The Baltimore Zoo Druid Hill Park Baltimore, MD 21217 410-366-LION The Baltimore Zoo, recognized as the third oldest zoological park in the nation, offers the family a fun-filled time. The Baltimore Zoo has over 2,250 animals in residence: everything from each category of birds, reptiles, and mammals. New residents of the zoo include a pair of cheetahs, two elephants, five giraffes, two snow leopards and a troop of chimpanzees in the Chimpanzee Forest. All the exhibits are designed with low sightlines that allow children to see the animals. Zoo Programs and exhibits are geared to groups of all ages. Experience the excitement of an African safari at the zoo's six-acre African Watering Hole. The Children's Zoo is rated number one in America and interactive activities, a farmyard for baby animals, and a new Kids Zone petting zoo. The zoo animals also celebrate holidays: so be sure not too miss the Halloween Zoo Boo exhibit and the Zoo Lights display in December.

Baltimore Arena 201 W Baltimore St Baltimore, MD 21201 410-347-2020 The Baltimore Arena is perhaps one of the largest indoor sports & entertainment facility in Baltimore. The arena seats 14,000 people and it offers each of those people entertaining events year-round. The likes of everyone in the family will be full-filled here, from Stars on Ice, Disney's World on Ice, to WWF and WCW wrestling action, to Bay Runners basketball, gymnastics, and much more. The arena showcases performances of Sesame Street Live, USHRA motor sports events, monster truck shows, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Don't miss out on a performance of a lifetime!

Maryland Science Center 601 Light St Baltimore, MD 21230 410-685-5225 Located at the end of Inner Harbor, the Maryland Science Center provides visitors with an interactive voyage into science. A must see, the museum has an extensive array of displays and exhibits. All three floors present hands-on exhibits highlighting energy, the Hubble Space Telescope, the human body, static electricity, holograms, and so much more. The museum will stretch your mind, with the live demonstrations and permanent exhibits. The permanent exhibits at the museum span across the time: The Prehistoric Dinosaur exhibit takes you back in time to investigate the presence of dinosaurs in the Maryland area; While the Chesapeake Bay exhibits the lives of aquatic animals presently living within the bay. The museum also features an illuminating view of the sky from The Davis Planetarium, as well as an amazing five-story IMAX Theater.

Mimi DiPietro Skating Center 2601 E. Baltimore St Baltimore, MD 21224 410-396-9392 Be prepared to lace up your skates and hit the ice at the Mimi DiPietro Skating Center! Located in the historic Patterson Park, this ice arena provides the perfect setting for a night or day of skating. If you have not mastered skating in figure eights, not to worry the ice rink offers two-hour skating lessons. Every Friday night, Mimi's sets the atmosphere for skaters by providing deejayed music.

Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena 6101 Hillen Road Northern Parkway Baltimore, MD 21239 410-444-1888 Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena is all about providing skaters with a family-friendly atmosphere. Wednesday night is family bargain night - this means that every member of the family has an opportunity to lace up their skates and glide out onto the ice rink. Skaters of all levels are welcomed, from the novice skater to the professional skater.

National Aquarium in Baltimore Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202 410-576-3800 The National Aquarium provides a fun and educational visit for all! Anchored on Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium is located within the triangular glass building that remains as a familiar sight of Baltimore. Each of the museum's four levels showcases marine mammals, amphibians, birds and fish. The aquarium features dolphin performances, over 10, 000 sea creatures, rain forest with exotic birds, dart frogs, live piranhas and a running stream, a petting area, a coral reef exhibit, and much more. The Shark pool offers visitors a close view of the sharks as they swim about. A genuine treat for the entire family!

Northwest Family Sports Center 5731 CottonWorth Ave Baltimore, MD 21209 410-433-2307 The Northwest Family Sports Center in offers family fun for every member of your family! The activities offered at the Northwest Center include ice dancing, hockey lessons, and speed skating sessions. During the summer months, young skaters can join the skating camp. Northwest also offers skating sessions for the novice skaters and more advanced courses. Northwest also features live deejays on Friday and Saturday nights.

Oriole Park at Camden Yards 333 W Camden St Baltimore, MD 21201 410-685-9800 The stadium's unique 1920s design provides its visitors with the classic charm of baseball. A complete 75-minute tour of the facilities is available and departs regularly from the baseball store located near the stadium. Unless they are bought ahead of time, getting tickets for seated sections can be difficult. So make sure to buy your tickets in advance. However, if you don't have tickets and would still like to attend a game, 200 bleacher seats and 400 standing room only tickets go on sale two hours before the game. The park features a souvenir shop, a cafeteria, lounge, restaurant, and a bar. Historically Baltimore has been a city known for the excitement of its baseball games. So, while in Baltimore take the family out to see a game, or take a tour of the Orioles Hall of Fame.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Official Orioles Museum 216 Emory Street Baltimore, MD 21235 410-727-1539 Baltimore is famous for baseball. Baltimore is also the hometown of one of baseball's greatest legends. This museum is dedicated to commemorating baseball. One portion of the museum features the great player Babe Ruth. Here, visitors have the opportunity to view some of Ruth's memorabilia: Ruth's original catcher's mitt from St. Mary's Industrial School, a bat he used during the 1927 season, and a scorecard from his first professional game are just a few of the items on display. In another section of the museum, Orioles memorabilia is on display. Famous ball players such as Cal Ripken are honored here.

The Children's Zoo 1 Druid Hill Park Lake Drive Baltimore, MD 21217 410-366-5466 The residents here are a bit friendlier than the lions, tigers, and bears you might expect at a typical zoo. It's a good thing, too, since your kids are expected and invited to get up close and personal with the residents. This child-friendly museum offers hands-on grooming of pygmy goats, a working farm, and the chance to see the living environments of otters, turtles, and even a bat cave with live bats! The diversity of activities here has caused this museum to be rated one of the best in the country.

Fort McHenry National Monument E. Fort Ave Baltimore 21230 Phone: 410-962-4290 Standing near the Patapsco River, there are few structures that contain as much history or are as well known as Fort McHenry. In turn, the fort has served as a Coast Guard training facility (WWII), a hospital (WWI), and prison camp for Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Perhaps its most noted moment in history was the fort's ability to withstand bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the 'Star Spangled Banner.' Visitors the site where that historic handmade flag flew. See a film that depicts the entire history of the fort or simply explore the unique architecture and let the fort tell you its own history.

Inner Harbor Pratt & Light Streets Baltimore, MD 21202 410-752-8632 If you have full day, or even part of one, to spend meandering and sightseeing in Baltimore, the Inner Harbor should be at the top of your list. With food markets, boutiques, and restaurants in abundance, the Inner Harbor is a must visit. In the mood for a walk? Take a stroll down the outside pavilion and see the myriad activities that are going on in the harbor. You may see large cargo ships loading and unloading or elegant privately owned vessels moored dockside. Are your interests more geared towards being entertained? Never fear! Nearly year-round you will find acrobats, street musicians and magicians ready to amuse, delight, and entertain. One thing is guaranteed: there is something at the Inner Harbor for everyone.

National Museum of Dentistry 31 S. Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-706-0600 This is definitely not a visit to your dentist. In fact, this is one trip you will enjoy, and it won't hurt a bit! Geared towards entertaining as well as educating, the National Museum of Dentistry has collections of tools and gadgets of the trade, a variety of dentures (including George Washington's), a photo collection of famous smiles, and videos of a variety of dental feats. For the interactive folks in the crowd, the museum holds a variety of events, such as story-telling sessions, a discussion of animal dentistry, and a program on women in the field of dentistry. With all of the fun sights and activities, the Museum is definitely a place to take the kids, and it may even make that next visit to the dentist a little easier.

Baltimore Children's Museum: Port Discovery 35 Market Place Baltimore, MD 21202 410-727-8120 Think back to your childhood. Whether it's been only a few years or maybe a few too many, surely you remember the delight of playing games, solving puzzles, or just getting a chance to let your imagination run wild. Now is your chance to bring that same feeling to your own children. The Children's Museum is not like any other museum in the country. Features include a three-story jungle gym, the Pratt Exploration Center, the Dreamer's Club, the R&D Lab, and the Imagination Factory. Aimed entirely at entertaining young minds and challenging them to their utmost in the process, the variety of exhibits and activities here are sure to challenge and entertain the young as well as the young at heart.

Top of the World Observation Level 401 E. Pratt Street World Trade Center Baltimore, MD 21202 410-837-8439 While most of us won't ever get a chance to soar with the eagles, at least we can take a glimpse of the world from their perspective. For a mere two bucks, a trip to the observation tower at the World Trade Center is exactly that. The four sided glass-enclosed observation deck is the perfect vantage point from which to see almost any area of the city. Need some convincing that those little "ants" down there are people and cars? Not a problem. For a few cents one can employ the use of a telescope for closer views of the sights. For anyone wanting to get a different perspective on the world or just see some downright amazing views, this is definitely the place.

Insect Zoo 1901 Ridgetop Road Carrie Murray Outdoor Education Campus Baltimore, MD 21207 410-396-0808 Sometimes they have six legs, sometimes they have eight, but most of the time, you just want to get away from them. We're talking about insects and spiders. Good news…now it's our turn to go to their house and visit. Rest assured however, that all of the residents are safely encased in glass tanks or cages. That alone makes being up close to them rather intriguing. Take a tour with a professional bug-rustler, or entomologist, and see displays and exhibits filled with cockroaches, spiders, flies, and a variety of other insects. You'll hear a detailed explanation of ways in which insects benefit the world around us, including crafts made from bugs!