Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in baltimore, MD

Savor the Summer: Five Things to Do Before the Onset of Fall

August 04, 2009

Summer, much to my sadness, is waning.

And I know what you're probably saying to yourself:  Oh, for Pete's sake, Laura, please give this sentimental schlock a rest.  But even you have noticed that the fireflies, night by night, are disappearing, and even you have strolled past-with no small amount of horror-the countless back-to-school displays.  Sure, it's only the first week of August, but in a flicker of lightning, summer will be over, and think of all there will be to miss. 

Hurry, before school starts, before everything gets cold and structured and crazy, and take advantage of all that summer has to offer.

Here-sniffle-are five fun suggestions.

(And stop rolling your eyes at me.  Can I help it that I'm a sentimental fool?)

Take a dinnertime boat ride!

At Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, you can, for $35 a family, enjoy dinner and twilight on a pontoon boat.  Don't drag your heels (or your lifevests), though:  There's only one more of these "Friday Floating Feasts" this season, so if you miss the next one, on August 14, you'll have to wait ‘til next season, and that, you know, might make me cry.

Camp out in the yard!

You can camp out in the mountains or by the ocean, sure, but if you're short on time but not on outdoor enthusiasm, why not camp out in your own backyard?  Pitch the tent, roast up some wieners, and enjoy the comforts of home in a whole new way.

Go to an outdoor concert!

Dance what's left of summer away at the last of Belvedere Square's Friday concerts.  Crowded, yes, but free, family-friendly and festive. 

Hit an outdoor movie! 

I know I've pushed the outdoor movie thing before, but seriously, outdoor movies are awesome.  They're also uniquely summertime, so if you don't get on the stick, movie buffs, your next flick's going to be watched at home or in a dank, sticky, burnt popcorn-scented theatre.  Not that there's anything wrong with that (weep)!

Catch a falling star!

Or, more accurately, catch a speeding meteor during the Perseids shower on August 12 and 13.  This shower is an annual stargazers' favorite, with an average of 60 meteor sightings per hour, so keep the kids up late and enjoy this celestial summertime spectacle.

Long live summertime! 

Weekend Highlights, 5/15 - 5/17

May 14, 2009

Another great springtime weekend is headed our way.  Get out there and enjoy all of the fun--and pollen--that the next few days have to offer.  Here, for your perusal, are a few weekend highlights:

Act Naturally

April 07, 2009

If you've never heard of No Child Left Inside, the nationwide initiative to get our children back to nature, now's the time for you to read up, as we're in the midst of No Child Left Inside Days.  Visit the No Child Left Inside home page, powered by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, for heaps of information on the No Child Left Inside Act and on the many benefits of environmental education to children.  Because even if your kids are die-hard nature enthusiasts already, and even if the notion of getting your kids outside seems as commonsense to you as feeding them, you may not be aware of the pervasiveness of so-called Nature Deficit Disorder, and you may not know that there are many ways that you can support environmental education.  Join the coalition, and help kids all over America rediscover nature.  Get involved . . .  and then get outside!

Fun at Irvine Nature Center

March 09, 2009

So, my son and I finally got over to the new Irvine Nature Center last week, and boy, even in the depths of winter, was there a lot of great stuff to see.  The day we visited was cold and blustery, so we didn't spend very much time outside, but the green-friendly space (notice the large, light-maximizing windows, the "green roof" and many other environmentally savvy features) and wide array of plants and animals made us feel as if we were part of the vast woods that surround the property.  My son especially enjoyed the terrapins, who were eating worms when we arrived; he also loved the night creatures exhibit, where he was able to go behind a dark curtain and listen to the sounds of foxes and owls.  Some other live animals on exhibit:  snakes, frogs, fish and turtles.  And for the best-seat-in-the-house view of a turtle, pop into the glass dome in the center of the turtles' enclosure.  There's a Kids' Korner, made extra-fun with nature-inspired puzzles and books, as well as help-yourself drawers full of bones and seashells and other tangible reminders of the natural world.  There's also a nature store, in case you feel like purchasing a tangible reminder of the natural world.  And come warmer weather, there will be even more to do at Irvine, as the walking trails become more hospitable and the picnic tables become more attractive to families and yellow jackets.

Weekend Guide: 11/14-11/16

by Laura Stallard Petza

November 13, 2008

Well, another weekend is nearly upon us, and chances are good that you're looking for more fun and educational stuff to do with the kids. Right? So here, without further delay, are some excellent ways to get your weekend happening. Friday, November 14 Rainbow Theatre Presents Goldilocks and 3 Bears and Nursery Rhyme and Rhythm Every little kid loves nursery rhymes,  Read more...