This week is Spring Break for public schools in Baltimore City; Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard counties; and a host of others. Except for Wednesday, the weather looks to be fantastic for being out and around, exploring and enjoying all the area has to offer.
Here is a (hardly comprehensive) list of activities available to students and their families interested in getting out and experiencing something old, new, and in-between.
ROLLER SKATING:
Pop-up roller skating refers to the temporary nature of the skating rink, not what you have to do if you lose your balance and fall while boogeying to The Bee Gees on your wheels. This is Spring Break Skate’s second year in a row offering the pop-up roller rink in downtown Baltimore at Hopkins Plaza. Sessions last one hour, beginning at the top of the hour, and you can either bring your skates or rent them for $5. Tickets are $8 for children and $10 for adults. You must purchase tickets online in advance at this link. The rink is open until March 30.
PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:
The iconic Port Discovery Children’s Museum offers special Spring Break programming that includes performances, art projects, story time, and extra hours. Normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the museum will be open on those days during Spring Break. There are special Discovery Tales, music sessions, an Easter Egg hunt, and a variety of egg-related fun during their “Eggsploration” sessions. Children under the age of one year get in for free, as do military adults. Tickets for children over one year and adults cost $23.95. You can purchase tickets by clicking this link.
WOMEN’S HISTORY AT THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY:
The Baltimore County Public Library has a full lineup of programs, including some special Women’s History Month activities for Spring Break 2024. There is a range of free programs and hands-on activities. One celebrates the Supersheroes of Maryland, featuring music, movement, and poetry honoring “Baltimore’s trailblazing queens.” Another invites us to learn about artist Faith Ringgold and her story quilts. This is a first-come, first-served activity with limited space at the Perry Hall Branch, requiring tickets. On Tuesday, the Cockeysville Branch offers an Improve Workshop for teens and tweens, and Saturday’s programming includes jumping rope with The Double Dutch Lady at the Woodlawn Branch. They’re also offering free Kona Ice at some of their branches from 1 to 2 p.m. See the link here for complete scheduling information!
TRAIN TIME:
The B&O Railroad Museum is offering a week filled with scavenger hunts, interactive workshops, storytimes, and tours. All programs are included with admission to the museum, and free for B&O members. There will be a “Commerce on the Railroad: The B&O Goes Bananas” Junior Tour on March 28 at 1 p.m., all about the types of cars used to haul the banana! Children can learn about how to stream locomotives on the B&O Railroad, how to create their own paper airplanes, and lots more. Tickets to the museum range from $12 (children) to $20 (adults), and can be purchased by clicking this link.
PARKS AND NATURE
Don’t forget all the beautiful parks and nature trails and waterways Baltimore City and the surrounding counties have to offer. Baltimore City alone has almost 4,000 acres of parkland and public space for people of all ages to enjoy. Baltimore County has an interactive tool whereby you can choose a park to visit based on features you enjoy, like water activities, playgrounds, and hiking, for example, throughout its 360 parks and rec centers.
Since everyone needs to eat, here’s a link to a list of great places around town that are reasonably priced and extremely kid-friendly, fun and even with healthy alternatives that are delicious. Miss Shirley’s, Johnny’s, and Alexander’s Tavern all made the cut.
Happy Spring Break!
