Kid Baltimore | Family Activities with Children in Baltimore, Maryland

Thomas Dixon Aircraft Observation Area

One of the things I love about having this blog is the readers' suggestions I get. Recently, a couple of people have emailed me about the Thomas Dixon Aircraft Observation Area. I never would have found out about this place, so thanks Shaina and Mary!

Planes, planes and more planes zooming over our heads. Now maybe I wouldn't be so thrilled if my house were located directly under the flight path, but wow is it fun to watch those airplanes come in for landing. I never realized how close together the landings are. Maybe because on the rare occasion we travel by air, there is always more waiting than flying.

After watching the planes for a while we wandered over to the tot lot for a little climbing and general silliness. There is also a 12.5 mile trail that circles the airport.

Thomas Dixon Aircraft Observation Area
MD-176 & Jeffery Ave (closest intersection)
Glen Burnie, MD 21061

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BWI - Observation Gallery

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.

410-859-7111

Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Baltimore, MD 21240

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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

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B & O Railroad Museum

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.

410-752-2490

B & O Railroad Museum
901 W. Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21223

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Baltimore Streetcar Museum

Despite the fact that our studio is just a stone's throw away from the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, I had never stopped by. But streetcars are a wonderful part of Baltimore history and this museum, staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers, has worked hard to preserve a part of the past. Volunteers man the ticket booth, restore the streetcars and even maintain the tracks here. The Streetcar Museum is open Sundays only, most of the year. In the summer, they expand their hours to include Saturdays as well.

We showed up just as the gates were opening. I would recommend arriving just a little bit later so they have time to check the tracks and get the streetcars operating. The museum itself has various miniature streetcars and displays, but the real draw here is the streetcar rides. For the price of admission, you can ride authentic streetcars as many times as you like down the track. These streetcars date from the late 1800's to the1940's, although some were in service until the 1960's. The conductors stop at the turnaround and give a brief history and then drive you back to the museum. Back and forth. Back and forth. We could do this all day long...

410-547-0264

Baltimore Streetcar Museum
1901 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211

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College Park Aviation Museum

This week, we stopped by the College Park Aviation Museum because, well, airplanes are cool. This 27,000 facility is located on the grounds of the historic College Park Airport which is "the world's oldest continuously operating airport."

The museum itself, beautiful and thoughtfully designed, was opened in 1998 and offers a wonderful collection of aircrafts. But what I liked most about this museum was how they had managed to cater to all age groups. There is really something for everyone here.

For little ones, there is "The Imagination Plane" - a real 1939 Taylorcraft airplane that kids can climb in and explore. There are also mini flight jackets to put on. An outside play yard has hand built wooden airplanes to ride.

For older kids there are exhibits that explore air velocity and real propellers to turn although, truth be told, my 3 year olds enjoyed that too.

And for adults, there is plenty of rich history including a library for research.

301-864-6029

College Park Aviation Museum
1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive
College Park, MD 20740

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Holiday Train Garden - Shops at Kenilworth

Every year (well, for the last 19 anyway) the Shops at Kenilworth have built a huge holiday train garden. Model trains, airplanes, carousels, tractors, you-name-it buzz around and even over the water fountain. The 3-4 year old crowd is pretty heavy around here. They can stare to their hearts' content behind the plexiglass walls and even press buttons that control some of the displays.

Then, as if that weren't enough, we see the big guy... yes, Santa himself. And I'm pretty sure he was the real deal.

410-321-1909

The Shops at Kenilworth
800 Kenilworth Drive
Towson, MD 21204

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MTA Light Rail

For a meager $3.20, I was able to fulfill lifelong dreams of two small tots – to ride the train. It didn’t even matter where we ended up. The train was enough.

Maryland Transit Authority
410-539-5000
1-866-RIDE-MTA

Fire Museum of Maryland

Picture a room full of shiny red fire engines - toddler heaven, right? Of course, this is a museum, so that means lots of things that you can't touch. Fortunately, the good folks at the Fire Museum understand, so they included a play room that is complete with fire fighter uniforms and a real (kid-proofed) fire engine ready for "test driving". They can even ring the bell. My little fire-fighters keep asking to go back.

410-321-7500

Fire Museum of Maryland
1301 York Road
Lutherville, MD 21093

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