don’t have time to check out the aquarium! (My dad had a big hand in building the rain forrest that’s in it!!)
I bought a book for my last flight at the airport and had the read and return option but I like to keep my books usually…I’m sure you can imagine how many I have. It’s a little ridiculous!
That return program is so neat. I’ve never heard of anything like that.
What is the topping (meat?) on your strawberry balsamic salad? It looks delish! Have a great time!
chicken!
I love Brio – we had our wedding’s rehearsal lunch there! If you go back, I highly recommend their grilled salmon salad 🙂
I love Baltimore… enjoy!
Brio was a last minute choice for us as well, but I am glad we all had food since it was so late!
That’s such an interesting book – gives a lot of perspective on so many issues.
Sounds like fun! That shot reminds me so much of Sydney for some reason haha.
I went to college in baltimore! Brio is a good chain and has the best mints (I may have shoved like 2 handfuls into my pockets last time i ate there!)
I agree with the person above.. Be careful with the light rail!!
Also, someone recommended you go to Lexington Market while you are in town but you should really steer clear.. My husband is a police officer for the Baltimore PD so I can assure you that it is not a place you want to be hanging out!!
How fitting, a Henrietta Lacks book while in Baltimore. I work at Johns Hopkins, so I know her story and the background, but I still haven’t read the book!
Love that idea of exchanging books- so much more economical!
The read and return it is so awesome. I would love that.
Don’t bother with the prequel…loved the maze runner..the second was good but leaves you more confused and the reviews for the third were awful! I didn’t even bother picking up the third when I finished the second book :/ major disappointment because the first was so good!
I love crumbled cookie — it makes it feel like there’s more!! 🙂
I just starting reading Henrietta Lacks and it is incredible! I can’t put it down- enjoy!
I am also new to your blog and absolutely adore it! You make it so real and down to earth and i enjoy catching up daily!
Thanks so much!
Julie! I was running past Under Armour this morning, and I swear I saw you! I convinced myself I was crazy, until I saw this post!
Were you enjoying a jog along the harbor this morning?!
I love reading your blog! Your recipes are delicious and exercise advice is super motivating. I hope you’re enjoying Baltimore 🙂
yes!!! too cool!!
You will absolutely love the Henrietta Lacks book! I am reading it for a medical ethics class right now and it is an amazing read, the author is actually coming to Ohio State to speak in the middle of October, and one of the relatives of Henrietta is also coming the beginning of October to speak as well. It is a great read and she does a wonderful job of explaining the science well and also keeping true to the family. I hope you enjoy is as much as I have!!!
I liked “The Kill Order” it gave me a much different perspective on the later books based on how we (or I) thought the flare came to be. Not my fav book, but I still enjoyed it!
That book is sooo good!!