On our New York & Washington D.C. trip with the kiddos, we flew into Baltimore and decided to spend a couple days in Baltimore. To be honest with so many options, it can be hard to decide where to travel to first. If you haven’t taken your family to Baltimore yet, you’re missing out! Known as Charm City, there are tons of fun things to do in Baltimore with kids. This city is packed full of attractions that will help make your vacation exciting and memorable. Check out this list of attractions that are perfect for families and kids of all ages, that the adults are sure to enjoy as well!
Classic Things To Do in Baltimore with Kids
See a Baseball Game at Camden Yards
Check out a home game at Camden Yards and introduce the kids to this American pastime! My husband loved Camden Yards so much while he was in college that our first born son is named Camden. Experience an exciting Orioles game and bring your kids to the Oriole’s Kids Corner, where they can play on the interactive Bird House jungle gym, try the Moon Bounce, play skeeball, and enjoy kid-friendly baseball classic snacks like corn dogs, snowballs, and cotton candy! The crowd is great and it is a great environment to watch a game.
Inner Harbor (2 Must-Do Things To Do with Kids in Baltimore)
The scenic Inner Harbor is home to some of Baltimore’s best museums and attractions. However, the beautiful waterfront is an attraction of its own as well! Take the family for a stroll, or consider taking a harbor cruise! Pack a picnic lunch or enjoy a meal at the Harborplace center. Many of Baltimore’s famous museums are located in the Inner Harbor, so you can spend a whole day here exploring the attractions! Try a fun new mode of transportation by taking a water taxi for an affordable ride across the harbor.
Inner Harbor: Historic Ships
While you’re at the Inner Harbor, check out the multiple historic ships that are docked in the harbor. The USS Constellation, Torsk, and USCGC Taney all offer educational tours where you can climb aboard and learn about each ship’s role in the history of our country. These National Historic Landmarks are sure to make a lasting impression on kids of all ages! Did you know this is the very spot that inspired our National Anthem to be written?
Inner Harbor: Fort McHenry Monument
Take a short water taxi trip to this National Monument and Historic Shrine! Learn about the history of the Star-Spangled Banner, watch the flag being changed out, and enjoy viewing live reenactments. The kids can even become Junior Rangers! Plus, admission to this monument is free! You can also take an Inner Harbor Sight-Seeing Tour, check it out.
Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum
Share a piece of American history with your kids by taking them to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum! Learn more about the life and times of this American icon, in his hometown. Consider going right before or after a baseball game to really get the full experience!
Cruises on the Bay by Watermark
Take some time to enjoy a unique perspective of the city, away from the crowds. Embark on an educational harbor cruise that is sure to be one of the hallmarks of your trip! Each cruise lasts 45 minutes and includes a narrated tour of the city with incredible views on board a comfortable cruise ship! The best part? Kids get free tickets on Mondays, making this awesome family adventure a little more affordable. Your cruise aboard the Big Red Boat has snacks and restrooms, so no worries there either. Interested in a nighttime cruise instead? Enjoy the city lights on an hour-long Saturday night City Lights cruise!
Museums & Educational Things To Do with Kids in Baltimore
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum
Trains are an exciting topic for kids already, but the B&O Railroad Museum has worked hard to create engaging programs for kids of all ages! The Choo Choo Blue Kid Zone offers storytelling and activities for all ages, plus there are kid-friendly activities throughout the entire museum! Depending on the month that you visit, your family may even be able to get tickets to ride the Mile One Express train ride! You can pre-buy tickets here.
Maryland Science Center
Your family will be so captivated by the Maryland Science Center that you won’t want to leave! This beloved local attraction features fascinating and educational exhibits, an IMAX theatre, and a planetarium! Create lasting memories and help the kids learn through exhibits featuring electricity, astronomy, physics, anatomy and much more! For younger kids, enjoy activities in the Kids Room, a water play area based on the Chesapeake Bay that is right outside the Science Center doors! In order to avoid busy times with local field trips, the Center recommends starting your visit early, before 10:30 am on weekdays.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
The Port Discovery Children’s Museum has been ranked as one of the top children’s museums in the U.S.- come find out why! The museum has activities for children of all ages and emphasizes the importance of play and exploration in learning. This museum is unique because it allows kids to participate in the exhibits- by creating art, solving puzzles, making music, and playing their way through three floors of fun.
National Aquarium
Your family may have been to the aquarium before, but no other aquarium and quite compare with the National Aquarium in Baltimore! There are nearly 20,000 animals at this aquarium, including fish and aquatic creatures, birds, sharks, reptiles, sloths, dolphins, and more! Get up close and personal with the Living Seashore touch tank, and learn about conservation in the Chesapeake Bay! Walkthrough an indoor rain forest, experience the 4D immersion theater, and see a 35-foot waterfall! You can pre-buy tickets here.
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & Museum
This museum is a living piece of history, as well as a testament to our country’s founding. The house that now holds the museum is the original home of the family of flag-makers who created the garrison flag flown over Fort McHenry. Take the chance to share the rich history of our flag with your family through a short guided tour at this historic attraction. And don’t worry- if the little ones won’t be able to sit through a tour, there is a playroom for them as well! Plus, kids under 6 get in free!
The Best Tourist Attractions to Experience with Kids in Baltimore
Medieval Times Baltimore / Washington DC
If you and your family have never been to Medieval Times, now is the time to change that! (Get it?) This is one meal you won’t soon forget: enjoy a themed meal while you watch epic battles of steel and brawn, including jousting, falconry displays, and swordplay! Your family will be on the edge of their seats as they watch the action play out right before their eyes at the Baltimore Castle! Book your trip now!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! – Baltimore
Ripley’s is full of zany attractions that will surely turn heads, and entertain your family for hours of fun! There are dozens of unique, unusual, and just plain strange features in the galleries at Ripley’s that will leave you stupefied and scratching your head, believe it or not! Looking for more adventure? You can make your way through a mirror maze, play a Smash Dash race-against-the-clock game, and take an unbelievable ride in the 4D moving theater! Plus, Ripley’s often has sales and provides discounted admission or coupons, so this is a fun, affordable attraction, especially for older kids looking for some entertainment and thrills!
Spirit Cruises – Baltimore (A More Sophisticated Thing To Do with Kids in Baltimore)
Looking for a slightly more sophisticated outing? Baltimore Spirit Cruises may be just the ticket. Their cruise ships offer tours of the Inner Harbor and the Greater Baltimore waterfront. You can choose from just the 50-minute sightseeing tour or a lunch or dinner cruise that includes delicious dining options and a rooftop bar. The rooftop deck of the fabulous harbor cruise ships also feature games such as shuffleboard and foosball to keep the kiddos occupied as you sail your way through a relaxing trip on the Patapsco.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Let’s get real for a minute- what kid doesn’t enjoy going to the zoo? I mean, I’m an adult and I STILL love the zoo! This zoo features all of the traditional exhibits- penguins, polar bears, giraffes, chimpanzees, and more! Plus, there are educational keeper chats where you can learn more about the animals. Kids can ride the carousel, the zoo train, get their faces painted, and even feed the giraffes! Learn more about the zoo here!
Top of the World Observation Level
Enjoy a view from 27 floors above street level and feel like you are on Top of the World! Share an unforgettable viewing experience with the 360-degree view of this city and harbor. The observation level is actually at the top of the world’s tallest pentagonal building! The kids will enjoy looking through binoculars and learning about local attractions and history by viewing the photo maps that are stationed throughout the observation level.
Six Flags America
A family vacation wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Six Flag’s America! You’ve never experienced a theme park quite like this. Your kids will love hanging out at the Hurricane Harbor water park, and there are games and rides perfect for all ages! Try the new Firebird floorless roller coaster, ride Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth, or ride the Capital Railways train! There are dozens of attractions to keep your family entertained and create lasting memories. Grab your tickets here!
Map of Things to Do with Kids in Baltimore
Why You Should Go
As you read above, there are plenty of fun activities to keep the whole family entertained. Between baseball games, harbor cruises, museums and amusements parks, your days are sure to be filled with fun and excitement and memories to last a lifetime!
If you have any questions about planning a family vacation, please DM me on Instagram or leave your question in the comments!
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