Guide To Baltimore's Port Discovery

When cabin fever strikes on a rainy spring day, and the kids loudly voice their boredom, take them downtown to Port Discovery. Consistently ranked among the top children's museums in the nation, serving area families for more than 15 years, this museum is more like a learning center and house of fun for kids up to 10 years of age. With lots of amazing exhibits, both permanent and visiting, your child won't be able to pick a favorite.

Port Discovery
35 Market Place
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 727-8120
www.portdiscovery.org

Price: $13.95 general admission; members and children under 2 are free. Check dates for $2 Family Night as well as other savings.

KidWorks
www.portdiscovery.org

If the kids thought the play area at your local fast food restaurant was impressive, their jaws will drop at the sight of this three-story treehouse. Children and adults must wear sneakers in order to climb rope bridges and shimmy through tunnels to reach the top. The observatory sphere allows a 360-degree view of the climb and kids can wave at those still on the ground. Best of all is the fun slide down so they can start all over again.

The Art of Sesame Street: From Pictures to Pages
www.portdiscovery.org/calendar

Date: Through Sept. 1, 2014

From the wonderful imaginations of Frank Oz and Jim Henson, "Sesame Street" became a popular children's television show that has been on the air for more than 45 years. A visiting exhibit to the Port Discovery Museum runs through Sept. 1 and is perfect for fans of the show, both young and young at heart. Sing along to teach your child the well-known theme song "Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street." There will be paintings and prints to recall the history of this beloved show, with favorite characters including Big Bird, Cookie Monster, the Count, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Grover and Bert and Ernie.

Related: Best Children's Museums In Maryland   

 

Kick it Up!
www.portdiscovery.org/pexhibits/44

As childhood obesity has become very widespread, it is more important than ever to encourage your little one to get up and moving around. This indoor soccer arena, which opened in 2012, injects fun into the sport. Complete with professional turf, electronic scoreboard and plenty of soccer balls, your aspiring athlete will feel like they are playing in the World Cup. The field is also used for children to ride stationary bikes and play electronic dance games as they learn how exercise and nutrition impact their health.

Tiny's Diner
www.portdiscovery.org

It's so frustrating for a kid to look but not touch in this tempting world. In Tiny's Diner, this is simply not the case. Your young one is greeted with specially designed kid-sized tables, counters and kitchen appliances. This is the perfect area to for children to learn proper interactions by taking orders or serving patrons their meals, mathematics at the cash register and imagination as they pretend to cook nutritious meals. Furthermore, they'll follow directions and learn the value of teamwork, all while having a blast.

Miss Shirley's
750 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore, Md. 21202
(410) 528-5373
www.missshirleys.com

After all of the excitement at the museum, your family is bound to have worked up an appetite. Take them two blocks south to Miss Shirley's, which serves a variety of nutritious brunch and lunch dishes. Omelettes, pancakes and fresh strawberries make a delightful brunch with healthy lunch options including soups, salads, sandwiches and seafood. Don't forget to order a Baltimore favorite, sweet potato fries, though the kids will also love the Funky Monkey bread.

Related: A Guide To The Maryland Zoo

Pam Smith graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a passion for writing. Her adaptive nature led her to work in the scientific, energy supply, and business industries while writing on a multitude of topics for various online media. Pam currently resides in Baltimore County. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.