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

A Mid-Atlantic Guide to Wowing Your Preschooler

June 23, 2009

Your preschooler's an ever-evolving creature, isn't she?  No longer enthused, as she was as a toddler, by blades of grass and gravel and rattly toys, your child has become more sophisticated, more discerning, and, consequently, a bit more difficult to impress.  Not that this is an entirely bad thing--I mean, as much as you might romanticize those long-ago days oftoddlerhood , there's a part of you, I'm betting, that probably doesn't really miss that gravel.  What you might miss, though, is that look of wide-eyed wonder that once illuminated your child's face at the sight of almost anything . . . that look that you now have to work so much harder to see.  Want to get that look without even trying?  Give any one of these magical places--all within a few hours of the Mason-Dixon Line--a go.  Then prepare to knock your jadedpreschooler's socks off. 

Hershey Park
It's not cheap, no siree Bob, but if you're looking for a special occasion destination for your adventure-seeking little one, this might just be your place.  Because really, how can you go wrong with a theme park built around the notion of chocolate?  Chocolate!  Let Florida and California have their Donald Ducks and Mickey Mouses; Pennsylvania's got your Kisses and Krackles, as well as rides and fun for kids of all ages.  Water rides?  Got 'em.  Roller coasters?  Naturally.  Kiddie rides?  Would I be sending you there if they didn't have them?  Plus, you'll find the usual assortment of theme park attractions, including musical entertainment, wild animals and lovable (candy) characters.

Luray Caverns
Located in the heart of the beautiful, vacation-worthy Shenandoah Valley, Luray Caverns will wow your wee spelunker with its peculiar array of stalactites, stalagmites, columns and reflecting pools.  Let them tap their feet to the eery music of the "Stalacpipe" (clever, huh?) as they ramble through the moist and mysterious caves.  Lose them (while holding their hands) in Luray's labyrinthine garden maze . . . so twisty that you might just need a G.P.S. to find your way out.  And treat them to something strange and spectacular at the ringing,  "singing tower."  Luray will bring out the wonder in any kid, and most especially in those who aren't afraid of the dark.

Ocean City Boardwalk
I've walked the boardwalks in a lot of beach towns, and to me there are none that better capture the essence of summer than the one in Ocean City, Maryland.  Ocean City's boardwalk is not for the timid--it's not quiet or quaint or classy--but it's particularly well suited for little children, most of whom are fond of noisy fanfare and junk food.  And speaking of the food, much of it is better-than-average:  Satisfy your savory cravings at The Atlantic Stand or Thrasher's French Fries and your sweet cravings at Dumser's Dairyland or Candy Kitchen.  Rides and carnie games, of course, abound, as do lots of making-out teenagers.  As I said, it's not for the timid . . . .

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Only the Smithsonian is crazy enough to combine dinosaur bones, butterflies, massive diamonds and live scorpions in one unbelievably awesome place.  No matter what your kid is into, the Museum of Natural History is gonna rock his world.  We tend to spend a lot of time in the Orkin Insect Zoo (and yes, you can go ahead and thank the exterminators for their very generous contribution), where creepy-crawlies of every description creep and crawl all over their enclosures, but there's not a room in this museum that isn't likely to inspire awe in your little one.  And every jaw-dropping inch of it is free, free, free. 

Port Discovery Children's Museum (Baltimore)
One of the best (in my opinion) children's museums in these united states, Port Discovery is chock full o' fun-making exhibits for the preschool set.  My kids love the diner, where they never fail to serve me unappetizing-looking plastic meat and spaghetti; they also adore the water room, the giant climbing structure, the train and the new convenience store, where they can shop, ring up sales and pump gas into aVW Beetle.  Keep your eyes open for special events and limited-time exhibits, as there's always something exciting going on.  Well worth the price of admission, this place will keep theyoungin's entertained for hours.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get out there and impress your preschooler!   Read more...