The location of this attractive, full-service hotel in downtown Baltimore can’t be beat, especially if you’re a sports fan. Not only is the property a five-minute walk from the M&T Baltimore Ravens football stadium, but it is directly adjacent to Camden Yards, the famed field of the Baltimore Ravens baseball team. Many rooms have unobstructed window views of the diamond, and some have outdoor balconies overlooking the action.

Even if sports aren’t your thing, you’ll appreciate the easy ten-minute walk to Baltimore’s popular Inner Harbor district, home to several major attractions, including the National Aquarium, restaurants and shops. It’s a straight shot east, down the wide sidewalks along Pratt Street.

This Hilton is a large business-oriented property, with a main building and east building, each connected by an enclosed skybridge on the second floor, which crosses over the street. The east building connects to the Convention Center, as well.

Contemporary décor ups the ambiance at this AAA Four Diamond hotel, and there are touches that celebrate Baltimore’s heritage, including artwork from more than 40 local artists and bricks from Camden Yards.

Amid the hustle and bustle, we saw families mixed in with other leisure travelers, as well as business travelers. The vibe was family-friendly, however. When we checked in, the front desk staffer gave our daughter a coloring book and crayons, and asked if we would like take-out menus from local restaurants that deliver to the hotel.

Check-in at this 100 percent nonsmoking property is 4:00 p.m., and check out is noon.

All guest rooms at the Baltimore Hilton feature standard amenities, including LCD HDTVs with On-Demand entertainment; large workstations; dual-line phones with voicemail and data ports; alarm clocks with MP3 capability; and irons, ironing boards and hair dryers. High-speed Internet access is available for a fee, although it's complimentary to Hilton Honors members at the Diamond level.

The rooms all feature Hilton Serenity Collection bedding with Suite Dreams plush-top mattresses, along with down duvets and pillows. Our beds were among the most comfortable hotel beds I've ever slept in.

In addition to its traditional rooms, the Hilton Baltimore has 20 suites with great views and upgraded furnishings and amenities. There are ten hospitality suites that have two connecting bedrooms and balconies overlooking Camden Yards. There are four Deluxe One-Bedroom Suites, two Executive Suites, two Meeting Planner Suites and two Presidential Suites.

All Executive Level Suites also feature a private concierge, check-in and floor-key access. Executive floor guests can take advantage of the lounge, which offers complimentary continental breakfast and hors d'oeuvres in the early evening. The rooms contain all the standard guest room amenities, plus plush bathrobes and complimentary bottled water.

Our standard room with two double beds overlooked the baseball stadium. The windows made up more than half the wall space, offering a great view, as well as letting in a lot of natural light. There was a traditional bathroom configuration, with everything in one room. The attractive modern design meant we had granite countertops, but also that they were too high for my six-year old daughter to reach the faucet handles. The complimentary toiletries provided included Peter Thomas Roth soaps, shampoo and lotion.

Children 17 years and younger stay free with parents at this hotel. Cribs are available at no charge. Mini-fridges are available upon request, but are limited in amounts, and a $25 fee applies.

This property caters to short-term stays, and most leisure travelers are here to enjoy what the city itself has to offer. As such, there are no formal children's programs offered. Its urban setting means there is no outdoor playground or green space.

However, there is a heated 22-meter indoor pool, with a lifeguard on duty, something we rarely see in hotel pool spaces. Designed as an elongated lap pool, the depth ranges from 3-foot-6-inches to 3-foot-8-inches, and the only access is via ladder. There's also a hot tub on the pool deck with comfortably padded lounge chairs. Children under age 14 have to be accompanied by an adult in this area. The pool is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Once you step out onto Pratt Street, you'll find a lot for families to enjoy within a 15-minute walk, beginning with the Sports Legends Museum just across the street, and the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum a few blocks west. Most of the sites, however, are near or in the Inner Harbor, to the east. There, you'll find the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center and the Port Discovery Children's Museum.

The harbor itself offers its own fun. You can climb aboard and explore several historic ships, including the U.S.S. Constellation and the U.S.S. Torsk submarine. You can take a short water taxi ride, a longer narrated yacht cruise or even a swashbuckling adventure on the Urban Pirates ship.

Further afield, a short drive will bring you to the B & O Railroad Museum, the American Visionary Art Museum and the Fort McHenry National Monument.

Accommodations here do not include any meals, and there is only one restaurant on the property. The Diamond Tavern is "casual upscale," and serves American cuisine all day. There's a breakfast buffet, as well as an a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant seats 240 people inside, and 80 on the outdoor patio.

Among the "Main Plates" choices for dinner are short ribs, roasted chicken and a steakhouse burger, each ranging in price from $12 to $28. Maryland is known for crab, so you'll find very tasty crab cakes on the menu, as well. There is also a children's menu, with the usual offerings. High chairs are available.

The Diamond Tavern is open daily, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you plan to eat here, check the hotel's TV channel in your room before you go. When we were there, there was a special on the screen that said if you mentioned the ad during dinner service, you would receive 15 percent off the bill.

Room service is available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and includes a children's menu. Several restaurants in the area will deliver to the hotel, as well, including Taste of China, The Spot Pizzeria and Deli, and Massey's Subs and Wings. Ask the front desk for menus.

Another option for a quick and casual breakfast is the Starbucks location in the lobby of the Convention Center, if it's open. You can walk there through the east building without having to go outside. It offers the typical range of barista-created hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as juices and milk. There's also a selection of baked goods, including bagels and muffins.

On the street level outside the east building is a Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop, and across the street is a Subway restaurant. There are several other eateries along Pratt Street, from delis to fine dining, as you approach the Inner Harbor, and even more options in the harbor itself. We enjoyed the variety and moderate prices at Noodles & Co., but there are also other popular chains like Uno Chicago Grill, Johnny Rockets, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and the Cheesecake Factory, as well as independent local eateries like Lenny's Deli and Charm City Cupcakes.

All About the Extras
Our daughter received a coloring book and crayons upon check-in from the very friendly front desk staffer.

Movies are available on demand on the television, and parental controls can be set by contacting the Guest Services hotline. The kids' channels include Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.

In addition to the indoor heated pool and hot tub, this property also has a fitness center and business center, along with a UPS Store® with print, copy and fax services.

The fitness center on the fourth floor is available to guests 16 and older, and is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. It has ten treadmills and ten elliptical machines, in addition to nautilus equipment.

The Travel Traders gift shop in the main lobby offers sundries, snacks and souvenirs, and is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This property offers an easy phone checkout to expedite the process. There is a bell staff, but we found it just as easy to transport our own luggage from the parking garage, via the elevator.

The hotel does have its own parking garage, and offers both self-parking ($28 per 24 hours) and valet parking ($40 per 24 hours) with in-and-out privileges. You can pay with a credit card at the valet window in the lobby before you leave.

This property offers several packages, both specific to this hotel and general Hilton offers. For example, the Aquarium Package includes two tickets to the National Aquarium and breakfast for two, with the ability to purchase additional tickets at the hotel. The Family Fun package, available at all Hilton Hotels & Resorts locations throughout the United States, includes a full breakfast for one adult and one child (under 12) with overnight accommodations.

The Art of Smart Timing
It's helpful to keep in mind the Baltimore Orioles home game schedule when booking your stay, if you want a view of the ballpark. The Diamond Tavern restaurant also gets crowded before and after games.

Getting There
The closest airport is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Ground transportation is available via MTA Light Rail Service, directly from the hotel's east entrance, and the trip can take up to 45 minutes. There are also two shuttle services recommended by the hotel: SuperShuttle, and The Airport Shuttle. The hotel is also close to Baltimore Penn train station, which is served by Amtrak.

For Mom and Dad
The Lobby Bar has a chic, metropolitan vibe, and was busy every time we passed by it. The menu features specialty martinis and cocktails, made with top-shelf spirits, and there's a well-regarded wine selection.