Hometown Highlight: Baltimore Top 6 Family Attractions

Introducing a new Blog Topic: The Hometown Highlight! What is this you may ask? It's the opportunity to highlight Baltimore and Maryland to promote our local area. We are going to occasionally "show off" our hometown with positive stories, attractions, and upcoming events. We're giving all nearby residents, tourists, and the World Wide Web some helpful information about what's going on here in our city and state. So here's the first of many more to come. Enjoy!

Families can be so engulfed with the over-scheduled, everyday chaos of life that it's sometimes hard to make time for fun. But visit any of these five attractions, and the payoff will be happy family memories and maybe even a little learning too.

1. Port Discovery

If the energy expended by the young guests of this Inner Harbor museum could be harnessed, the self-described "kid-powered museum" would indeed run without a monthly electric bill. A few hours here and even your big kids will nap on the way home. The three-story climbing structure will physically tire them, but the constant learning opportunities, cleverly disguised as play, will leave them mentally exhausted too.

2. National Aquarium in Baltimore

While not specifically designed for kids, this aquatic wonderland of exotic and native Maryland species fascinates kids of all ages. The youngest ones enjoy watching the swishing of the creatures in the softly lit tanks. Older kids and adults love the elaborate recreations of native habitats, particularly the most recent addition, Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes. Note: Strollers are not allowed inside. Check your stroller at the door, and the museum will lend you a carrier for free.

_{Photo courtesy of the National Aquarium}

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3. Six Flags America

A day at this Largo, MD amusement and water park is pure fun. There's very little educational content here, but sometimes that's just what kids need. Only 40 minutes southeast of Baltimore, Six Flags is open April through October, though its Hurricane Harbor Water Park is only open in the summer. With 100-plus rides, attractions and shows, everyone in the family – from the youngest toddlers to the biggest thrill-seekers – will go home happy, tired and looking forward to a return visit.

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4. Maryland Science Center

This Inner Harbor attraction's exhibits, where kids reconstruct dinosaur skeletons, play a tune by ear or use a pulley to heave themselves to new heights, all teach by doing. And the shows pack in even more info. The Davis Planetarium puts on a fabulous star show, and the IMAX movies' 3-D effects leave audiences with wobbly knees. There's so much to learn here that most kids simply won't be able to retain it all – or likely even half of it. But that's okay because they will remember the fun.

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5. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Set in leafy Druid Hill Park, The Maryland Zoo exudes the old-fashioned charm of its 19th-century origins, amid its 21st-century makeover. With the Main Valley closed since 2004, visitors now take a tram to an entrance near the polar bears' digs. The African Journey is where you can visit the elephants, giraffes, lions, chimpanzees, cheetahs and more. A boardwalk meanders through The Children's Zoo and Maryland Wilderness, allowing a close-up view of the animals.

6. Camden Yards

Take them out to the ballgame! And the Orioles' Dugout Club makes it even easier on the wallet for mom and dad. For children under 14, just $17 buys one general admission ticket to each of the 10 Dugout Club dates. Accompanying adults can buy discounted tickets on game days.