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Family Fun and Adventure

Baltimore is a fabulous family destination, offering fun, unique and exciting places and events for visitors of all ages.

DAY ONE

The World Trade Center's Top of the World Observation Level & Museum is the perfect starting point for any visit to the city and provides a breathtaking view of Baltimore's skyline. This city attraction features a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Baltimore and photo-map guides to help guests learn about local attractions, hotels, sites, and neighborhoods. The Museum also provides historical exhibitions and events.

Walk across the promenade to one of the most popular attractions in the city, the National Aquarium in Baltimore. There you can explore the wonders of the deep, including sharks, dolphins, rays, tropical fish, and thousands of other creatures in their natural habitats. Experience a tropical rain forest, an Atlantic coral reef, a thrilling shark ring, and an entertaining and educational dolphin show at the Marine Mammal Pavilion.

When you exit the Aquarium, incredible shopping and dining are just a few steps away at Harborplace and The Gallery. Browse, snack, dine, or just take in the view of the ships docked along the waterfront. Or, head next door to hear the sounds and see the memorabilia at one of the largest Hard Rock Cafes in the country.

Walk a few blocks further and you can enjoy the exciting kid-powered museum, Port Discovery. Designed in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering, Port Discovery offers three fun-filled floors of hands-on exhibits and activities that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Another family favorite, the Maryland Science Center, is also located along the Inner Harbor. Explore the vastness of the universe, including hundreds of images and special effects, under the 50-foot dome of the Davis Planetarium. Get a lesson in astronomy at the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory. Then, sit back and take in the show on Maryland's largest movie screen at the Imax Theater. This five-story screen also boasts a 38 speaker, state-of-the-art sound system.

DAY TWO

Begin the day at Baltimore's wildest attraction, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, located in Druid Hill Park. The Zoo is home to more than 2,000 exotic mammals, birds, and reptiles within a wooded, 180-acre setting, and includes a large children's area for hands-on adventure and fun.

Travel back downtown to have a ball at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. This old-fashioned, natural grass ball field has a charming promenade behind the outfield with memorabilia shops and some of the best barbeque in town! Catch a game between April and October. Visiting in the fall? Visit the state-of-the-art M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens, the 2000 Super Bowl Champions. Check out the action between September and December.

If your family hasn't had enough sports, not far from both stadiums is the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, featuring exhibits on the Baltimore Orioles, the history of baseball in Maryland, and the life of George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr.

If the kids still have energy to burn, head to the world's first ESPN Zone at the Inner Harbor's Power Plant. They can throw balls, climb walls, or play interactive sports games while enjoying great food and watching their favorite sport on one of many large screen televisions. It's a great time for people of all ages!

DAY THREE

Begin your day with a little history and a lot of fun. Jump in a water taxi and head over to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. This star-shaped fort is best known for its role in the War of 1812, when its successful defense against the British bombardment inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the Star-Spangled Banner. Take a tour of the fort and you'll want to know more—and you can with a visit to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House. This was the home of Mary Pickersgill, the woman who sewed the flag that flew over Fort McHenry that historic night in 1814 when Francis Scott Key penned our national anthem. Built in 1793, the house features Pickersgill's possessions and many fun activities for the family to enjoy.

Just down the street, you can take a tour of the industrial heritage of Baltimore and the mid-Atlantic at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. This museum offers hands-on exhibits and realistic portrayals of life in the industrial age. Before departing Baltimore, visit the Baltimore Public Works Museum, and explore Streetscape, a life-size recreation of underground utilities. Your family can learn what's beneath the streets in a variety of exhibits that explain how public works affect your everyday life.