Baltimore packs a lot for small kids into a few blocks around the Inner Harbor.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Baltimore’s old public market in a new hall, with dozens of food stalls. Closed Sundays.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For toddler classes and every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in Baltimore.
Free baby and toddler story times and Stories Together sessions at the Central Library and neighborhood branches.
Story times, play mornings and family events from Towson to Catonsville.
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Trails, wetlands and a raptor aviary. Fridays are free, with a free story time for kids 5 and under most weeks.
A city arboretum with easy paths, a mansion and a nature education center.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Three floors of hands-on play near the harbor, with a toddler area and daily programs. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the fall.
A big zoo in Druid Hill Park. Admission covers the train and the carousel, and parking is free.
The big aquarium on the harbor. Kids 4 and under get in free, but strollers can’t go on the exhibit route.
Youth 5–20 $39.95
A roundhouse full of real locomotives, with free on-site parking. Train rides cost extra.
Three floors of exhibits plus the planetarium. The Kids Room is made for the youngest visitors.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Baltimore without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Baltimore.
CitywideEnoch Pratt Free LibraryFree baby and toddler story times and Stories Together sessions at the Central Library and neighborhood branches.FreeIndoorBaltimore CountyBaltimore County Public LibraryStory times, play mornings and family events from Towson to Catonsville.FreeIndoor
Owings Mills, 11201 Garrison Forest RoadIrvine Nature CenterTrails, wetlands and a raptor aviary.FreeNorthwest Baltimore, 4915 Greenspring Ave.Cylburn ArboretumA city arboretum with easy paths, a mansion and a nature education center.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Inner Harbor, 35 Market PlacePort Discovery Children’s MuseumFree under 1, with a toddler area.$25.95 eachunder 1Indoor
Inner Harbor, 501 E. Pratt St.National AquariumFree for 4 and under.Kids FreeAdults $49.95IndoorDruid Hill Park, One Safari PlaceThe Maryland ZooRides included with admission.Southwest Baltimore, 901 W. Pratt St.B&O Railroad MuseumFree under 2.Kids $12Adults $20under 2IndoorRecurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Baltimore.
Weekday mornings and SaturdaysFree baby, toddler and family story times at Central and the branches.
Schedule ↗Weekday morningsFree story times and play programs in Towson, Catonsville, Perry Hall and more.
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Thursdays at 10:30am · WaverlyStories, songs and play for babies in arms and toddlers under 2, with playtime after.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 11am · HampdenFor little ones under 2 and a favorite grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗Fridays at 10:30am · Orleans StreetFor little ones under 2 and a favorite grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗Fridays at 11am · Central LibraryAt the Central Library downtown. For little ones under 2.
Storytime calendar ↗Wednesdays at 10:30am · Roland ParkFor little ones under 2 and a favorite grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 10:30am · Towson BranchFor babies from birth to 12 months and a grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10:30am · Catonsville BranchFor babies from birth to 12 months and a grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 10:30am · Rosedale BranchFor babies from birth to 12 months and a grown-up.
Storytime calendar ↗
under 1
Admission page ↗under 2
Admission page ↗under 3
Admission page ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in Baltimore.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Baltimore right now.
Yes. Port Discovery is built for them, the aquarium is free for kids 4 and under, and the zoo includes train and carousel rides.
Library story times, Irvine Nature Center on Fridays, Cylburn Arboretum and free family programs at the BMA.
Go indoors: Enoch Pratt Free Library and Baltimore County Public Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum: Free under 1, with a toddler area. National Aquarium: Free for 4 and under. The Maryland Zoo and B&O Railroad Museum are also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: B&O Railroad Museum (under 2) and Maryland Science Center (under 3). See best for under 3s.
Enoch Pratt Free Library: Weekday mornings and Saturdays. Baltimore County Public Library: Weekday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Baltimore weekly list.
Every one of the 10 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 4 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 28, 2026. How we choose and check.
Under 1; kids 1 and up: $25.95; adults: $25.95. We checked this on its official site on Oct 28, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Baltimore.
