Upon seeing a bench around Baltimore City or County, one would scoff at the faded print that says "The Greatest City in America." Seemingly run-down and riddled with crime, it can be hard to believe that the once thriving metropolis still has much to offer. From the big and the bold to the small and the subtle, I'm about to list 18 reasons to visit this amazing, and sadly underrated, city.

1. The Inner Harbor

So I'm starting off with the obvious here. The Inner Harbor is the tourist magnet of Baltimore, attracting people from across the country with its iconic view of the Domino's Sugar Factory, Cheesecake Factory, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! and much more. I cannot speak highly enough of this awesome place.

2. The National Aquarium

Seahorses and stingrays and dolphins, oh my! The building itself is deceivingly tiny, but you could easily spend an entire day learning about the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem or watching an electric eel zap out little electric bolts all from its body.

3. The Baltimore Orioles

Take me out to the ballgame! Birdland is not just a place, but a culture, and I have learned to assimilate and love it. As many already know or suspect, the Baltimore Orioles are named after the state bird of Maryland. Built in 1992, Camden Yards was designed with an old-time feel in mind, and it certainly delivers. It houses a bunch of amazing food stands, plus a full-service sports bar and restaurant. Friday nights, $5 student nights (with valid student ID), are a good way to get out and celebrate the weekend! I highly recommend checking out the rooftop view of Baltimore as well (especially at night when it's all lit up and pretty). Plus, who can resist the adorable Oriole Bird?

4. The Baltimore Ravens

Adding to the bird theme is the world of the Ravens Flock, the loving name the Baltimore Ravens have given to their loyal fans! Although not the original team to Baltimore, Charm City adapted when their beloved Colts moved to Indianapolis. Their main rivals are the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they had four players in the 2017 Pro Bowl.Their costumed mascot is Poe (named in honor of "The Raven" author, Edgar Allan Poe), and they also have two live Ravens named Rise and Conquer, who reside in the Maryland Zoo.

5. Edgar Allan Poe

Speaking of Ravens, Edgar Allan Poe, who lived in Baltimore most of his adult life, eventually passed away from unknown causes in October of 1875. He is buried in the churchyard of Westminster Hall on W. Fayette Street in downtown Baltimore.

6. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

I can't talk about the Baltimore Ravens without talking about the Maryland Zoo too! The zoo houses hundreds of animals including giraffes you can feed, elephants that have their own designated bath time, a full petting zoo and an aviary. Click the giraffes above to check out lists of their mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians!

7. The Baltimore Museum of Art & The Walters Art Museum

These amazing museums are for the public. Between the two museums, you can see mummies, Renoir paintings, medieval triptychs, Colonial American furniture, as well as art from Asia and Africa. The Walters also boasts a "room of wonders," filled with strange wonders including a stuffed alligator hanging above one of the archways, and a collection of neatly-colored moths.

8. Litte Italy

Little Italy, as you would expect, is filled with restaurants owned and run by the Italian immigrants and descendants of past immigrants. The food is divine, the air always smells of freshly-baked bread and the people are so friendly

9. Lexington Market

Lexington Market has been famous for generations as a bustling marketplace to sit down and eat, or grab a meal to-go. I was told of a place in the market that serves a mean Maryland crab, too!

10. Light City

Only the best event in the city, Light City Baltimore, is a gathering of artists creating incredible light sculptures, displays and other mixed media art. There is even interactive art! (Pictured above).

11. The Preakness Stakes

Besides college visits, I'll venture to guess that the Preakness brings in the most visitors to Baltimore each year. Recently, it has been appealing more and more to millennials, with star-studded concerts before its races. Don't get me wrong, though, horse racing is a sport for anyone to enjoy who wants to do so! According to its website, Pimlico racetrack, located in the suburbs of northern Baltimore County, is the second-oldest horse track in the country behind Saratoga. It also represents often unknown trivia bit about Maryland: The Maryland Jockey Club, founded in 1743, is America's oldest organized sporting organization. Remember before how I mentioned Baltimore's original football team was the Colts? They were named after this lost piece of lost history. Visit the Maryland Manual Online if you'd like to learn more!

12. The Accent

Although greatly unacknowledged by most Baltimoreans, the Baltimore accent always puts a smile on my face. In fact, I've even picked it up this summer in some of my sentences. It is a slight lift of the tongue upon saying the vowel "o." To me, it's a mix of a British accent with some country twang. There are also mild distinctions that might stand out if you're not from the land of Birds and Bohs.

13. Natty Boh

Regardless of whether or not they are an alcohol consumer, anyone from Charm City will immediately recognize a bottle or can of National Bohemian Beer. Nicknamed "Natty Boh," its one-eyed mascot, Mr. Boh, is a trademark of Baltimore. According to the company's website, "As the name [Bohemian] implies, this is a method of beer-making that originated in Europe in the 1800’s using Bavarian-style lagering techniques. Also known as Pilsner, this style of beer has the unique claim to being “'the world’s first golden beer.'”

14. Proximity to Annapolis

Maryland's state capital is a beautiful and historic city located about 45 minutes from Baltimore. The Maryland State Capitol, antique shops, some amazing restaurants and other adorable mom-and-pop shops make up Historic Downtown Annapolis. There is a statue in the small downtown port that commemorates Roots' Kunta Kinte, a slave who arrived in America through the port of Annapolis.

This colonial cobblestone area is the gateway to a simpler time and a fun place to visit! I often compare it to Newport, Rhode Island because of its quaint charm and classy vibe. The United States Naval Academy is also a short walk from downtown, and Midshipmen flood (no pun intended) the streets on their weekends off. The Academy grounds are opened to the public and offer a full (and free) history of the United States Navy.

15. Proximity to Washington, D.C.

Baltimore is about a 45-minute, $16 round-trip Marc train ride from the nation's capitol, making access incredibly easy if you have not visited BMore in a car (especially if you are a college student living on a shoestring budget). With the exception of a few stops in between, Baltimore's Pennsylvania Station runs a pretty direct line to Union Station, Smithsonian Institutes, the National Zoo (also run by the Smithsonian)and dozens of memorials and monuments await your appreciation.

16. College Opportunities

This may seem a little biased coming from a Baltimore college student, but I can truly say that there are a lot of fantastic schools! Off the top of my head, I can count six colleges within city limits alone; this excludes the county, which is about three times larger than the city in size and contains Towson University, the second-largest public university in the state behind the University of Maryland.

17. Fort McHenry

Calling all Civil War and history enthusiasts! Located in the western Baltimore Harbor is Fort McHenry, run by the National Park Service. Citing the Park Service's website, this was the location of the Battle of Baltimore September 13 and 14in the year 1814. The national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner, was written by Francis Scott Key, inspired by the battle he witnessed.

18. The Night Life

Personally, I am not a fan of going out until the wee hours of the morning; I'd rather cozy up with my roommates and a bowl of ice cream or two or five and check out Netflix's newest movie line-up. However, if the night life is for you, then Baltimore can certainly deliver. Being a college town, there are plenty of clubs, dives and pubs throughout the city and county. Not 21 yet? Feel like you're a bit over the hedge for partying? Have no fear! Charm City also delivers with some fantastic bar food and local craft brews. You can also take a ghost tour of the historic Fells Point, or have a romantic date overlooking the downtown reflection in the Inner Harbor.