Conference Venue
All sessions of the CLIVAR 2004 Conference will be held in the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. This centrally located facility offers over 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Several tourist attractions and restaurants are within walking distance. The Baltimore Inner Harbor, all harbor attractions, nearby neighborhoods, and several hotels are accessible via a skywalk (3 blocks).

Baltimore: Cultural Capital of the Chesapeake Bay
One of America’s most historic, industrious, and innovative port cities, Baltimore is the cultural capital of the Chesapeake Bay area. Once famous for shipbuilding, Maryland’s largest city is now renowned for its museums, performing arts facilities, institutions of higher learning and, in particular, the spectacular Inner Harbor. The harbor’s celebrated renovation blends tradition with soaring imagination: sailboats, cargo ships, and military vessels ply the waters as they have for centuries, while around the harbor is a festive mix of shops and restaurants, a world-famous aquarium, and a futuristic, hands-on science center. Along the spacious pedestrian promenade, musicians, jugglers, and other street performers entertain passers-by.

Nestled near the harbor are ethnic neighborhoods famous for their friendliness and fine cuisine. Little Italy, as its name implies, offers Italian food served up in both elegant restaurants and casual cafes. The quaint cobblestone streets of Fells Point feature lots of seafood restaurants (Maryland crab is a local specialty), as well as an array of galleries, boutiques, and nightclubs.

Additional tourist information is found on another page of this website.

Baltimore’s Weather
Baltimore has a temperate climate. In June, the city’s average high temperature is 83°F (28°C); the average low temperature is 66°F (17°C). However, summer weather in the Baltimore-Washington area can be quite unpredictable. Attendees are advised to come prepared for the possibility of temperatures that are above or below normal, and for the possibility of rain.

Local Diversions
The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association will have information at the Conference for those seeking suggestions and information on local attractions, places of interest, restaurants, and shopping.

Social Events

Conference Dinner, Wednesday, June 23

Come have dinner with the fish! The National Aquarium in Baltimore is the region’s leading attraction and sits conveniently on the Inner Harbor, just a short walk from the Convention Center. The CLIVAR Conference Dinner will be held in the aquarium on Wednesday, June 23. Enjoy dining on regional specialties from Maryland while enjoying the many exhibits of marine habitats and wildlife. The exhibits start small with samples of marine life from local waters, but visitors soon find themselves eye-to-eye with sharks, rays, and other very large creatures and even a simulated rainforest ecosystem. www.aqua.org

The Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore’s professional baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, plays home games at Camden Yards, just across the street from the Convention Center. CLIVAR has purchased 25 tickets for Tuesday night's (June 22) game against the New York Yankees. Game time is 7:05 PM (EDT). The tickets are along the right field line in the lower box area Section 7, Row E, seats 2-16 and Row F, seats 6-15. Tickets will be available for purchase at the conference check-in for $25 per ticket. All seats face home plate.

Press Center
A press center will be available to media representatives and attendees for interviews and media-related activities. Members of the press should contact the Conference Secretariat to register their intent to attend.

Insurance
Medical costs can be quite expensive in the United States.
CLIVAR will not be providing insurance for this event and cannot accept responsibility for medical needs of attendees that might occur during this conference. Participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance before leaving their home country to cover such things as accidental loss of belongings, medical costs in case of injury or illness, and other international travel risks.

Using Credit Cards and Traveler’s Checks
Most establishments in Baltimore accept some or all commonly issued credit cards, such as VISA, Mastercard, and American Express; some also accept traveler’s checks. ATM’s are conveniently located at banks very near the Convention Center. Currency exchange and other financial transactions may be carried out at several banks near the Baltimore Convention Center.

This page maintained by the U.S. CLIVAR Project Office
This page last updated May 7, 2004
Please E-mail questions or comments to usco@usclivar.org