Where to Take Your Kids in Maryland

Baltimore is an exciting city for family travelers, especially kids. Beginning at the Inner Harbor, kids can tour several ships including the submarine USS Torsk, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney, and the three-masted sailing ship USS Constellation, which saw action in the Civil War.

Also overlooking the Inner Harbor is the National Aquarium, where various ecosystems are replicated to display marine life, plants and birds. Highlights include the Atlantic coral reef exhibit, sharks and the five-story Tropical Rain Forest, inhabited by birds, monkeys, sloths, frogs and butterflies.

Guarding the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor, Fort McHenry became a national icon after its bombardment by the British in 1814. The attack inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” At Fort McHenry National Historic Park, kids can walk the ramparts, tour the soldiers’ quarters and watch a multimedia show on the fort and the national anthem.

Ocean City beaches are some of the best — and most popular — in the mid-Atlantic states. Ten miles of wave-washed sand are free, with three miles backed by a boardwalk. The beaches include a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, a century-old carousel, saltwater taffy and all the usual seaside pleasures. You’ll find free movies, concerts and activities along the beach in the evening.

In central Maryland, Cumberland is a good gateway to the historic C&O Canal, which parallels the Potomac River from here to Washington, D.C. Now a beautiful trail for walking and bicycling, the old towpath features the old lockkeepers’ houses and other remnants of this once-busy transport route. There’s also George Washington history in Cumberland, as well as rides on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, always a treat for kids.

Farther west, in Maryland’s mountains, Deep Creek Lake is a year-round playground, with a ski area in the winter and 69 miles of shoreline surrounding the lake. There’s plenty of space for swimming, sailing, fishing and canoeing, and Monkey Business Adventure Park and Splash Island Inflatable Water Park are popular with kids. On the shore you’ll find waterside resorts and restaurants, a campground and trails to bike and hike.