Next we headed over to BWI to check out the Observation Gallery. I like this trip because, hey, it's free (except for parking). But also because the most normal places in the world are fun to visit when you are not on a schedule. The Observation Gallery is located between Concourses B and C, but when you are not trying to catch a plane, even the trip from the parking garage to the main building is fun. Moving sidewalks? They are practically like an amusement park ride to my kids and I'm not ashamed to admit that we took a few extra rides, just because...
Once you get to the Observation Gallery, there are exhibits to look at, with real airplane parts, and some things for kids to climb on (an airplane, a train, and a luggage cart). Of course, you could just sit back and watch the great view.
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.
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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.
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
I wouldn't plan to purchase a major appliance with small kids in tow, but as a quick destination Home Depot has a lot going for it. Acres of stuff that kids are interested in, but nothing they would pressure you to buy. We walked in all of the storage sheds, checked out the flowers in the garden section, watched the forklift stack bags of mulch, and made spooky voices talking to each other from the end of drainage pipe in the plumbing section. After completing our errand (batteries, steel wool, and spray insulation) we picked up hot dogs from the vendor just outside the checkout and had a picnic at nearby Oregon Ridge Park.
410-667-8200
Home Depot 125 Industry Lane Cockeysville, MD 21030
Are we a bit overdressed today for story hour at Ukazoo? Maybe, but pink taffeta goes with everything, I assure you. Ukazoo, a new and used bookstore in Towson, has story hours on Wednesdays. Miss Andrea opened with a song and managed to get all those little bodies to hold still for quite a few books.
The stories and songs were followed by a craft activity. The theme today was "back to school" and in keeping with that, the kids were handed bright yellow paper school buses. The staff brought out huge bowls of foam letters so everyone could spell their names. Okay, maybe with a few extra letters, but close enough. After a small snack of animal crackers, we headed back to the children's section to browse.
Many of the kids' books here are priced at $2.98 or less. I found a hardback picture book of Lewis Carroll poetry that I know my budding author will love. She'll love it even more because it's recycled! And yes, if your bookshelves get too full, you can sell books to the store as well.
How often is it that you can combine kid entertainment with household chores? Practically never. And if you can, efficiency is a concept that never enters the equation.
I signed up for an in-store session with my daughter at Let's Dish - a restaurant quality food preparation store. We put on our fancy schmancy aprons and bandanas and then were given a quick "how to dish" lesson. Each food preparation station has a meal ready for us to assemble. The directions are super clear, and the ingredients are beautiful and fresh.
My daughter and I stumbled a bit through our first recipe, but by meal two, we were pros. We spent about two hours assembling eight meals: two meals each of Portabello Mushrooms Stuffed with Wild Rice, Chicken Casablanca, Shrimp Scampi with Linguine, and Fajita Steak with Chile-Lime Dressing. When we needed a break, there were fresh scones and drinks.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. We decided to taste test the portabello mushrooms first. And because they looked so good we invited our extended family. The mushrooms disappeared before I knew what happened so I would say they were a big hit. I can't wait to try the other meals. Budget-wise, it's less expensive than carry out (ours worked out to $24 for each 6-serving meal).
(Note:For health and safety reasons, this activity is best
for kids age 8 and up. The height of the food prep stations may also be
hard to manage for some kids, but you are allowed to bring a step
stool.)
I figured I was going to see some quirky little row home stuffed with old dentistry tools, but nothing could be further from the truth. (I'm going to make a point here of avoiding all tooth related puns. I'm so tempted though). The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is actually 7,000 square feet of beautiful museum space. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian and houses an amazing collection of dental ephemera, from George Washington's not-so-wooden denture to a life-sized model of Penny Wilson performing her "iron-jaw" act.
I felt a little guilty walking around this great big space, practically all by ourselves. We stopped by for story time (Wednesdays through the summer) and then practiced brushing my daughter's favorite set of chompers – appropriately named Giant Mr. Gross MouthTM (Yes, there is really a TM on that). There is so much to see here, even with little ones, including a mini-dentist's office complete with lab coats and dentist chair; vintage TV shows and films; and our favorite – old stone lithograph dental posters. Now what toddler wouldn't love those? Okay, maybe that last part was for me.
I'd like to welcome our new sponsor, the Baltimore Museum of Art! The BMA has a lot to offer families, and looking over their upcoming events I am so excited. My daughter has spent the last few days quilting with my mom, so we may just have to check out the quilting workshop next weekend. Upcoming events also include a kaleidoscope workshop, sketching in the garden and more!
Daddy Day at Kid Baltimore...which means potato skins for lunch, long hours without a potty break, and visiting Baltimore's great architectural salvage yard and enchanted kingdom of creative possibilities... Second Chance. Most of the merchandise is pretty indestructible (old bathtubs, doors, radiators, etc.) so there's not much worry about kids breaking stuff but I'd discourage running to avoid injury because it is warehouses full of metal and glass after all. Toddlers are going to like the shelves of old doorknob hardware, various concrete beasties, the interior rain puddles and friendly warehouse cats. Older kids can be introduced to a different level of recycling and have fun discovering a drawer full of iron seahorses (radiator legs in their first life)! At the very least, everyone will be ready for a nap after exploring all of the warehouses and dragging Dad back to the car.
410-385-0435
Second Chance 1645 Warner Street Baltimore, MD 21230
Today we headed to the B & O Railroad Museum to check out the trains. I'm sure all of you who travel with little ones can appreciate on-site parking and there is plenty here. I slid my oh-so-cool minivan into a spot close to the entrance next to beautiful train 2705. Okay, maybe beautiful is not the right word, but it has this great type and neat patina. Either way, it makes my minivan look that much less cool, as if it needed any help. The parking lot is surrounded by vintage trains in varying conditions, but all amazing.
We marched inside. Admission here in not particularly cheap. If you are just stopping by to ride trains, you would be better off trying the good ole MTA Light Rail. But if you are looking for trains as art, or if your kids are train-crazy (aren't all 3 year olds) you are in the right spot. The roundhouse has an amazing collection that dates back to the beginning of American railroading. Some of the trains are open for kids to explore. My kids spent way too much time playing at the Thomas the Tank Engine table. It's arguably the least impressive part of the museum, but on Toddler day it's a popular spot. Outside the roundhouse is a wooden train to climb on, a miniature train to watch, and the kiddie train ride. Check the calendar for Toddler Time, when kiddie train rides are operating.
Regular train rides are also included in the price of admission and operate at scheduled times, April through December.
Despite the fact that all of my children are practically perfect, people aren't exactly lining up to watch them for me while I gallivant around town on shopping expeditions. Of course, if you are a close friend or trustworthy relative who would like to volunteer, please sign up here.
I thought not.
IKEA gets it right in so many ways and here again, I love them. Smaland, located right at the entrance, is a supervised play area where you can drop your kids off for up to 1 1/2 hours (the schedule changes depending on day and time of year) and go shop. Quietly.
There are a couple of rules to follow. Kids must be 37"-54" tall without shoes. Yes, they check. And they must be fully potty-trained. For the first time ever this is a question I can answer somewhat confidently, or at least without visibly flinching. There are places to climb, pictures to color and a ball pit. Ahhh... the ball pit. My kids didn't even look back at me as they headed in. The best part is, it's completely free, at least not counting all the stuff you buy, now that you have a moment to think clearly. Come to think of it, this might be the most expensive free thing you can do with your kids.
Sometimes, they just need to bounce, bounce, bounce, especially when it's cold and rainy outside. I considered installing a moonbounce in my living room, but since I can't find one that goes with the decor, I haven't yet.
Lucky for me, the indoor playground Ultimate Play Zone opened a few months ago. It's big and clean and filled with good places to bounce, climb and slide. They have Pop-in Play time scheduled frequently throughout the week and it's limited to kids age 6 and under. Family night, on Monday is open to all ages.
If you are fortunate enough to have a 1:1 parent/kid ratio, you'll do
well here. With twins, I found it tough to keep up with both of them.
In the end, I still left with the same two kids I came in with, but not
without a mini moment of panic when I lost track of my son for a couple
minutes. Boy, those rascals move quick.
There are attendants dressed as referees monitoring the play and I have to say, they helped me out more times than I would care to admit. I watched one of them make a spectacular dive over the side of an inflatable wall to rescue my daughter when she got stuck. Thanks, referee guy!
