Indoor Public Activities for Toddlers in Maryland

From Baltimore to Annapolis, Maryland is a child-friendly state rife with activities for families to enjoy together. Although there is plenty to see and do outdoors, kids can have just as much fun exploring Maryland's indoor venues. The next time a rainy day rolls around, you don't have to stay stuck at home with the kids.

  1. Visit an Aquarium

    • Aquariums are an excellent way for children to learn about wildlife, and Baltimore's world-renowned National Aquarium (aqua.org) is home to around 16,500 specimens and 660 species. The aquarium features a variety of fish in every color, pattern, size and shape. Children can see everything from a bonnethead shark or an electric eel to a summer flounder or zebra shark. The aquarium also boasts mammals like the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, and a variety of reptiles, birds and amphibians. Animal Planet Australia, the aquarium's Australian exhibit, details how animals such as the archerfish or spiny-tailed monitor survive in an extreme environment.

    Climb at an Indoor Play Space

    • Children often need to let out their energy, and being indoors isn't always conducive to doing so. With locations in Cockeysville and Millersville, the Ultimate Play Zone (ultimateplayzone.com) features 11,000 square feet of fun and provides an indoor setting for kids to bounce, run, explore and imagine. This one-of-a-kind play experience features "wonder centers" with lifelike pirate ships, castles and six inflatable play stations. Children can explore the interactive inflatables during the open bounce hours, participate in a Kid's Night Out event or enroll in the facility's mini-camp.

    Learn and Read at the Library

    • Maryland's libraries give children the ability to visit other worlds through reading. Baltimore County Public Library's Storyville (bcplstoryville.org) is an interactive learning center for toddlers and their parents. Available at the Rosedale and Woodlawn branches, Storyville features a child-sized village with a grocery store and mailroom, construction zone, home living area, theater and a library. Storyville was developed to help parents work with their children to develop literacy and school-readiness skills, so each part of Storyville was designed to promote language and literacy, scientific thinking and social and personal skills.

    Explore a Museum

    • Though some may argue that children and museums don't mix, there are plenty of Maryland museums that offer hands-on activities for children. For children who love trains, visit the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum (borail.org), where they can experience the magic of railroading and explore one of the most significant railroad collections in America. The museum features locomotives and rolling stock, historic buildings and other items that detail the effects of the B&O Railroad. Children can view exciting, educational movies on the history of railroads or stand in the cab of a steam locomotive.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • The Effect of Extracurricular Activities on Academic Grades
      Extracurricular activities are offered to a student who wants to spend his spare time in an enjoyable and structured environment. He is encouraged to take part in activities so that it will benefit him in other areas of his life. One area that an ext
    • Free Kids Activities in Dayton, Ohio
      Families with children living in, or planning to visit, Dayton, Ohio, have options available for keeping the cost of a visit under control. The city has free kids activities based around its aviation heritage as the home of the Wright brothers, as we
    • Team Building Activities for Camp
      Team-building activities are an important component for any camp, whether its a day camp for younger children or a residential camp for teens. Camp counselors are taught various techniques for creating a team-focused atmosphere and uniting campers wi