Although the area has a lot to offer beyond Johns Hopkins University, it would be difficult not to notice the world famous college that sits at the dead center of the community. It would also be impossible to deny that the students of the college have had a great influence on the area, from the trendy coffee shops to the 24-hour Kinko's copy shop, and that the college itself provides residents plentiful cultural and entertainment options. One focal point of the community even draws its name from the college -- Hopkins Square, where you can go to shop, eat or just enjoy a cup of coffee while you watch passers-by.
Another area institution, the Baltimore Museum of Art has private collections that easily rival those of other art galleries; like the neighborhood itself, classic and modern are both well represented. The BMA also has an enormous outdoor sculpture garden, performance art space and fine dining.
Homewood House, built in the early 19th Century, is another tie to the past. The annual Johns Hopkins Spring Fair shows off the area's youth and flair.
Charles Village is basically a hop-skip-and-jump from wherever you happen to be in or around the city. It's a short drive up Charles Street from the Inner Harbor, or a short drive down from Towson. It's just as convenient to get there by bus, which, by the way, is highly recommended, since most of the area parking is always full, expensive or both.
Location: North Baltimore City
Boundaries: University Parkway to the north, North Avenue to the south, Guilford Avenue to the east and Howard Street to the west.
Schools: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore City College High School, Barclay Elementary/Middle School, Dallas F. Nicholas Sr. Elementary School, Margaret Brent Elementary School
Highlights: Baltimore Museum of Art, Charles Village Festival, Homewood House, Johns Hopkins University Spring Fair, Lovely Lane United Methodist Church
Trivia: The area was known as Peabody Heights until it was named after Baltimore's central street in the 1960s.