My Fun Educational Baltimore Guide for Kids

Our Local Expert Says:

Awesome attraction for both parents and children.

Description:

Walk into a room surrounded by patrolling sharks, stroll among coral reefs, and visit a rainforest on the roof of one of the best aquariums in the country. Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes, set in a 120-foot-tall glass cube at the front of the aquarium, takes visitors to the floor of an Australian river gorge. In this immersion exhibit, wander past tanks filled with death adders, pythons, archer fish, and barramundi, while kookaburras, parrots, and lorikeets fly overhead -- there are 1,800 animals in all, as well as plants native to Australia. On a cold day, skip right to the top of the aquarium and bask in the tropical heat that envelops the brightly colored birds, the shy iguana, and the sloth who reside on this level. (Best to come straight here when the aquarium opens, as that's when the animals are most active.) Although you simply walk in front of most of the exhibits, you get to actually walk inside the doughnut-shaped coral reef and the shark tanks, getting up close to these exotic creatures. At feeding time in the coral reef, the divers always draw a crowd. The Marine Mammal Pavilion, connected by covered bridge to the main hall, is where you'll find the dolphins. Don't miss the presentations -- reserve a seat (at no additional fee) when you pay your admission. If one has been born recently, the presentations are canceled, but go in anyway and watch the dolphins play. You can stay as long as you want. 4-D Immersion Theatre, which opened in late 2007, shows 3-D movies, with the added sensations of movement, mist, and wind, throughout the day. Tip: The aquarium draws huge crowds in summer. Beat the crush by purchasing timed tickets in advance, either in person or through the aquarium's website. Nonpeak visiting hours are weekday mornings, Friday evenings, and any day after 3pm.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great learning experience for children with hands-on, sensory-driven exhibits.

Description:

Three floors of exhibits include the popular Outer Space Place -- home of the Hubble Space Telescope National Visitor Center and Space Link, which offers a live connection to NASA -- and the towering dinosaurs of DinoQuest. Sometimes the exhibits are too crowded or of limited interest, but the IMAX theater and planetarium are always worth a visit. The IMAX movies, which range from Beauty and the Beast to Space Station 3D, are so popular that extra screenings are held Friday and Saturday evenings, for $8 per ticket. The stars are on display at the Davis Planetarium and the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory; the observatory is free to the public on Friday nights, weather permitting (call for hours). Admission to exhibits, the planetarium, and IMAX is $8 on Fridays 5 to 8pm.

Description:

The sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry during the War Of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the national anthem, the 'Star Spangled Banner'. A replica of that flag waves over the harbor-side port, now a tranquil National Park. The restored barracks hold exhibits of military and historical artifacts and a well-kept trail runs along the water's edge, affording spectacular views of ships entering and leaving the busy harbor. National Park passes are welcome.

Our Local Expert Says:

1 of 3 historical naval vessels in the Harbor - this one will keep you occupied.

Description:

You can't miss the Constellation, docked for years at the Inner Harbor (predating Harborplace). A triple-masted sloop-of-war launched in 1854, the Constellation is the last Civil War-era vessel afloat. Tour her gun decks, visit the wardrooms, see a cannon fired, and learn about the life of a sailor. Demonstrations begin with the raising of the colors at 10:30am and continue on the hour. The Fourth of July picnic and a New Year's Eve reception both end with fireworks (tickets are required). Downtown visitors should note that the ship's cannon is fired daily at noon. "Powder Monkey" tours are directed at children 6 and over.

Description:

The Baltimore American Indian Center provides educational opportunities for youths who would like to learn about Native American culture. View Native American art and learn to make moccasins and jewelry, or take classes in Native American dancing and drumming. The center is housed in a three-story building and also offers social services for the city's large Native American population, which includes about 6,000 Lumbee. Each year, thousands of people attend the center's three-day powwow, which is usually held on a local college campus.

Our Local Expert Says:

Lots to see at this museum.

Description:

The Walters has always been one of Baltimore's great attractions. Begun with the 22,000-object collection of William and Henry Walters, this gem's ancient and medieval galleries practically sparkle. Walk through the galleries of sculpture, jewelry, mummies, and 19th-century French paintings to see the progress of fine art through 50 centuries. The Knight's Hall displays tapestries, furnishings, and suits of armor from the Middle Ages. The Egyptian collection is one of the best in the U.S. The original Palazzo building features 1,500 works from mostly the Renaissance and baroque periods. Hackerman House features Asian art. The Palace of Wonders is the imaginary gallery of a 17th-century Flemish nobleman with art, collections from nature, and artifacts from around the world. Docents offer free tours Saturday at 11:30am and Sunday at 2pm. The cafe serves light fare.

Our Local Expert Says:

Different type of history lesson for children - brings early American locomotive history to life.

Description:

American railroading got its start here when the B&O was chartered in 1827, and the first locomotive, the Tom Thumb, was built here. The remarkable roundhouse was restored after the roof collapsed in a 2003 snowstorm and is now more accessible for visitors with disabilities and parents with strollers. As damaged pieces are repaired, they are returned to the roundhouse (most should be back by the end of 2008), but it's still filled with an awe-inspiring collection of engines and rolling stock. A car barn has the largest locomotive ever built. Platforms enable visitors to tour trains outside, including a World War II troop sleeper, a caboose, and a refrigerated car where a train movie runs continuously. Admission includes a short ride, with trains departing daily from April through December and weekends only in January.

Description:

This historic home was labeled as a historic site in 1973. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the original owner of the home, was the first American-born woman to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She founded the first order of nuns in the United States in the 19th century and was also responsible for founding one of the nation's first parochial schools in Baltimore. The house was named a historical site after nine years of renovations starting in 1963. Furniture and artifacts from the 19th century are still displayed in the home, which is open to the public on weekends and by appointment.

Description:

If you have time, visit both Evergreen and Homewood (they're a mile apart) to see how differently the rich lived in different centuries. Homewood was designed and built by the son of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Built in 1801, the five-part classic Palladian home is a dazzling example of Federal architecture. Its interiors boast superb woodcarving and plaster ornamentation. It's painted in a rainbow of soothing colors and decorated in pieces of the time, some from the Carroll family. Highlights are the main hall, the family sitting room with toys and doll furniture, the music room, the long lemon-yellow hall, and the master bedroom with its high cove ceiling and bookcases tucked into the sides of the fireplace. Tours, offered on the half hour, last 45 minutes. Changing exhibits in the main hall focus on the decorative arts or architecture.

Description:

Visitors to the Flag House are given a personal tour of the 18th-century home where Mary Young Pickersgill sewed the Star Spangled Banner in the summer of 1813. During the 45-minute tour, tourists will learn about the making of the Star Spangled Banner and have an opportunity to visit the adjacent 1812 Museum, which features artifacts from the War of 1812.

Description:

The restored President Street Station, built in 1849, was first a stop on the Underground Railroad. On April 19, 1861, it became the site of the first casualties of the Civil War. The 6th Massachusetts Regiment stopped in Baltimore to switch trains and clashed with Southern sympathizers. Firing ensued. Four soldiers and 12 civilians were killed. Exhibits and walking tours chronicle the story of the 6th regiment.

Description:

The Carroll Mansion is worth a visit, if you're fascinated with history. The mansion was home to Richard Caton, whose father-in-law was Charles Carroll, one of the signatories of the American Declaration of Independence. After his death, the mansion went through a series of contrasting events - from days of splendor to days of poverty. Step in to see traces of both the culturally rich days of the 18th century and its gradual decline in the 19th century. Today the mansion hosts corporate and private events, and is also available for tours.

Description:

This 1760 summer home of barrister Charles Carroll and Margaret Tilghman Carroll is set on a hill with a sweeping view of the Baltimore skyline. Most of the furnishings belonged to the Carroll family, including a Charles Wilson Peale portrait and a fine collection of Chinese and English porcelain. Washington didn't sleep here, but Martha did -- and so did the Marquis de Lafayette.

Description:

This 178-foot-tall column, the country's first major architectural memorial to George Washington, was designed in 1815 by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument (begun in 1848) in Washington, D.C. To learn the whole story, see the exhibit inside the building. The physically fit can also climb the 228 steps to the top of the tower and see why this spot has what's often called the best view in Baltimore. The monument takes center stage on the city's seal.

Description:

This historic seaport rings the Baltimore harbor and includes attractions and sailing vessels that chronicle the city's 300-year maritime past. You can explore this history by walking the streets of waterfront communities or the decks of famous ships. The seaport consists of 16 sites, including the USS Constellation, the only surviving Civil War-era vessel afloat the Seven-Foot Knoll Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney, Fort McHenry, historic Fells Point, Federal Hill and the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

Description:

The African Art Museum of Maryland has been providing the Baltimore area with access to fascinating African art and history since 1980. Besides its permanent collection, the museum also offers workshops for adults, kids, and families, outreach programs to local primary schools, lectures and an annual guided trip to Africa to experience African culture first hand. A great educational resource for people of all ages, races and cultures, the African Art Museum plays a vital role in its community. Call ahead for museum hours, as they are irregular.