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

Come and See the Animals!

July 06, 2009

Both of my children are wild about animals, so we visit The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and the National Aquarium a lot.  And as much as we love hanging around our old buddies, like the crocodiles and the polar bears and the giraffes at the zoo, and the sharks and the rays and the dolphins at the aquarium, we always look forward to making new friends, too.  Last year, we were lucky enough to be introduced to Samson the elephant; and this year, what with the new and exciting additions I'm about to describe, promises to be no less fortuitous for us animal lovers.

You may remember, if you were living in Baltimore prior to 2005, the frisky, inquisitive prairie dogs that once lived in the old, main part of the zoo.  Those crazy prairie dogs, with their endless shenanigans, always made everyone who saw them laugh, and when they disappeared, as a result of a still-going construction project, many zoo patrons (including me) were sad.  But--and I bet you can guess where I'm going with this--there's no reason to be sad any longer, for the prairie dogs, in all of their burrowing glory, have returned to the zoo!  And their new digs (snicker, snicker), not far from the zoo's entrance, are more spacious and cozy-looking than ever.  You'll enjoy their digging, their hiding, their loping and their frolicking.  Just be sure to apply the sunscreen, as the exhibit, much to the prairie dogs' satisfaction, is out in the blazing, unrelenting sun. 

More amazing creatures that have recently made their way into these parts are the National Aquarium's jellyfish.  Graceful, mysterious and otherworldly, these guys are about as different from prairie dogs as animals could possibly be.  But watching them move, all writhing and flexing, is every bit as entertaining as watching the hijinks of the p-dogs.  And the exhibit, which reminds visitors of still more ways in which human activities (negatively) impact animal life, is very educational.  One bit of warning, though:  this exhibit, like all aquarium exhibits, can get ridiculously, uncomfortably crowded, so you'd be wise to visit during non-peak hours.  That said, don't let the crowds dissuade you from going altogether.  It's a treat, after all, to be able to get close to jellyfish without the fear of being stung.  Plus, of course, the aquarium is home to many varieties of jellyfish that you won't find in the waters of Ocean City.

So what are you waiting for?  Go out and make some new animal friends today!  Read more...

Weekend Highlights, 4/17 - 4/19

April 16, 2009

It's weekend time again; following are some of the many fun things to do around town these next few days.   

Weekend Highlights, 3/6-3/8

March 05, 2009

The weekend is almost here, the weather is supposed to be warm and beautiful, and there are, in all seriousness, about a million fun things happening over the course of the next several days.  Following is a list of some of the weekend's most awesome highlights.  Enjoy!

The Weather Outside Is Frightful, and My Toddler's Being Spiteful (Volume Two): Five (More) Things to Do in Baltimore on a Less-Than-Perfect Day

by Laura Stallard Petza

January 20, 2009

Winter. At its best, it's a season of light snow, of candy hearts, and at its worst, well, it's a season of boredom. There hasn't been much in the way of snow this winter, and it's too early, of course, for candy hearts, so what's left for you to do with the kids? Sure, there's ice skating--I wrote about skating venues a few weeks back--but perhaps you're still looking for a few activities that  Read more...

Ten Favorite Posts from Being Savvy Baltimore, 2008

by Laura Stallard Petza

December 30, 2008

Ever had to compile a "best of" list? It's hard, especially when the best-of's you're compiling are pieces of your own writing. Talk about daunting. Anyway, my fellow Savvy Sourcers and I are all mining our archives for ten of our favorite posts from 2008, and here, without further adieu, are mine: 1. Wrap up a Bit of Baltimore 2. Ha-Ha-Ha: Five Books to Make You Laugh 3.  Read more...

Wrap up a Bit of Baltimore

by Laura Stallard Petza

December 16, 2008

So the playroom is stuffed to the gills with balls and wheels and odd plastic pieces, and you realize, with horror, that another heap of toys is coming, thanks to Santa or Hanukkah Harry, and you want to weep into your tea. Right? Because as much as you love the holidays, and as much as you delight in those beautiful smiles on your children's faces, you're kinda-sorta finished with all of the  Read more...

Weekend Highlights: 12/4-12/7

by Laura Stallard Petza

December 04, 2008

Everybody's looking for ways to save a little money, especially in the midst of these dicey economic times, and especially in the midst of the holiday season. So what could be more welcome than Downtown Dollar or Less Days, a program sponsored by participating attractions this weekend and designed to get you--guess where?--downtown. Visit such popular, family-friendly destinations as The  Read more...

Top Ten Things That I've Been Meaning to Do (But Never Seem to Get to Because We're Always at the Zoo)

by Laura Stallard Petza

October 08, 2008

Now this, to be honest, is a little hard. Because you and I may not share the same list, and anyway, my list today is not what it would have been five years ago and is probably not, for that matter, what it will be in five years. But this morning, as I was getting these BIG kids (What happened? Weren't they both babies, like, ten minutes ago?) ready for school, it seemed important to devise  Read more...