Baltimore for Kids

Baltimore has a healthy selection of activities and attractions for visitors interested in exploring the city’s history. However, when you travel as a family, some attractions aren’t exactly what your kids might consider fun and interesting. If your child is constantly asking “what time is it?” or “can we go now?” then it may be time to re-evaluate what they think is fun and what you can do as a family.

The best kid-friendly attractions are ones that kids find fun. These attractions tend to keep children’s attention, allow them to explore freely, and consistently engage their young minds. If the attractions are interesting to mom and dad as well, then you’ve hit a home run and everyone’s happy. The following three Baltimore attractions are ideal choices for a family interested in staying within the vicinity of the Inner Harbor and walking between attractions.

[PHOTO_125790] The National Aquarium is Maryland’s number one attraction and tends to be a crowd-pleaser for both young and old explorers. Undersea exhibits, dolphin shows, the IMAX theater and an indoor greenhouse stimulate imaginations and feed the mind. One thing to note, the National Aquarium attracts thousands of visitors, especially in the summer time. There are a couple of ways that you can manage the crowds and ensure that your family has a good time. You can skip the line by purchasing your tickets via the internet and choosing your entry time or you can schedule a behind the scenes Immersion Tour and get insider access to the aquarium.

Dinosaur Exhibit — Photo courtesy of T. Browne Smith On the other side of the Harbor, you’ll find The Maryland Science Center, which is another educationally fun attraction for families. The Science Center is filled with hands-on exhibits, allowing young visitors an opportunity to interact with displays in a way that wouldn’t be allowed in a traditional museum. The Science Center also houses a Planetarium, IMAX theater, a demonstration stage for live science demonstrations, and an events calendar filled with events for adults, educators, families and kids.

[PHOTO_125793] An 8-minute walk away from the Harbor is where you’ll find Port Discovery Children’s Museum. Located adjacent to Baltimore’s infamous Power Plant Live! (a place not fit for kids), Port Discovery is a wonderful option for the smallest members of your party, toddlers. Here, they can crawl, run, walk, roll, whatever their little hearts desire. The museum aims for children to learn in whatever way suits them best. It is the perfect place for young minds to explore and learn on their own. Port Discovery gives parents an opportunity to sit back and watch the kids enjoy themselves - and that's the best attraction of all.