Kid Baltimore | Family Activities with Children in Baltimore, Maryland

The National Aquarium in Baltimore

First a disclaimer: My little ole Kid Baltimore blog would not be complete if I didn't cover the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Most of the places we've covered so far are small day trips, and the Aquarium, in my mind is big, big, big. There is a lot of ground to cover, especially for ages 5 and under. For younger kids, we recommend you don't try and see everything in one day. The family membership can be worthwhile if you plan to visit 2 or more times a year.

-------------------------

We entered the first main exhibit area, "Wings in the Water," and spent a few minutes talking with one of the scuba-diving volunteers about the dozens of rays and other fish surrounding him. Did you know stingray babies are called pups? They are born live and measure about 9.5 inches across at birth. Our 4-year-olds were just tall enough to peer over the safety rails and get a good look at everything. Younger kids will definitely need a boost.

As we waved goodbye to the rays, we traveled up the many escalators toward the rainforest. My kids stopped at every tank along the way. My oldest daughter decided some anemones looked "like they were wearing pink polka-dotted shirts." At the stonefish display, my entire gang stood motionless for ages staring at this creature that looked like, well, a stone. Every so often it would open its mouth or waddle back and forth and the entire group would gasp. Definitely one of my favorites and I'm pretty sure we saw this guy in a Spongebob episode.

At the top of the spiraling escalators, we reached the rainforest. The kids loved the surprise of suddenly being "outside". Then it was time to descend to the shark territory and I thought my younger kids would be scared, but as we wandered deeper, I noticed my daughter trying to pet one particular shark that was resting close to the glass. Great. Now I know what to get her for Christmas.

There is so much more to see here -- the Australian exhibit, the 4D Immersion Theater. But can anyone resist the dolphins? Especially baby dolphins. Baby Foster, just celebrated his first birthday. The newest dolphin (see the video below) was born in July and there will be a naming contest that starts November 11. I'll keep you posted as I hear more, or check their blog.

A few things to keep in mind when visiting the Aquarium with kids. First, pick a non-peak time to visit. We didn't have to wait to get in, and the crowd was not too heavy. Second, strollers are not allowed, but they do offer stroller storage and backpack or frontpack carriers.

Dolphin Calf Birth from National Aquarium on Vimeo.

410-576-3800

The National Aquarium in Baltimore
501 E. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

[Map it]

Pressed Leaves with Wax Paper

I was counting on having a bad day today. It was going to start with a trip to the doctor's office for the twins' four year checkups and that meant shots. Four shots times two.  Eight shots altogether. Eight fully justified reasons to scream bloody murder. But for some reason, my bad day didn't materialize. The shots were greeted with little whimpers, but no tears, and the kids ran off to get their stickers and lollipops as rewards.

So anyway, I planned a quiet day today to give us time to nurse our wounds. No day trips, just a stay-at-home-project day. We started with a leaf hunt around the yard, which turned out to be a good excuse to run around outside. After we picked out our favorite leaves, we sandwiched them in wax paper (waxy sides together), placed a cloth on top and I ironed them flat. I knew irons must be good for something.

They look rather nice taped to the windows and maybe, just maybe, they will remind me that we really did have Fall this year. Fall always seems to creep away while I am not paying attention.

Welcoming Fall at North Run Farm

A trip to the pumpkin patch is one of those required Fall rituals when you have kids, and I, for one, wouldn't miss it. Never mind that half the time we leave cold, muddy and sometimes crying. Or that I will be the one to lug all the pumpkins back to the car. There is something about a trip to the farm that makes Fall official.

Our trip to North Run Farm was organized by our preschool, so it was nice to just tag along and not have to be in charge. North Run has a small zoo of farm animals to meet, hay bale mazes in two different sizes so that even the youngest ones get a turn, a giant corn teepee, and hay rides out to the pumpkin patch. But their corn maze is their pièce de résistance. This year it is a double maze, skillfully carved into a donkey and elephant. Past mazes, from a giant crab to The Wizard of Oz 's Scarecrow, are pictured here.

For now, the corn maze is a little too challenging for our group and we just take a mini-tour of it. For older kids, it's a must.

410-241-3392

North Run Farm
1703 Greenspring Valley Road
Stevenson, MD 21153

[Map It]

The Conservatory and Botanic Gardens at Druid Hill

The Conservatory at Druid Hill Park is one of those buildings I've passed by so many times, and I've always wanted to peek inside because it has that whole mysterious Victorian thing going on. I guess I just wasn't sure if we were allowed. It turns out that not only are we allowed, but we are also encouraged to wander through the gardens and enjoy the space. As a gardener we passed pointed out, "that's what it's here for." And, it's free (a $2 donation is encouraged).

It was designed by architect George Frederick, and built for the city of Baltimore in 1888.  Now the main structure, the beautiful Palm House is, "one of the few remaining Victorian conservatories left in the world."

We entered the North Pavilion and made our way through amazing greenhouses. The Mediterranean House and the Tropical house are lush and wonderful, but it was the Desert House that my kids enjoyed the most. A room full of cacti might seem a bit challenging with preschoolers but I was hoping that with all of their new-found maturity, my 4-year-olds could leave here puncture wound free, and surprise, surprise, they did!

I'm keeping this place in mind to visit again in the winter when I need a mini-tropical infusion. Events coming up here include:

The Chrysanthemum Display: November 8 - November 30 ,2008

The Holiday Display: December 13, 2008 - January 4, 2008

410-396-0180

Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens
3100 Swan Drive in Druid Hill Park
Baltimore, MD 21217

[Directions from their website]

Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hammerman Area

I think there is some sort of conspiracy to hide this place. If you are like me, and just grab the closest thing to an address that you can find before you head out the door, you will be hopelessly lost. The only real address listed for Gunpowder Falls State Park is for the headquarters. Nice people. I met them. They looked at me with pity in their eyes while I explained that I was looking for a scrap tire park and then handed me a xeroxed map with a highlighter pointing me to the exact place I was supposed to be, or rather, the exact place where I was not.

See, it turns out that Gunpowder is actually 18,000 acres of park and is divided into five main areas. I debated giving up, but no, this has turned into a quest. So I strapped the kids back into the car and tried to find entertaining things to point out along the way to make the ride more fun. A huge mountain of flowers at a construction site. An inflatable dinosaur at a car dealership. Finally, we got there. The place was strangely deserted. Even the guard building was empty and there were directions there for me to place $3 mysteriously in an envelope and take a tag for my car. Honor system? Fine. I saw a sign pointing toward the various points of interest, but I wasn't completely paying attention, so I followed the road looking for something, anything.

And there it was. No, not the tire park. A beach. A real live beach.

1,500 feet of beach on the banks of Gunpowder River to be exact and for the time being, it was ours alone. In the summer, the area is lifeguarded and you can rent kayaks, surfboards and catamarans. The kids took off their shoes and played in the sand for a while before we headed to the picnic tables for lunch. We spent a fair amount of time shooing flies away from our picnic, but what is a picnic without a few pests, right?

Life was good, bellies were full and nap time was imminent. We got back in the car and continued along the road and then finally...

410-592-2897 headquarters

Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hammerman Area
7200 Grace's Quarters Road
Baltimore, MD 21220

Mapquest Directions

Irvine Nature Center

The Irvine Nature Center recently moved, after 33 years, to a new, amazing, green facility in Owings Mills, MD. We stopped by to visit during their Grand Opening and let me just cut to the chase and say that I am completely and entirely in love with this place. There are already paths through the woods where you can take a nice walk, and nature exhibits and nooks to read a book in the main building. The Calendar of Events looks like there will be plenty to do with little ones, from pre-schoolers on up.

While we were there, our kids explored the exhibits, and then we took a stroll through the woods, passing some caged owls and hawks along the way, to meet in the gazebo and listen to a talk about pollinators. A bit farther along the path we had a peek at the newly established beehive. I have to say, the speaker, Rick, was so knowledgeable and entertaining, that we left trying to figure out where the best spot would be for our very own beehive. So maybe I've gotten a little carried away, but you get the idea.

410-484-2413

Irvine Nature Center
11201 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117

MapQuest Directions

Baugher's

We pulled up to Baugher's and I knew I was sunk. A tractor pulled up, towing a trailer with rows of school bus seats. People carrying little tiny baskets of apples were climbing out. My daughter screamed, "I wanna go on that!" I didn't know where it was going, but I knew we would be on it. So I talked to the driver/farmer and found out he would take us to pick apples and/or peaches. How could I possibly say no? Mind you, I didn't come here to pick fruit. I came here to buy tomatoes, and maybe pet some animals, but really, the baskets are T-I-N-Y. What can go wrong? Off we go and I have to say that the tractor ride itself is worth the trip. The kids were loving it and I was happy and chatting with a fellow MOT (mother of twins) on the way. Farmer guy drops us off near some peach trees, and takes some time to move an old bus so that we can grab some baskets. Ahh... here's the problem. It turns out that in addition to those tiny baskets, there are also 1/2 bushel boxes, and they seem so much more reasonable in size. So maybe I can make some cobbler, or fruit leather, or well, I don't know.

We take a 1/2 bushel box and start picking. The trees are loaded with peaches. It doesn't take long before our box is full, full, full and we wait a bit for farmer guy to come back, but he magically reappears just when certain people are getting fidgety. Okay, so now what do I do with all these peaches?

1-410-848-5541

Baugher's
1236 Baugher Road
Westminster, MD 21158

Mapquest Directions

Ladew Topiary Gardens

I never quite understood topiary. The urge to shape shrubbery into animals just seems like a force fit to me. Just let those poor plants be! But I have to admit, the Hunt Scene is genius. And the shrubs look awfully happy to be portraying hounds. So maybe I should let it go.

Harvey Ladew started creating these gardens in 1929. He was self-taught and was one of the first American gardeners to incorporate "garden rooms". The result is 22 acres of themed gardens that go way beyond topiary. Before his death in 1976, he arranged for his home and the gardens to be preserved for the public.  I loved watching my kids take turns deciding which places to explore: from the Tivoli Tea House to the Garden of Eden. But without a doubt their favorite was the koi pond at the far side of the Iris Garden.

For little ones, this trip requires a lot of walking. Everything is spread out, but manageable, even with a stroller. Picnics are permitted everywhere except the Great Bowl and the Hunt Scene, so bring a blanket and soak up that last little bit of summer.

410-557-9466

Ladew Topiary Gardens
3535 Jarrettsville Pike
Monkton, MD 21111

Mapquest Directions

Mingodale Farm

Sometimes I get side-tracked. It's not always a bad thing, as long as you do it the right way.

My garden had a nice tomato crop this year – too many to eat all at once, but not enough to can. I love having canned tomatoes through the winter to make big pots of chili. My family always takes pity on me and shares their surplus, but I run out by December anyway, so this year I thought I would can some of my own. I stuffed the kids in the car and went out in search of more tomatoes. Real tomatoes that haven't traveled halfway across the world to get here. Mingodale Farm sounded promising.

Here's where the side-tracked part comes in. See, they do have tomatoes, but more importantly (at least at the moment) they have pick-your-own blackberries and cut-your-own flowers. We were introduced to the dog, Blue, handed containers and directed to the berry patch. The kids have to hunt a bit for the berries, but managed to fill 3 containers. I would recommend showing up right as they open in the morning to get the best picking. We arrived a bit later and still did very well.

Then we headed back for pick-your-own flowers. Zinnias and sunflowers. The key here is getting your kids to not pick every single flower on the farm. We picked a couple of nice big bouquets of zinnias, and a mammoth sunflower head just for fun.

And oh yeah... why did I come here in the first place? Tomatoes. I picked up two nice big baskets of those too.

410-357-0403

Mingodale Farm
17201 Masemore Road
Parkton, MD 21120

Mapquest Directions

Keepsake Frames

Like all families, mine is weird. Recently 14 of us gathered to spend a few days at the beach. I arrived with my 3 kids, and within 15 minutes I was handed a paring knife and was "volunteered" to pit apricots. That's when I knew I was home. No, it's not the house I grew up in, but I'm home.

And, like always, there were projects to do. My mom's art teacher background was in full gear. She and my sister had spray painted frames ahead of time. Everyone rummaged through the collection of sea glass, shells, and polished rocks to decorate their frames. Some spent hours arranging and rearranging. Others were done in a few minutes. But everyone, from age 3 on up made something uniquely their own.

Next came the messy part. It's not a real project unless there is a messy part. We spread pre-mixed adhesive and grout on the frames and, one side at a time, pressed in our treasures. Some sprinkled the grout with sand afterwards and some left them plain.

The hardest part? Getting everyone to hold still for the family photo. Smile!

Note: The Keepsake Décor Frames were purchused from Michaels. They are not available online.

Bring on the Chores

I'm a firm believer in chores. Helping out the family (without eyerolls and shoulder slumps) is a skill that can take years to master, so today was wood stacking day. We've had a few trees come down lately and many hands make light work, right? Actually, sometimes the chores take a bit longer with "help", but I am determined not to let that stand in my way. As always, there were a few neat things to see along the way: a log covered in ants, a lichen holding tight to a tree, and a creepy crawly centipede. The kids took turns loading the wheelbarrow. For my oldest, it's a lesson about using our resources (we rely on wood for a fair amount of our heat in the winter) and for the younger ones, it's a chance to show Mom and Dad what big muscles they have.

Cherry Picking at Shaw Orchards

The cherries are ripe at Shaw Orchards, but the season only lasts about 3 weeks so hurry! The drive to Pennsylvania is beautiful, and more importantly short. When we arrived at Shaw Orchards we grabbed some buckets and headed over to the sweet cherries. The trees in most areas are low enough for toddlers to pick all by themselves and they are absolutely loaded with fruit. My youngest two decided to forget the buckets and filled up their hats instead. Very effective.

Of course we ended up with way too many cherries, but that's what freezers are for. When it was time to pit the cherries, all my helpers disappeared. Seriously, after about 15 minutes, the crickets were chirping, but that's okay. I had my trusty paper clip. No fancy-schmancy cherry pitter for me.

Martha does it the same way, so apparently, I'm a domestic goddess.

Note: Blueberries are ready too and have a longer season.

717-993-2974 (PA)
410-692-2429 (MD)

Shaw Orchards
21901 Barrens Rd South
Stewartstown, PA 17363

MapQuest Directions