National Aquarium in Baltimore

Baltimore Family Attractions

Inner Harbor
DESCRIPTION: You can’t find a better example of urban redevelopment in America yet, city officials almost ran a freeway through it in the 1970s. Since this natural harbor is where the city began in 1729, civic leaders finally got it right by making the Inner Harbor a destination again. This enlightened approach to urban redevelopment led to the creation of a red brick promenade lined with picnic areas, a yacht harbor, restaurants, shops, historic ships and hotels that are widely emulated around North America. The centerpiece attraction is Harborplace, which consists of Light Street Pavilion and Pratt Street Pavilion which sits catercorner in the northeast harbor. Harborplace features many of restaurants, bars, and gift shops and is connected by an overhead pedway to The Gallery, an upscale shopping mall across Pratt Street.
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: the red-brick Harbor promenade is open 24/7; Harborplace Mon-Thu 10a-9p, Fri-Sat 10a-10p, Sun 11a-7p
ADDRESS: Pratt Street, Light Street and Key Highway, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: on premises, street and nearby garages
RAPID TRANSIT: Charles Center Metro Station
PHONE: Harborplace 410-332-4191
WEBSITE: http://www.harborplace.com

Maryland Science Center
DESCRIPTION: Three floors of exhibits featuring the Chesapeake Bay, Hubble Space Telescope, Energy, and various live demonstrations. The IMAX 3D five-story theater sells out during new screenings and the Davis Planetarium is also popular. The facility includes a restaurant and gift shop.
ADMISSION: Adult $16, Ages 3-12 $12; add $4 for IMAX show.
DAYS & HOURS: depending on the season, hours vary around these “average” times: Mon-Wed 9a-6p, Thu 9a-8p, Fri 9a-8p, Sat 9a-8p, Sun 9a-6p
ADDRESS: 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: street and Light Street garage
RAPID TRANSIT: Camden Yards MARC Station & Light Rail Station
PHONE: 410-685-2370
WEBSITE: http://www.mdsci.org

USS Constellation
DESCRIPTION: This Navy battleship was launched in Baltimore in 1797; exhibits on board explain that when slavery was outlawed before the Civil War, the ship was used to capture slave ships and free enslaved people; it’s also a cool place to let your kids handle the steering wheel while you take in some the best Inner Harbor views — don’t worry, the ship is securely ported; Apr-Oct 10a-5:30p, Nov-Mar 10a-4:30p
ADMISSION: Adults $9.50, Ages 60+ $7.50, Ages 6-14 $4.75, Age 5 & under FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Apr-Oct 10a-5:30p, Nov-Mar 10a-4:30p
ADDRESS: 301 East Pratt Street, Pier 1, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
RAPID TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-539-1797
WEBSITE: http://www.constellation.org

National Aquarium
DESCRIPTION: Start on the 4th floor Rain Forest, then walk down the spiral staircase to see world-famous sharks, dolphins, rays, tropical fish, and 11,000 other creatures from more than 600 species of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals in naturalistic exhibits. This 3-building portside complex includes an experience in the 4D Immersion Theater that bring you closer to the sights, sounds and smells of the action.
DAYS & HOURS: July-Aug 9a-8p; Mar-Jun & Sep/Oct Sat-Thu 9a-5p, Friday 9a-8p; Nov-Feb Sat-Thu 10a-5p, Fri 10a-8p
ADMISSION: $16 adults, age 3 to 11$9.50, and $13 for age 60+
ADDRESS: 501 East Pratt Street, Pier 3, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
RAPID TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-576-3800
WEBSITE: http://www.aqua.org

USS Constellation in Baltimore Inner Harbor; (c) Soul Of America

U.S. Submarine Torsk
DESCRIPTION: Commissioned in 1944, it was the last American naval vessel to sink a warship in World War II and was part of the American Submarine offensive Pacific Campaign. Today it is part of the Living Classrooms Foundation’s Maritime Museum.
ADMISSION: small fee
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 501 East Pratt Street, Pier 3, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
RAPID TRANSIT: Shot Tower/Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-396-3453
WEBSITE: http://www.usstorsk.net

Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore
DESCRIPTION: When you need young kids to blow off a few hours of worry-free fun, take them to this exciting children’s museum next to the Inner Harbor. Three fun filled floors provide a variety of hands-on thoughtful exhibits and activities. Disney Imagineers designed most of the exhibits.
ADMISSION: Ages 2 and above $11.75, under age FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Oct-May Tue-Fri 9:30a-4:30p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun Noon-5p; Summer Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 12 Noon-5p; Friday Fun Nights (Summer) 10a-8p
ADDRESS: 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: street and nearby garages
RAPID TRANSIT: Shot Tower-Market Place Metro Station
PHONE: 410-727-8120
WEBSITE: http://www.portdiscovery.org

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards
DESCRIPTION: First opened in 1856, Camden Station served as the grand passenger terminal for the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad. At one time it was the city’s tallest building. The first Civil War battle was fought just one block north on Pratt Street and many presidents have passed through the building doors. With the decline of passenger railroads in the 20th century, B&O vacated the building in 1971. Today this neo-classic spired structure hosts baseball exhibits featuring Babe Ruth, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, and Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles; another baseball exhibit features Baltimore’s Negro Leagues Baseball team, which if sometime tended by a NLB star. Football fans enjoy Baltimore Ravens Ray Lewis and Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas exhibits. Babe Ruth Museum, the restored home of Babe is located at 216 Emory Street, three blocks west of Oriole Park.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Ages 3-12 $6.50
DAYS & HOURS: Nov-Mar Tue-Sun 10a-5p, Apr-Oct 10a-6p, later during baseball games
ADDRESS: 301 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
RAPID TRANSIT: MARC Camden Yards Station and Convention Center Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-727-1539
WEBSITE: http://www.baberuthmuseum.com

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
DESCRIPTION: Located on the 2nd floor of the Sports Legend Museum at Camden Yards, Geppi’s takes you on a journey through 250 years of American pop culture. Revisit your childhood with old friends that entertained you in the past through comic books, television shows, films, cartoons and more. The museum exhibits ~6,000 pop culture artifacts including comics, toys, dolls, games and memorabilia of every conceivable category from the late 1700s to characters like Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Mickey Mouse, Barbie, G.I. Joe and much more.
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Age 55+ $9, Age 5-18 $7, Age 4 & under Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tuesday-Sunday 10a-6p
ADDRESS: 301 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
RAPID TRANSIT: MARC Camden Yards Station at Convention Center Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-625-7060
WEBSITE: http://geppismuseum.com

Orioles Park at Camden Yards
DESCRIPTION: Home to MLB’s Baltimore Orioles; when it opened in 1996, this mesmerizing palace to the game of baseball triggered a revolution in how future baseball parks would be designed; it features fantastic sight lines from every seat, a picnic area in the outfield before games and lots of eye candy for casual fans that makes the game an interesting outing, win or lose; seats 45,000; an impressive statue honoring Oriole legend Frank Robinson is located just outside the left-center-field fence.
ADMISSION: see website
DAYS & HOURS: April-September
ADDRESS: 333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
RAPID TRANSIT: MARC Camden Yards Station and Metro Howard Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 888-848-2473
WEBSITE: link

M&T Bank Stadium
DESCRIPTION: Home of the NFL’s 2-time champion Baltimore Ravens; designed by the same architectural firm as Orioles Park. It was completed in 1998 for $220 million, the stadium has 119 suites, 8,196 club seats for a capacity to host 70,100 rabid football fans. They have a lot to cheer about since there isn’t a bad seat in the house, very wide concourses to access abundant refreshment stands, 2 huge video screens and plenty of restrooms.
ADMISSION: see website
DAYS & HOURS: September-December
ADDRESS: 1101 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: Convention Center garage
RAPID TRANSIT: MARC Camden Yards Station and Howard Street Lightrail Station
PHONE: 410-547-8100
WEBSITE: http://www.baltimoreravens.com

B&O Railroad Museum
DESCRIPTION: Train buffs are drawn to this museum like moths to a flame. It is the oldest continuously operated railroad facility in the world and the birthplace of American railroading. The museum includes a “Ports, Waiters, and Chefs: Portraits African-American Railroad Hospitality on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad” exhibit. Prior to automobiles becoming a dominant part of our life, railroad porters and chefs were the largest category of African-American workers listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
ADMISSION: Adults $16, Ages 60+ $14, Ages 2-12 $10
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-4p, Sun 11a-4p
ADDRESS: 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: free on premises
RAPID TRANSIT: none
PHONE: 410-752-2490
WEBSITE: http://www.borail.org

Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
DESCRIPTION: Opened 1876, it is the 3rd oldest zoo in the country, behind Philadelphia (1873) and Cincinnati (1874). It name-changed to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in 2004. Among its many updated habitats, the 160-acre zoo features Polar Bear Watch, a state-of-the-art exhibit of Arctic life with an authentic Tundra Buggy® from which visitors can safely watch the bears jump in and out of the water. The camel ride exhibit lets visitors get up close with our those friendly long-distance animals for a short-distance ride. Baby Elephant Samson on exhibit daily 10a–Noon. For extra fun, visit the Giraffe Feeding Station Sat & Sun 10:30a–3p. Another must-see is the Rhino Barn.
ADMISSION: Adult $17.50, Ages 2-11 $12.50, Ages 65+ $12.50
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-4p
ADDRESS: Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD MAP
PARKING: Free on premises
RAPID TRANSIT: Metro Mondawmin Station
PHONE: 410-366-5466
WEBSITE: http://www.marylandzoo.org

Druid Hill Park
DESCRIPTION: In 1860, Baltimore Park Commission purchased Druid Hill Estate, which had been laid-out in the manner of an English garden with Mansion House focal point. Even though this 650-acre park has no grand landscaping scheme, one is constantly reminded of its magnificent Mansion House, gardens, miles of carriage paths, a beautiful lake, and picnic groves. The park is also home to Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, tennis courts, playgrounds and an aviary; thus its components fit together as nature intended, rather than a landscape engineer. The tennis courts and pool are historically noteworthy to African-Americans because gaining access to them in the 1950s were some of the most cherished victories of the Civil Rights Movement. More citizens visit this park than any other in Baltimore.
ADDRESS: Greenspring Avenue, Parkdale Avenue & Swann Drive entrances, Baltimore, MD MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: Metro Mondawmin Station
WEBSITE: Link

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