Baltimore, Maryland budget trip

[Ngwira]

DH and I and our 2 kids ages 9, 6 have booked Easter weekend in Baltimore. We are in South Jersey (12 miles from Philly), so plan to drive down there. So far, I've booked the hotel (Monaco Baltimore for $88.00 a night including taxes and fees on hotwire!!!) Parking (parking panda $15.00 per night), hotel wanted $32.00 per night (um no), the National Aquarium (half price after 5:00pm on Friday, so $64.00 for all 4 of us!!!), The Baltimore Museum of Industry (living social $13.00 for all 4 of us!!) and Top of the World Observation Deck (Groupon $8.00 for all 4 of us). Can anyone recommend any good restaurants that won't break the bank? We just need to pay for food and gas/tolls. Also, any tips for us first timers visiting B'more?

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would make sure that at night, I would drive everywhere. Thanks to the Freddy Grey case and the trials, the city is not quite as safe as it once was. You'll be fine if you stick to the touristy area and stick to walking around in the daytime, but I would be a touch more careful during the evenings. To give you an idea, it's murder rate is 50% greater than Camden in 2015.

It is still a great city to visit and I love the Waterfront, although I have not been back since the riots last summer, so I don't want to recommend places, since I don't know where crime has really skyrocketed and where it's still totally fine.

 

[Ngwira]

I would make sure that at night, I would drive everywhere. Thanks to the Freddy Grey case and the trials, the city is not quite as safe as it once was. You'll be fine if you stick to the touristy area and stick to walking around in the daytime, but I would be a touch more careful during the evenings. To give you an idea, it's murder rate is 50% greater than Camden in 2015.

It is still a great city to visit and I love the Waterfront, although I have not been back since the riots last summer, so I don't want to recommend places, since I don't know where crime has really skyrocketed and where it's still totally fine.

We will be downtown (inner harbor) the entire time. I imagine that area is super safe. Especially during a holiday weekend. But thanks for your advice. I see they have a Cheesecake Factory in the area. If all else fails, that's where we will eat.

 

[PlutoPony]

The Aquarium is normally open until 8pm on Fridays so that will only give you 3 hours - you can easily spend more than that. Do those tickets give you a specific time for entry - check that and if they do make sure you sign up for 5pm now. You will probably need to prioritize what you want to see and keep moving.

Check out the website for Port Discovery Children's Museum. It's in the area and my son LOVED that place (it's been quite a few years since we've been though). I think your 9yo would be ok, definitely suited to the 6yo.

The Italian section is Fells Point and adjacent to downtown. Some great restaurants and neat little delis and such.

Is there a home baseball game while you are there? Camden Yards is a nice ballpark, worth going for a game even if you only get outfield seats.

Most of the shops and restaurants around the InnerHarbor are pretty touristy. There's a fair amount of turnover in them so I'd ask at the hotel for close and reasonably priced restaurants.

Not to freak you out but the Inner Harbor area was on the periphery of the riots in 2015. The convention/tourism business has mostly come back but that area had some involvement in the affairs of that time.

 

[Malibustyle23]

We will be downtown (inner harbor) the entire time. I imagine that area is super safe. Especially during a holiday weekend. But thanks for your advice. I see they have a Cheesecake Factory in the area. If all else fails, that's where we will eat.

Not to terrify you or change your mind but you would be SURPRISED!

Just be careful like others posted. How far is your parking garage from your hotel?

How far is your hotel from the inner harbor?

There are quite a few chain restaurants in the inner harbor area where you will be visiting. I'm super cheap but I would stick to them in the well know touristy areas instead of going out of the way to cheaper, local restaurants since you don't know the area very well. It's super easy to get in the wrong area in Baltimore.

Unless you decide to go out into another area outside of the city.

Btw we have enjoyed the Friday's after 5 at the aquarium as well. We've always had enough time to tour it all although that was before the large update. Not sure if they changed it but before the update not every exhibit was open to view. I would advise to get there early if they didn't offer timed tickets online. They will stagger the entrances once it gets busy.

 

[Ngwira]

The Aquarium is normally open until 8pm on Fridays so that will only give you 3 hours - you can easily spend more than that. Do those tickets give you a specific time for entry - check that and if they do make sure you sign up for 5pm now. You will probably need to prioritize what you want to see and keep moving.

Check out the website for Port Discovery Children's Museum. It's in the area and my son LOVED that place (it's been quite a few years since we've been though). I think your 9yo would be ok, definitely suited to the 6yo.

The Italian section is Fells Point and adjacent to downtown. Some great restaurants and neat little delis and such.

Is there a home baseball game while you are there? Camden Yards is a nice ballpark, worth going for a game even if you only get outfield seats.

Most of the shops and restaurants around the InnerHarbor are pretty touristy. There's a fair amount of turnover in them so I'd ask at the hotel for close and reasonably priced restaurants.

Not to freak you out but the Inner Harbor area was on the periphery of the riots in 2015. The convention/tourism business has mostly come back but that area had some involvement in the affairs of that time.

The Aquarium allows you to stay until an hour and a half after closing so we can stay until 9:30pm. Our tickets specifically allow admission at 5:00pm (time is printed on our vouchers). I ordered them online.
How old is your son? We have a similar museum around here (garden State Discovery Museum and one in Philly (Please Touch) and my 9 year old gets bored after 30 minutes. I thought the Port Discovery Museum is geared towards younger kids?

 

[Malibustyle23]

The Aquarium allows you to stay until an hour and a half after closing so we can stay until 9:30pm. Our tickets specifically allow admission at 5:00pm (time is printed on our vouchers). I ordered them online.
How old is your son? We have a similar museum around here (garden State Discovery Museum and one in Philly (Please Touch) and my 9 year old gets bored after 30 minutes. I thought the Port Discovery Museum is geared towards younger kids?

Port discovery is nice. It has on the perimeter learning, hands on exhibits, etc. But the center is a HUGE, HUGE play gym area. It has rope ladders, slides, all kinds of things. It is a few stories tall. You can enter one level and end up on an entire different level. For this reason it is great for a range of ages. There should be pics online of the play area.

 

[PlutoPony]

How old is your son? We have a similar museum around here (garden State Discovery Museum and one in Philly (Please Touch) and my 9 year old gets bored after 30 minutes. I thought the Port Discovery Museum is geared towards younger kids?

My son loved it until about 8 or so, but it's definitely a YMMV kinda thing.

Edited to add - yes agree with Malibustyle above - the rope climbing play area was a huge hit with my son.

 

[Ngwira]

Not to terrify you or change your mind but you would be SURPRISED!

Just be careful like others posted. How far is your parking garage from your hotel?

How far is your hotel from the inner harbor?

There are quite a few chain restaurants in the inner harbor area where you will be visiting. I'm super cheap but I would stick to them in the well know touristy areas instead of going out of the way to cheaper, local restaurants since you don't know the area very well. It's super easy to get in the wrong area in Baltimore.

Unless you decide to go out into another area outside of the city.

Btw we have enjoyed the Friday's after 5 at the aquarium as well. We've always had enough time to tour it all although that was before the large update. Not sure if they changed it but before the update not every exhibit was open to view. I would advise to get there early if they didn't offer timed tickets online. They will stagger the entrances once it gets busy.

Our hotel is on N Charles street so super close. Our parking garage is on Saratoga so an 8 minute walk. We will be arriving during the day(noonish), will store our bags in the hotel until check-in, park and then to the Observation Deck. Check in is at 3:00pm at the hotel, grab a bite to eat, then Aquarium at 5:00pm. Straight back to our room after the aquarium. Then in the morning we will check out, head to the Museum of industry and head back home. We are also leaving the city during the day as well. No walking around at night, so we should be fine.

 

[Ngwira]

My son loved it until about 8 or so, but it's definitely a YMMV kinda thing.

Edited to add - yes agree with Malibustyle above - the rope climbing play area was a huge hit with my son.

Yeah my 9 year old will be 10 in August and she gets "super bored" at things my 6, almost 7 year old likes.

 

[Ngwira]

Anyone been here-Baltimore Museum of Industry

 

[Alexle2007]

You could visit the Science Center, Fort McHenry, Ripley's Believe It or Not and there is a pirate adventure (Urban Pirates) in Fells Point that is awesome! You can easily take the water taxi to Fells Point. I would definitely skip Port Discovery with a 9 year old. My son went there when he was 4. I can't imagine taking him there now at 8 almost 9. You're in Baltimore, definitely try some seafood! It may be more of a splurge but you can't beat our crab cakes (or steamed crabs or crab dip or crab soup.) And Little Italy is fantastic! Our favorite is Sabatino's. There are lots of little restaurants in Fells Point. (It's nice during the day for kids but more of a bar scene in the evening.) There's the Horseshoe Casino downtown now. Obviously, can't take the kids but in case an adult wants to get out.

 

[danygirl]

First of all the riots were in a very small area despite what the media said. I am in Baltimore weekly, my son lives near the inner harbor, as long as you use the same common sense precautions you use in any city you will be fine.
The kids will enjoy the water taxis. The science museum is very cool . Museum of industry is near the fort. You can find lots of places to eat in the inner harbor. We like James Joyce in the harbor east area near little Italy for a good meal. If baseball is in season catch an go's game.

 

[Eureka]

There is a Bubba Gump's restaurant in the inner harbor which is fun. Also (not cheap) Cheesecake Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and at the other end of the spectrum, a Noodles and company. If you want an entertaining and really weird museum idea, the Ripley's Believe it or Not is in the inner harbor too. We went with the kids a couple years ago (they were 11 and 13 or 10 and 12, I don't quite remember) and it was unusual to say the least.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I went to the museum of industry in middle school- I remember enjoying it, though that was quite a while ago. I was 11 when I went, I think? We focused on the canning section of the museum, but I do remember touring the other parts, as well.

 

[snoopy5386]

My DD went to the Baltimore Museum of Industry on a field trip last year and asked to go back for her birthday this year. I'll be honest, on our own it was not as much fun as when we did the field trip - that had an interactive part that they only do with groups, but it was still interesting. Not too much interactive stuff to do and lots of reading at the displays, my 5 year old was pretty bored. I wouldn't expect to spend more than 2-3 hours there. The science center is great, my kids love it. If you have a membership to a science center where you live they reciprocate. The zoo is also nice. As for restaurants there is a little asian counter service place across from the aquarium that we like. It's over by Hard Rock and Dick's Last Resort. It's called Blu Bamboo I think? There is also a Chipotle there and a ton of chain restaurants in the malls right on the harbor both counter and table service.

The cannery section of the BMI was what we did on the field trip, but was closed when we went on our own. The other sections you walk in each room and see what industry was like in that specific time, but there is nothing there do if that makes sense, besides read about it. I will also add they have a lot of old semi-dangerous equipment out that you are not supposed to touch, but is not roped off per say. I was constantly redirecting my 5 year old away from breaking or getting hurt on things.

 

[Vernie822]

Definitely stay close to Inner Harbor especially at night (which others have echoed). We really liked that area. There's a Bubba Gump, Cheesecake Factory, another big seafood restaurant (sorry, I can't remember the name), and lots of other things to do all in that area. I think we ate at Dick's last resort which is more geared towards adults. We did the Sea Dog tour, it was a speedboat tour, maybe 30-45 mins.. Not too expensive if I recall and totally worth it, we loved it! There's also a Leinenkugel Beer Garden not too far from there which was fun (Although again probably geared towards adults).

 

[Malibustyle23]

another big seafood restaurant (sorry, I can't remember the name),

Phillips Crabhouse or McCormick & Schmicks

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is a Bubba Gump's restaurant in the inner harbor which is fun. Also (not cheap) Cheesecake Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and at the other end of the spectrum, a Noodles and company. If you want an entertaining and really weird museum idea, the Ripley's Believe it or Not is in the inner harbor too. We went with the kids a couple years ago (they were 11 and 13 or 10 and 12, I don't quite remember) and it was unusual to say the least.

Bubba Gumps has, quite frankly, disgusting food. Pass on it.

I live near Baltimore and have driven through some pretty bad areas, but have never felt unsafe. The harbor area is fine.

If your kids like trains, they might enjoy the B&O Railroad Museum:

http://www.borail.org

 

[Ladyfish77]

There are lots of restaurants in the Inner Harbor and also close by. As others have said, touristy which means they are mostly chain restaurants, but there's a lot of variety--Bubba Gumps, Cheesecake Factory, Unos, Panera, Noodles & Co, etc.

I recommend NOT eating inside the Aquarium--food is mediocre and overpriced. At the Aquarium talk to the guides--they will give you all sorts of great information about their area of the Aquarium (you could even ask them for eating suggestions). I used to volunteer at the Aquarium so take advantage of their knowledge!