Baltimore Fun Activities For Toddlers

Baltimore is a great city, full of things for your toddler to see and do.

Is this your first trip to Baltimore, or have you visited many times? Either way, your ideal first stop is at the Baltimore Visitor Center conveniently located in the heart of the Inner Harbor near the Maryland Science Center. This new 8,000-square-foot glass building offers incredible views of the city, and information about everything you want to see and do. The state-of-the-art center, open daily from 9am to 6pm, is a resource through which you can purchase tickets for major attractions and shows, including Baltimore Harbor Pass, a value-added combination pass to many of the attractions listed below, make hotel and dinner reservations, and plan your itinerary conveniently and easily. Visit their site, visit in person, or call the center at (410/659-7300).

The National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410/576-3800
Recently expanded to twice it's original size, including a new waterfront park, this institution was one of the first in the Inner Harbor' s revitalization. Take the kids for a walk through a living tropical rainforest and enjoy learning about the over 16,500 animals and sea creatures who call this place home. Visit the Marine Mammal Pavilion for a fun and fascinating live dolphin show where active underwater cameras give the audience a glimpse into the adaptation process that Atlantic coast dolphins use to survive. Everyone will enjoy the antics of these delightful creatures and will cheer as they respond to the cues they have learned from their trainers. The 4D Immersion Theater is where a film comes to life through not only sights and sounds, but smells and motion as well.

B&O Railroad Museum
901 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21223
410/752-2490
The B&O Railroad Museum, home to the oldest, most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere, was closed in February 2003, when a fierce snowstorm caused the roof of its home, the historic 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse, to collapse. After massive fund-raising efforts to restore this national treasure, located in the city considered to be the birthplace of American railroading, the 40-acre landmark museum is "back on track."

More than 150,000 damaged pieces of the collection, including locomotives, rolling stock and memorabilia such as lanterns, dining car china, signals, etc. have been restored. The renovation also allowed for some re-design and the expansion of educational programming and family-oriented activities. From April-December, families can enjoy a train ride on the first commercial railroad track in America (included in the admission price). There is also a seasonal family area which features a wooden train play set, interactive car pump demonstrations and a intricate toy train model that travels through a mini city.

Baltimore Streetcar Museum
1901 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211
410/547-0264
Dedicated to preserving Baltimore's mass transit past, the museum's collection spans from a horsecar from 1856, through to one of the last streetcars used before the construction of the Light Rail line. There is a video on the history of streetcars, tours of the collection, and your family can enjoy unlimited street car rides.

Harborplace
200 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410/332-4191
At the heart of Baltimore's Renaissance is the shopping and restaurant complex housed in two glass structures, Pratt Street Pavilion and Light Street Pavilion. Browse in over 120 venues for gourmet food, crafts and indigenous gifts, as well as in popular national retail stores. The area has lots of room for the little ones to let off some steam, plus street performers and musicians to watch. And, when hunger pangs strike, there are restaurants and snack bars representing many international cuisines, including local seafood, pizza, burgers etc.

Maryland Science Center
601 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410/685-5225
A great place to explore all aspects of science from paleontology to marine biology to physics, including lots of demonstrations and hands-on activities for budding scientists to investigate. Recently, the Davis Planetarium, the Crosby Ramsey Memorial Observatory, an IMAX Theatre and other popular areas of the museum were joined by major renovations and additions. In "TerraLink," the Earth Sciences exhibit, a weather station with a replica of a TV newsroom set enables kids to play meteorologists as they monitor earthquakes, and in the "Dinosaur Mysteries" Hall, little explorers can unearth prehistoric evidence in interactive dig pits, and see examples of over 30 pre-historic creatures. The expansion also allows plenty of room so that Baltimore can host the nation's best touring exhibits. Additionally, the National Visitors' Center for the Hubble Space Telescope continues to offer visitors the opportunity to come face to face with space while learning about the birth and death of stars, the meaning of galaxies and black holes, as well as observing fascinating details of the solar system.

Maryland Zoo
Druid Hill Park
Baltimore, MD 21217
410/366-LION
The third oldest zoo in the country (dating from 1876) is located in lovely Druid Hill Park, and it has recently undergone some exciting improvements. Now visitors can save their energy to explore the park, and be transported from the main gate to the zoo's central plaza on a new tram. Once inside, families can visit Polar Bear Watch, an exhibit about life in the Arctic featuring Alaska and Magnet, the zoo's resident polar bears; and see new chimpanzees, including a baby born here. Kids of all ages will enjoy an old-fashioned carousel ride. Also, new is a new giraffe feeding station and the return of the zoo's flamingos.

National Museum of Dentistry
University of Maryland
31 South Greene Street (at Lombard)
Baltimore, MD 21201
410/706-0600
Located in the building which housed the world's first dental school, this offbeat but fun museum is the only one of its kind! Exhibits include interactive and instructional collections of gear, gadgets and interesting info such as the permanent display, "32 Terrific Teeth" (a life-size model of an "iron jaw" circus act). Other special exhibits include "Mouth Power," where your kids can roll play a "visit" to the dentist, and "Branches, Bristles and Batteries" which explores the evolution of toothbrushes. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum is walking distance from Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor.

Port Discovery
35 Market Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
410/727-8120
Located one block northeast of the Inner Harbor, this exciting, state-of-the art children's museum is the third largest in the nation and was also named one of the top five children museums in the US by Child Magazine. Mainly focusing on ages 2-10 years, the museum has a strong emphasis on early childhood learning and has recently added exhibits and activities for newborns to 4-year-olds. The interactive displays throughout the 80,000-square-foot museum are designed to indulge children's natural curiosity by offering fun, discovery and exploration.

Finally, when you need a break from all the activities, enjoy the pleasant vistas from West Shore Park, located between the Visitor Center and the Science Center.  Bring the family here to lounge on the lawn under shady trees near a lovely public garden.