Best Places For Moms To Meet In Baltimore
Ask any mom what she enjoys doing when she has a chunk of spare time, and she'll easily tick off a list: work out, shop, be pampered, relax with a glass of wine, read a book or magazine, watch a movie and have an adult conversation with adults who understand being a parent. That household stuff just doesn't make the cut; moms do for others all day long. Sometimes it's just essential to plan a little girls only time, or at least a little mommy meet mommy date to exhaust kids and relieve a little parental stress. Planning does mean putting it on the calendar, but with these awesome area options for Baltimore's best mom get-togethers, it's always worth it.
Lynne Brick's Belvedere Square
5911 York Rd.
Baltimore, Md. 21212
(410) 433-8200
www.brickbodies.com/
Hours: Mon to Thurs – 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.;
Fri – 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
Sat to Sun – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Click here for membership options
This woman only club of the Brick Bodies group of health/fitness centers is packed on weekday mornings between 8 a.m. and noon with moms of all ages. Mothers who come with kids in tow take advantage of the on-site childcare and then get to work in fitness classes or on machines. Moms come here to recharge their batteries through a healthy dose of exercise, but they also get a boost from the camaraderie among the members they could never experience on a treadmill at home. They leave energized both by their workout and relaxed by moms who relate to their stressors and their needs.
Girls On Grapes
Bin 604 Wine Sellers
604 S. Exeter St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 576-04444
www.girlsongrapes.com
Price: $25 annual membership fee
For moms who know wine time with friends is the cure for ... just about everything, Girls on Grapes wine tasting club is a not only a pleasure, it has an educational component. Each month, members receive information on the grape-of-the month and four wine selections to explore on their own. Then, armed with basic information, members register and attend in-store wine tastings where they explore the grape in greater detail, sample other examples of the wine and enjoy the company of a bunch of other Girls on Grapes.
Children of the World Co-op
Cathedral of the Incarnation
4 E. University Pkwy.
Baltimore, Md. 21218
(410) 377-5900
www.cotwcoop.org
Hours: Mon to Fri – 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Price: fees apply based on number of children and number of days
Sometimes it's difficult to meet other moms, especially if you are from out of town. Imagine how difficult that can be if English is not your first language. Children of the World Co-op, an international playgroup for children and their parents, works to make the adjustment easier through play. Geared toward families with young children, the playgroup, located near Johns Hopkins University, helps new mothers (and a few fathers) learn the ropes of parenting while meeting other recently transplanted families who left behind the support of family and friends. The Co-op also plans social events for families to introduce them to American customs such as Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Stroller Strides
Towson Town Center (winter)
825 Dulaney Valley Rd.
Towson, Md. 21204
Meadowood Regional Park (summer)
10650 Falls Rd.
Lutherville, Md. 21093
(800) 972-0524
classes.strollerstrides.net/
Hours: Mon to Fri – 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Prices: $75 initiation fee, other fees based on level of participation
Stroller Strides is a BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) exercise program for new moms and babies. Lead by fitness professionals, this aerobic workout is the perfect way for new mothers to get back in shape, compare notes on their new role in life and socialize. Members of Stroller Strides don't stop moving when the hour-long workout is over; they have fun with weekly playgroups and monthly moms-only events such as bowling and wine tasting.
Spa in the Valley
118 Shawan Rd., Ste. P
Hunt Valley, Md. 21030
(410) 771-0200
www.spainthevalley.com
Hours: Mon to Sat – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For moms who are too busy to escape to an exotic resort, a day at Spa in the Valley could feel almost as good. Offering a variety of unique spa packages, this is the place for moms who look forward to and deserve a day of pampering. Consider the Born Again package, which includes a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, shampoo, styling, makeup and lunch. Moms who want to enjoy a spa treatment with their gal-pals schedule pedi-parties that leave them walking on air.
Related: Top Mom Myths
A Baltimore native, Meredith Bower served as Director of Communications at an area private school for 11 years. Her professional knowledge and personal experience, as a parent of four children who attend/attended private schools, offers a unique perspective on the schools and the students who attend them. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
