After months at home with the kids, exploring the backyard or basement again starts to feel a little stale. Now is the perfect time to mix things up with a quick trip to downtown Baltimore.
While some downtown attractions remain temporarily closed to visitors, including the Reginald F. Lewis Museum and Port Discovery Children’s Museum (opening in early August), other fun destinations have put new safety protocols in place and reopened to the public.
Here are some ideas for downtown outings that will be safe and fun for the whole family:
The National Aquarium
The Aquarium reopened to the public on July 1, albeit with several new protocols in place to ensure the safety of guests.
The number of tickets available limits the crowd to 25% of normal building capacity, so it’s important to reserve tickets – which come with timed entry – ahead of time. The good news is that with a smaller crowd, the experience will be an especially good one.
New protocols include wearing face-coverings and taking temperatures, and following a newly-created linear path to follow as guests explore the space. A couple of interactive experiences, including the 4D Immersion Theater and the touch pools in the Living Seashore exhibit, are temporarily closed.
For more detailed information about what to expect during your visit and what else the Aquarium is doing to ensure the safety of both guests and staff, visit:
Parks
Downtown Baltimore parks are open to the public – and the Inner Harbor area boasts some of the city’s most fun park destinations, including the charming Pierce’s Park, which kids especially love, and the vibrant spaces at West Shore Park and McKeldin Square.
Get Out on the Water
Baltimore harbor cruises are back up and running! Several times every day, a Watermark Cruises ship embarks from the Finger Piers to cruise around the harbor, showing off some of the city’s best sites, including the Domino Sugar sign, the Key Bridge, and Fort McHenry.
The cruises are narrated, so you’ll hear a bit about the forces that shaped the city throughout history and how the waterfront has changed over time.
Harbor Garden Stroll & More
Baltimore’s Waterfront Partnership has put together a walking map showcasing the many native plant gardens installed along the harbor. The full map is available online, along with information about why native plants are an important tool keeping the harbor healthy.
While you’re checking out the greenery, don’t forget to look towards the water. Though tours of the city’s Historic Ships are on hold for right now, you can still check out their grandeur from the promenade. The ships, which are docked at piers throughout the Inner Harbor, are sure to impress little ones with their size and stateliness. (Plus, when you get home, you can check out the Historic Ships website to keep the conversation going.)
Dining Out
In accordance with state law, many downtown Baltimore restaurants have reopened for outdoor and limited indoor dining. This includes lots of Little Italy favorites, as well as family-friendly Inner Harbor spots like Miss Shirley’s, and Power Plant Live! with its ample outdoor seating.
Parking in Downtown Baltimore
When you’re ready to venture out of the house for that much-needed adventure downtown, make your trip easier with some advance planning – including figuring out where to park before you even head out the door.
Harbor Park Garage, located at 55 Market Place, is centrally located and convenient to great sights to see downtown. The garage is easily accessible from major routes in and out of the city, including I-83, and is a short walk from the Inner Harbor, Harbor East, and Little Italy.
Harbor Park Garage is clean, well-lit, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always available and happy to answer questions about where to go and what to do in the area, and what to expect in the garage, including questions about how the garage’s policies are helping drivers and staff stay safe during this time.
For more information about Harbor Park Garage, visit https://harborparkgarage.com/