Are you going to be in the Baltimore area this weekend and are unsure of where to go for some unforgettable family fun? Look no further than our top picks of destinations for families.
- Maryland Science Center
- The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
- Baltimore Streetcar Museum
- Port Discovery Children’s Museum
- Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
- Historic Ships in Baltimore
- American Visionary Art Museum
- Lake Roland Nature Center and Park
The rest of this article will tell you everything you need to know about each of these delightful exhibits, including their hours, pricing, and what makes each of them special.
Maryland Science Center
This remarkable museum is dedicated to nurturing children’s curiosity about the world around them with fun, interactive exhibits that both kids and parents will enjoy.
Three floors of exhibits plus a planetarium await you in this museum. Guests are encouraged to participate in the pop-up science activities.
Admission for adults is $25. 95 and children aged 3 – 12 cost $19.95. Admission includes a museum, the planetarium, and an unforgettable view of the demo stage where scientists perform live experiments. For an additional $5.00, the IMAX experience is also available.
The museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, with membership packages available to locals.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Adults and children alike will enjoy seeing the amazing animals in this immersive zoo. Seasonal exhibits are available alongside tried and true displays of animals in large enclosures that best imitate their natural habitats. Stick around to see giraffe feedings, penguin encounters, okapi training, and more.
Children under 2 are free, and tickets are $20.00 for children 2 – 11, $24.00 for those aged 12 – 64, and $21.00 for seniors. Memberships are also available to locals. The museum is open 7 days a week between 10 – 4, and closed on all major holidays.
Baltimore Streetcar Museum
Founded in 1966 and run fully by volunteers, visitors can glimpse at this unique and lesser-known piece of Baltimore’s rich history. Authentic streetcars from various periods in Baltimore’s history are permanently installed and some are even available to ride. Make sure to also check out the authentic videos and photographs and don’t forget to stay for a tour.
If you’re lucky,you can even watch some of the volunteers restore some of the older streetcars. The museum is always open to receiving donations for generous visitors to aid in their restoration efforts.
No visit to the Baltimore Streetcar Museum is complete without an authentic tour of the city on one of the amazing streetcars. Streetcar operators dress in historic uniforms so you can imagine how the city used to look decades earlier.
The Baltimore Streetcar Museum is open Sundays from 12 pm – 5 pm in November, December, March, April, and May. Between June and October, the museum is open both Saturdays and Sundays. BSM is closed during January and February, due to this period being dedicated to restoration efforts and general maintenance of the museum.
Admission for adults is $10.00, $8.00 for children 4 – 11, and free for visitors under 4.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Ranked one of the top 5 children’s museums in the United States, Port Discovery Children’s Museum offers hands-on science and art exhibits that will excite and awe visitors of all ages.
Exhibits are classified by age group, making navigating the three floors of exhibits less daunting. This also helps parents tailor each child’s visit to their individual development level and interests.
Visit the sky climber before immersing yourself and your kids into the pages of beloved children’s author Eric Carle’s classic stories in the interactive exhibit, Very Eric Carle.
Children under 1 are admitted free, with tickets for adults being $21.95. Admission for children aged 1 – 13 is $19.95.
If you are a military member with a valid ID, you can receive a special discount. Port Discovery Children’s Museum also offers special community days, with $5.00 admission for both adults and children.
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
No visit to Baltimore is complete for sports enthusiasts without a visit to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, an entire museum dedicated to the life and legacy of the American baseball legend. View baseball cards, balls and bats, autographed posters, and more from the extraordinary career of one of America’s most celebrated athletes.
Admission is $13.00 for adults and $7.00 for children aged 5 – 17, with kids under 5 being free. Open Monday – Sunday from 10 – 5, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is closed on all major holidays.
Historic Ships in Baltimore
A must-see museum for maritime enthusiasts, the Historic Ships in Baltimore offers both guided and self-guided tours of the historic ships in Baltimore’s history, chronicling over 200 years of the city’s maritime history.
Check out the famous US Coast Guard Cutter 37, which was the only American ship remaining afloat after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in WWII.
Admission for children under 5 is free, with adult tickets costing $19.95 and admission for children aged 6 – 13 being $7.95.
Being a seasonal museum, call ahead before you visit, as Historic Ships in Baltimore’s hours are subject to change.
American Visionary Art Museum
Don’t miss the American Visionary Art Museum and its wacky installations that will delight adults and children alike.
Known for its fantastic and whimsical exhibits, the American Visionary Art Museum features painting, embroidery, kinetic art, and more.
In the spring, the annual kinetic sculpture race features unusual and unforgettable floats engineered by the city’s most talented teams. Don’t miss this amazing and unforgettable spectacle of science and art in your next visit to this incredible city.
Lake Roland Nature Center and Park
Nothing says family fun like the great outdoors. Children will learn all about the importance of preserving nature through recreational activities and age-specific guided activities.
Adults and children alike will rejoice in the beauty of nature by hiking along the many nature trails, kayaking along the lake’s calm waters, and even winning prizes by completing designated activities in the park such as nature walks.
