Baltimore......where none of my relatives live....

Whenever someone asks me where I'm going on my vacation and I say Baltimore, they say "oh, you must have relatives there." As if Baltimore just on it's own merits is not a prime vacation destination.
I have done a little research and it seems like a fine city. It has a harbour, so how bad could it be? They have water taxis which I am most looking forward to.
I was told today that it had alot of bad neighborhoods. "hoods" I believe was the word. Can't wait.
I am also taking trips to DC, NYC and Mass to see my Grandpa while there, so it should be a pretty diverse trip.I have not seen my Grandpa since I was 14 years old. I know this will be my last chance and I am looking forward to it.
I am excited to go, but allready wonder if 10 days is too much. I have a feeling I will get homesick this trip. (I did on my last trip.) This is a new experience for me as I never get homesick while traveling. I usually want to move to whatever place I am at and never go home.
I think my friend is pretty much going to leave me to my own devices which is good and bad. She is used to people using her as home base while traveling around the area.
This will be new for me as well. But I'm going to try to be "independent traveler" and see how it goes. Maybe I will like it better that way.
Either way, my biggest fear is the long plane ride. I hate to fly. I used to be scared, but have gotten over that. Now, I just get bored as hell. After about an hour or so, I want out! It's all I can do to sit in that seat and be quiet. I want to engage the whole plane into charades, or ask the person next to me what their house looks like, are they happily married,do they love Johny Depp, and will they play cribbage with me? 6 hours airborne is going to be a challenge for me.
jb