altimore is a great place for kids! Whether you’re here for a day or a week, you’ll never run out of ways to keep them entertained. We’ve pulled together a list of just a few of the experiences that are sure to create core memories.
Arts & Culture
The “Chamber of Wonders” at the Walters Art Museum is sure to delight your little ones.
Many of Baltimore’s museums offer special programming for children. The Baltimore Museum of Art and The Walters Art Museum both offer free admission as well as drop-in art activities for kids so they can create their own masterpieces. The BMA’s Family Audio Tour—narrated by Henri Matisse’s dog, Raodi, and his friends—is available via iTunes and is the perfect way to help little ones understand the art. At “weekend walk-ins,” the American Visionary Art Museum provides everything you need to create your own replica of the art on display. At the Creative Alliance, you’ll find music performances, art shows and free family drop-in art programs for kids and adults of all ages.
History & Heritage
Our historical sites offer hands-on learning opportunities that transport you to a different time. At Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, youngsters can earn a Junior Ranger badge after completing an activity booklet, experience live military reenactments, musket and artillery demonstration and help raise or lower the flag flying over the fort.
The B&O Railroad Museum is perfect for train enthusiasts of all ages. In addition to letting you climb aboard and play conductor, the museum has a dedicated indoor play space featuring toy trains and books. Thomas the Tank Engine also regularly visits to take families on a special ride.
The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park recounts the history of Frederick Douglass, Isaac Myers and the first black-owned shipyard in the United States, including experiencing what boat building was like during that time.
Take your kids to new heights with a trip to the top of The Washington Monument! Tickets are $4 for kids and $6 for adults and climbs are offered every 20 minutes.
Science & Education
Test the laws of physics at the Maryland Science Center.
Learning doesn’t have to stop just because you’re on vacation. Bring the kids to the Maryland Science Center to learn about everything from outer space to the human body. Budding scientists can complete their own experiments and test the laws of gravity in dedicated areas for different ages.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum stimulates kids’ imaginations while keeping them moving. They can test new heights in the four-story SkyClimber, or they can become the captain of a replica cargo ship.
At the Maryland Zoo and the National Aquarium, you can get up close and personal with wildlife. At the Zoo, animal encounters and regularly scheduled feedings give you the chance to learn about the creatures in their care. Get hands-on and pet horseshoe crabs, moon jellies and more at the Aquarium’s Living Seashore exhibit. Daily critter chats in the Children’s Discovery Center allow kids to meet some of the Aquarium’s smaller creatures and learn fun facts and ask questions.
The Enoch Pratt Library System has 22 locations with many resources and activities that provide educational enrichment and creative expression. Participate in “take and make” craft classes, scavenger hunts, story times and more.
Outdoor Fun
Delve into the swashbuckling life of a pirate with Baltimore’s Urban Pirates, offering pirate-themed family adventure cruises. Once aboard the Fearless, your little visitors can learn how to talk, dance and play games like a pirate as they search for stolen treasure and blast water cannons.
The Loch Ness Monster has nothing on Chessie, named for the Chesapeake Bay.
Hop aboard one of the Baltimore Water Taxi’s fleet of 17 black and gold boats for a scenic way to get from one neighborhood to the next. Take an electric-powered pirate ship out on the water, or set sail on a dragon-shaped paddle boat named Chessie.
Baltimore’s many urban parks also offer unconventional play spaces for kids. West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor is home to the Walter Sondheim Fountain, the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. And Pierce’s Park has climbable sculptures, musical instruments and a living willow tunnel to run through. Nearby Rash Field Park’s playground is equally impressive with thirty-foot wooden climbing towers and a merry-go-round. A sand pit and water feature encourage children to interact with nature, while Jake’s Skate Park invites skateboarders of all ages to practice their skills.
Federal Hill Park boasts unparalleled views of the Inner Harbor; kids will enjoy sprinting up and down the steep hill or running around the playground at the top.
For an even more outdoorsy experience, head to Lake Roland Nature Center and Park. Overlooking the water, the Acorn Hill play area’s stations reflect the park’s historical ties to mining and the railroad. Park ranger programs and theater productions also teach children about environmental conservation and animal and plant habitats.
Cylburn Arboretum offers 200 acres of terrain for your family to explore. Devoid of recreational facilities, the urban oasis is the perfect spot to recharge and reconnect with nature. There’s lots to explore at Druid Hill Park, from the reservoir and disc golf course to the pool and Rawlings Conservatory.
Athletic Adventures
No matter your child’s current sport of choice, they’ll have lots of opportunities to catch a game – or flex their own athletic abilities – in Charm City.
Babe Ruth smiles over Camden Yards.
The Kids Cheer Free program at Oriole Park at Camden Yards allows children ages nine and under to attend Orioles games for free with the purchase of an Upper Deck ticket. Kids ages 4-14 are also welcome to run the bases at the end of every Sunday home game. And if your kid needs to burn some energy in the middle of the game, take them to the Kid’s Corner at Gate C, which has an interactive treehouse activity center, jungle gym, moon bounce, and plenty of food and drink options.
Topgolf provides lots of fun activities for kids and families – no golf experience necessary! Select from a variety of putting games, the signature target-based game or a fun Angry Birds-themed game. Bays are all-weather and feature HDTVs tuned to the channel of your choice, making it the perfect family outing any time of year.
For a classic Baltimore pastime, take your child to Little Italy to try bocce! The courts are open to the public, and you can watch the Little Italy Bocce League and the Italian American Bocce League compete on certain weeknights from May to September.
Kid-Friendly Dining
R. House has plenty of open space to run around in.
You won’t just be offered a booster seat and a coloring book at Baltimore’s restaurants. We have options for both adults and children to have a good time—from breweries with family-friendly happy hours and plenty of space to run around (like Peabody Heights and Union Craft Brewing), to outside-voices-allowed food halls (thank you R. House and Mount Vernon Marketplace).
Woodberry Kitchen offers the little ones its own all-natural play dough and Verde provides a little extra pizza dough to mess around with. Picky eaters will love Papi’s Tacos in Hampden or Fell’s Point, where you can build your own street tacos with all your favorite toppings.
Read about more kid-friendly dining options.
Baltimore-themed coloring pages
Download these free coloring pages of Baltimore favorites like crabs, lemon sticks and snowballs. It’s the perfect way to pass the time with the little ones while also learning about what makes Baltimore so special. And if you can’t resist picking up a crayon to join in on the fun, we won’t blame you. Click on the links below to download a PDF of the page.
Crab Page Single
Crab Page Pattern
Fifi Page Single
Fifi Page Pattern
Lemon Stick Page Single
Lemon Stick Page Pattern
Snowball Page Single
Snowball Page Pattern
