By Alison Netzer
Baltimore is quickly becoming a must-see destination and there are a number of reasons why. The city of Baltimore is located on the East Coast, USA. It is an hour drive north of Washington DC and two hours south of New York City. It’s easily accessible by most major airlines, trains, and buses. If driving, you will find ample parking along streets and public parking lots.
Baltimore holds an important place in the history of this country and the development of the United States. The city not only held off the British in the war of 1812, but also was once the second most-used port of entry for immigration at the turn of the 20th century. Baltimore also has a rich maritime and industrial past that can be seen in museums and food, like famous Maryland crab doused with Chesapeake Bay spices.
Baltimore is great for families with kids of all ages. The city’s neighborhoods are rich in history and distinctive. And Baltimore’s manageable size (and prices) lend themselves well to family vacations with your kids.
Unique Museums of Baltimore
Baltimore is home to some museums that are truly noteworthy. These museums are unique to the city and highlight the history of Baltimore as an important American city during the 20th century.
The Museum of Industry: This museum is on the site of a port that once connected the city to the world of commerce. Inside the museum, visitors have the opportunity to discover Baltimore’s industrial heritage; oyster canning, printing, and even a mock early 1900’s pharmacy featuring the Noxema product created and produced in Baltimore. There are interactive game designing exhibits for kids of all ages like hands-on craft making, stories, and tours. Did you know that most of GM’s AC Delco radios were made in Baltimore? You will after your visit!
The B&O Railroad Museum: A visit to the B&O museum will bring you to one of the largest collections of locomotives and train equipment in the world. It is the birthplace of American railroading and was one of the first places to have a passenger station. The Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) railroad was a pivotal player in the rise of the US as an industrial player. There are plenty of kid zones and little ones will love running in and out of the trains!
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park: This museum is dedicated to the African-American experience in the development of Baltimore’s maritime past. It outlines the important and unique role African-Americans played 150 years ago in the maritime commerce of the city that typically goes un- or under-reported.
Art Museums
Baltimore Museum of Art: One of the great draws to this museum is that it is free. Yes—free. The other is the Cone Collection. Claribel and Etta Cone were Baltimore sisters who moved to Paris, and hung out with Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse. They amassed an enormous collection of blue chip art, including oils by Gaugin, Cezanne, and Van Gogh, and then bequeathed the collection to the BMA. The floor displaying the work includes a mock-up of their Paris apartment. This is one of the worlds’ best collections of Post-Impressionist and early Modernist art.
If you happen to visit on a Sunday, you can take advantage of a free art workshop for kids (all materials are included). The museum is a cab or car ride from downtown. It’s also next door to the main Johns Hopkins University campus, if you’d like to take a look.
The Walters Art Museum: This is the private collection of a father-son team, and reflects their highly idiosyncratic tastes. You’ll love the superb collection of Baroque art, including the masters of the Italian and Spanish Baroque. Your kids will love the armor collection (one of the biggest in the country) and the curio collection of strange artifacts from nature. It’s in the middle of Mount Vernon, so you can combine it with a walking tour of this beautiful neighborhood, and lunch in one of its many spots.
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
National Aquarium: Consistently ranked one of the top Aquariums in the Nation, the National Aquarium is a pleaser for kids. The aquarium dedicates itself to marine life and conservancy and is the largest tourist attraction in Maryland. Visitors will be delighted to see over 20,000 marine species and various habitat attractions. Find Nemo? Sure. But don’t miss the Australian and rain forest terraspheres!
Historic Ships in Baltimore: After a visit to the Aquarium, take time to visit the historic ships in the harbor right next to the National Aquarium. Visit a World War II submarine, a lightship, and a Coast Guard ship. Kids will love the USS Constellation, launched in 1797, as they imagine chasing pirates in the West Indies.
The Maryland Science Center: A visit to this science museum lets you explore everything from dinosaurs, to germs, to the planetarium, and even the local life of a Maryland Blue Crab (we are quite proud of our local crustacean). It offers an IMAX movie theater, hands-on exhibits, and many live science demonstrations. On a nice day, you can eat outside on the waterfront and watch the many boats sail by.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum: I would recommend this for kids on the younger side, 8 years and under. The museum has a wonderful array of exhibits where kids can climb, touch, and even pretend they are serving food in a 50’s style diner. When you enter, you will find a large climbing area with a massive slide right in the middle of the museum. The kids will stay happy, and you’ll end up being the one who decides when it’s time to go.
Orioles Game If you are lucky to be in town during an Orioles Game, head over to Camden Yards and take in one of Baltimore’s best. This is the stadium that started the retro-ballpark craze. It’s built around the B&O warehouse, which was the longest building in the US when it was built. There’s not a bad sight line in the whole park. If it’s a day game, consider a terrace box for the shade, or the third base line, which gets shade earlier than the first base line. Tickets are affordable. Get some pit beef sandwiches (Baltimore’s signature sandwich) at Boog’s BBQ, by the Eutaw entrance. Camden Yards is conveniently located downtown, within walking distance from most downtown neighborhoods. Fans are fun and you may even get an autograph from the Oriole bird, also known as “The Bird.”
Must-Try Eats
Maryland is known for its Maryland Blue Crabs. If you are going to be in Baltimore, during the summer and early fall, then you must take your family for a traditional Crab feast. They are prepared whole, steamed, and heavily seasoned with Chesapeake Bay seasoning, which varies from place to place. Most restaurants will provide instructions on how to eat them. Kids will love eating with their hands and getting messy. The two places to try while in Baltimore are LP Steamers, a local favorite with a great roof deck, but otherwise nondescript. Bo Brooks, although a very touristy eatery, locals will still go. It has the best view of the harbor.
During the day, take a trip to the Union Collective, a massive warehouse of distinct places created by the Union Beer Company. You will have to take a Taxi/Uber/Lyft or drive, but you will be happy you did. You can start you visit by checking out the new Union Beer Garden trying the local craft beer. Kids are welcome up until 6pm. After trying some different brews, walk over to the Charmery for locally made ice-cream. Try out a cup of joe at Vent Roasters while watching your kids rock climb at Earth Treks, a large indoor fitness and climbing facility.