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With an abundance of kid-friendly museums, attractions, historic treasures, shopping & more, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is an ideal spot for a fun Spring day trip with the kids!

But with all of the rich culture, cuisine & attractions to choose from, it can be tricky to pick the perfect spots for your family fun day. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of our top Kid-Friendly experiences, all in the heart of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor!

Fuel Up for Fun

No Spring experience can begin without first fueling up with a delicious meal! And as a local, family-owned restaurant, we know that there is nothing more important than family - which is why Miss Shirley’s Cafe was thrilled to be named one of America’s Favorite Family-Friendly Restaurants by FoodNetwork.com, as well as Favorite Kids Menu in Chesapeake Family Magazine! 

With an array of Award Winning Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch options, there’s bound to be something the whole family will love. While waiting for a table or food to be served, your little Misses or Misters can enjoy reading one of our many breakfast-themed children’s books or creating a masterpiece on our Etch-A-Sketch toys. Miss Shirley's also offers a fun Kids Games & Puzzles Activity Mat for coloring, as well as an Interactive Games Mat for older kids, with unique & educational thinking games! Shirley’s Kids Meals also come in a fun bento box with a breakfast or lunch entrée & choice of healthy sides like steamed broccoli, apple sauce, fresh fruit & yogurt!

In addition to Miss Shirley’s Inner Harbor restaurant location, conveniently located on East Pratt St., just across the street from the National Aquarium; Miss Shirley’s Cafe also has two more locations in Maryland – uptown in Baltimore’s Roland Park neighborhood & in downtown Annapolis. MissShirleys.com/Menu

Photo courtesy of Miss Shirley's Cafe

Learn Something New

Did you know that there are 30+ museums in the city of Baltimore alone? We’ve narrowed down our top 5 museum experiences for kids, all within walking distance of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor!

• Port Discovery Children’s Museum – This kid-themed museum is packed with three floors of hands-on exhibits, arts workshops & special events, designed to stimulate the imagination and encourage kids to learn through play. PortDiscovery.org

• National Aquarium in Baltimore– With more than 20,000 fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and marine mammals living in award-winning habitats, it’s no wonder that the National Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top three aquariums! Explore bright and beautiful coral reefs, exhilarating animal exhibits & fascinating immersion tours that your family will love. Aqua.org

• Maryland Science Center – Challenge your mind with three floors of interactive exhibits that teach kids of all ages about everything from outer space and dinosaurs to kinetic energy and human anatomy. Families also have the opportunity to participate in live-action experiments, drop-in classes, DIY projects & more. Mdsci.org

• Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! – Discover the world’s oddities and experience three unique attractions including the Odditorium with over 350 exhibits and artifacts, the 4D Moving Theater, and Marvelous Mirror Maze. Ripleys.com/Baltimore

• American Visionary Art Museum – This one-of-a-kind art museum showcases unique artists & kinetic sculptures, with fun family activities like drop-in art programs, interactive exhibits & weekly special events. Avam.org

Or, if you’d prefer to stay on foot, check out the Historic Ships in Baltimore, including the USS Constellation, USS Torsk, Lightship Chesapeake & USCGC Taney, which are conveniently docked right at Inner Harbor piers 1, 3 and 5! HistoricShips.org

Photo courtesy of Visit Baltimore - Baltimore.org

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

There’s no better place to experience America’s favorite pastime with the family, than at Oriole Park at Camden Yards! Reserve a few seats and pack in the stadium snacks as you watch Baltimore’s home team defend Birdland. The stadium also features a fun Kids’ Corner with entertainment for younger fans, including a jungle gym, moon bounce & life-size bobbleheads.

Need more convincing? The Baltimore Orioles offer a “Kids Cheer Free” program that allows fans ages 9 & under to attend games free of charge! For each regularly-priced individual game upper deck ticket purchased, adults can add up to 2 additional free kids tickets! MLB.com/Orioles

Photo courtesy of Visit Baltimore - Baltimore.org

Get Out On The Water

Scotland has it’s ‘Nessie,’ but only in Baltimore will you find the Chesapeake Bay ‘Chessie!’ The kids will love taking in the view of the Harbor from a colorful four-seat dragon-shaped ‘Chessie’ paddle boat. Looking to spend some time out on the water, but don’t feel up to paddling? Try one of the new Electric Pirate Ships, which can seat up to a family of six. BaltimorePaddleBoats.org

And, if you’re up for a real pirate adventure, hop on the Water Taxi and head over to Fells Point for a fun & interactive sailing experience with Urban Pirates. The whole family will enjoy learning to talk, dance and play like a pirate, blasting enemies with water cannons & discovering vast treasures aboard the Pirate Ship Fearless. UrbanPirates.com

Photo courtesy of Visit Baltimore - Baltimore.org

Whether you’re looking to have a fun day trip or week-long adventure, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has something for everyone to enjoy. We hope to see your family in Charm City this Spring! Also, when exploring be sure to visit like a local and share your Baltimore Family-Friendly experiences on social media using #MyBmore. 

Article written by Jessica Tyree, Miss Shirley’s Cafe 

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