baltimore area visitors center
Inner Harbor, 301 E. Pratt St., Pier One, 877-225-8466. Free visitor packet and information, 1-877-BALTIMORE. Advance purchase of a 4-day Harbor Pass is a bargain providing discounted entry to five major harbor attractions.
American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key Hwy., Baltimore, 410-244-1900. Tues.-Sun. 10-6. Adults $15.95, srs. $13.95, student/child $9.95, 6 & under free. Seven galleries of unique and unusual creations, all the result of the vision of self-taught artists.
Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum
216 Emory St., Baltimore, 410-727-1539. Daily 10-5 (7pm on game days). Adults $6, srs. $4, ages 3-12 $3, under 3 free. Through artifacts and photographs, audio and video highlights, visitors recall the life and career of Babe Ruth.
The B&O Railroad Museum
901 W. Pratt St., 410-752-2490. Mon.-Sat. 10-4, Sun. 11-4. Adults $14, srs. $12, ages 2-12 $8, under 2 free. Site of the country's oldest station displays a huge collection of railroad equipment, models and trains. Locomotives and rolling stock pieces on display in the spectacular 1884 Roundhouse trace the history of railroading in America.
Wed-Sun
Train Rides scheduled April through Dec., weekends only in Jan., weather permitting.
Baltimore Museum of Industry
1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, 410-727-4808. Tues.-Sun. 10-4. Adults $10, srs. $8, students $6, under 6 free. Discover the history of Baltimore in a series of recreated workshops and factories designed for hands-on exploration. Restored tugboat, 1880 printing press, oyster cannery, garment loft.
Maryland Science Center
Inner Harbor, 601 Light St., 410-685-5225. Tues.-Thurs. 10-5, Fri. 10-8, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5. Extended summer hours. Adults $14.95, srs. $13.95, ages 3-12 $11.95, under 3 free. Three floors of hands-on exhibits and demonstrations explore space, physics, earth sciences, dinosaurs, energy, math and the Chesapeake Bay. IMAX Theater, Davis Planetarium and also the site of the National Visitors' Center for the Hubble Space Telescope.
Selected Special Exhibitions
Thru Jan 1
Peanuts…Naturally, exploration of the natural world through Peanuts comics.
Feb 4-Apr 29
Harry's Big Adventure: My Bug World!, explores the insect world.
May 30-Sep 3
Math Midway, three-ring circus of fun math.
The Maryland Zoo at Baltimore
Druid Hill Park, 410-396-7102. Tickets: 410-366-LION (5466). Mar.-Dec.: Open daily 10-4. Jan. & Feb.: Open Fri.-Mon. 10-4. Admission Fri.-Sun.: Adults $16.50, srs. $13.50, ages 2-11 $11.50. Mon.-Thurs.: Adults $14.50, srs. $12.50, ages 2-11 $10.50. Discounted admission Jan. & Feb.
200-acre park is home to 1,500 birds, mammals and reptiles in natural habitats. Chimpanzee forest, African watering hole, leopard lair and outstanding children's zoo features a playful, wilderness trail and farmyard.
National Aquarium in Baltimore
Inner Harbor, 501 E. Pratt St., 410-576-3800. Nov.-Feb.: Daily 10-5, Fri. 10-8. Mar.-Jun. & Sept.-Oct.: Daily 9-5, Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-6. July & Aug.: Mon.-Thurs. 9-5, Fri.-Sat. 9-8, Sun. 9-6. Best time to visit is before 11am or after 3pm. Adults $24.95, srs. $23.95, children 3-11 $19.95. Advance tickets recommended. Unique 5-level building design with spiraling ramps and escalators leads visitors on a one-way, self-guided tour of different marine habitats. Huge ray exhibit, Atlantic coral reef, sharks, South American rain forest, Australian river gorge, touch tank, 4-D Immersion Theater. Dolphin shows daily in Marine Mammal Pavilion. Strollers must be checked; free backpacks available for children under 40 lbs.
Ongoing
Immersion Tours include gallery tours before the Aquarium opens, behind-the-scenes dolphin and shark tours and sleepovers with the sharks.
Port Discovery
Inner Harbor, 35 Marketplace, 410-727-8120. Oct.-May: Tues.-Fri. 9:30-4:30, Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-5. Memorial Day-Labor Day: Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-5, Fri. 'til 8 July & Aug. Admission $13.95, under 2 free. One of the largest children's museums in the country was designed for ages 6-12 by Walt Disney Imagineering. The museum centers around KidsWorks obstacle tower, a 3-story urban climbing structure. Exhibits include a convenience store, fill'er up station, diner, performance studio, indoor soccer, Wonders of Water, and two intricate mystery mazes—one an archaeology dig in Egypt, the other an oddball dwelling where everything is slightly askew.
Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards
Camden Station at the gateway to Oriole Park, 301 Camden St., Baltimore, 410-727-1539. Oct.-March: Tues.-Sun. 10-5. April-Sept.: Daily 10-5 (7pm on game days). Adults $8, srs. $6, age 3-12 $4. Combination tickets available with Babe Ruth Museum. Interactive museum showcases Maryland's sports history, heritage and heroes of the Baltimore Orioles, Colts, Ravens and Blast, Negro League teams, the Preakness, college teams and includes the Locker Room and kids discovery zone.