With kids · Baltimore · United States
Baltimore with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The original uploader was Basilica1 at English Wikipedia ., Public domain
Quick answer
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is built for families, with the aquarium, the science centre, Port Discovery and historic ships all within a short walk. The B&O Railroad Museum and Fort McHenry suit older children. Top picks: National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore and Port Discovery Children's Museum. Families usually base themselves in Inner Harbor.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Inner Harbor
- Rainy-day options
- 4
Best things to do with kids
Aquarium · Inner Harbor
1.National Aquarium
Spread over two piers on the Inner Harbor, the aquarium's exhibits include Blacktip Reef with sharks and a green sea turtle, a rooftop Upland Tropical Rain Forest under a glass pyramid, the Australia gallery with a waterfall and a large jellyfish gallery. A walkway spirals up through tanks representing different habitats.
Visit on a weekday afternoon after school groups leave, and do the rainforest first before it gets warm and crowded.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Historic site · Inner Harbor
2.Historic Ships in Baltimore
Four ships and a lighthouse form this floating museum: the USS Constellation, an 1854 sloop-of-war and the last all-sail warship built by the US Navy; the Second World War submarine USS Torsk; the Coast Guard cutter Taney, a survivor of Pearl Harbor; and the Lightship Chesapeake. The Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse stands on Pier 5.
Buy a pass that covers several ships; the Torsk submarine's tight bunks are the highlight for children.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Iconic
Museum · Inner Harbor
3.Port Discovery Children's Museum
Three floors of hands-on exhibits for children up to about age 10, including a three-storey climbing structure, a pretend supermarket and diner, and water play. It is a short walk from the Inner Harbor in the old Fish Market building.
Bring a change of clothes for the water area, and visit on a weekday morning when it is calmer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Inner Harbor
4.Maryland Science Center
On the southwest corner of the Inner Harbor, the science centre has a dinosaur hall, hands-on physics and body exhibits, a planetarium and an observatory. It is a good choice for older children who have already done the aquarium.
Combine it with Federal Hill Park, just behind the building, for the harbour view.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Museum · Southwest Baltimore
5.B&O Railroad Museum
In the 1884 Mount Clare roundhouse, a 22-sided building with a soaring wooden roof, the museum displays one of the largest collections of historic locomotives in the country. Train rides run on the first mile of commercial railroad track in America, laid in 1829.
Check the schedule for the short train ride, included with entry on most days, and look up at the roundhouse's roof.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Locust Point
6.Fort McHenry National Monument
During the British bombardment of September 1814, the sight of the huge American flag still flying over this star-shaped fort inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem. The visitor centre film ends with a dramatic reveal of the fort, and you can walk the ramparts, barracks and powder magazine.
Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor or Fells Point in season, and ask about the timing of the flag-change programmes.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
Rainy-day ideas
- National Aquarium — Visit on a weekday afternoon after school groups leave, and do the rainforest first before it gets warm and crowded.
- B&O Railroad Museum — Check the schedule for the short train ride, included with entry on most days, and look up at the roundhouse's roof.
- Port Discovery Children's Museum — Bring a change of clothes for the water area, and visit on a weekday morning when it is calmer.
- Maryland Science Center — Combine it with Federal Hill Park, just behind the building, for the harbour view.
Where families should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers and families
Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is the city's visitor centre: a brick promenade around the water with the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center and the historic warship USS Constellation. Many of the big hotels are here or a few blocks away near the convention centre, Camden Yards and the light rail. The waterfront's former Harborplace pavilions are part of a long-term redevelopment.
- Good
- Walk to the main attractions; Water taxi stops; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Chain restaurants and a touristy feel; Quiet streets away from the water at night
- Nearby
- National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore, Maryland Science Center, Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Family travel tips
- Stay at the Inner Harbor to walk to the main family attractions.
- Book aquarium tickets online for a timed slot, especially in summer and on weekends.
- Fort McHenry's junior ranger programme is free and popular with school-age children.
- Paddle boats on the Inner Harbor are a cheap summer treat for younger kids.
- The Maryland Zoo in Druid Hill Park makes a good half-day outside the centre.
Day trips for families
- Washington, D.C. (About 40–60 minutes by train) — The capital's free Smithsonian museums, the National Mall and its monuments, and the Capitol are an easy train ride away.
- Gettysburg (About 1 hour 20 minutes) — The site of the pivotal 1863 Civil War battle and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
- Harpers Ferry (About 1 hour 15 minutes) — Where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, this preserved 19th-century town in West Virginia is a national historical park, known for John Brown's 1859 raid and views from Jefferson Rock.
When to go with children
The best months overall are April–June and September–October. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Baltimore good for kids?
Baltimore's Inner Harbor is built for families, with the aquarium, the science centre, Port Discovery and historic ships all within a short walk. The B&O Railroad Museum and Fort McHenry suit older children.
+What can kids do in Baltimore?
National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore, Port Discovery Children's Museum, Maryland Science Center and B&O Railroad Museum.
+Where should families stay in Baltimore?
Inner Harbor: Waterfront promenade with the aquarium, historic ships and big chain hotels.