As members of The Walters, we were invited to the "State of the Art" event at The Walters Art…read moreMuseum for an evening of conversation and connection at the museum especially to hear Kate Burgin's vision for the next chapter of the museum. The evening started with light refreshment in the Level 1 lobby. Then, we went into the Graham Auditorium to hear Kate's vision for the future. It was really interesting. We were then encouraged to visit three floors of the museums that were open. There we could experience hands on explorations, conversations with curators, behind-the-scenes stories from conservators, sneak peak at new and returning exhibitions, and learn about volunteers programs. Being a member of The Walters really has so many benefits. On each floor, they also were serving more refreshments. We were excited to be able to see the Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture. It will be on exhibit until August 9, 2026. What an exhibition this is! We were so excited that we were able to view this without any crowds. What an incredible artist Dourien Fletcher is! Her work is just stunning. It was interesting to see the breath of her work in jewelry, costumes, film, etc. You will see simple to elaborate pieces of jewelry and so much more. Don't miss what she made for the movies Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

The Walters Art Museum is free admission all the time, yet it was the least populated attraction…read morethat we visited in Baltimore on this trip, which made it easier to pace ourselves at whatever our personal museum speed. Me, I like reading up on whatever catches my attention. It was fun to read that a certain lady's head did not belong to the body it originally arrived at the museum with. Regarding another collection, I read that the artists would inscribe their names and certain references, which weren't necessarily correct! And a piece of aged donated gold was discovered to have been crafted more recently due to its popularity amidst its lack of supply, as the wire had evidence of having been extruded, and the holes were cut with scissors. Yup, don't just go around believing everything! We spent perhaps 2 1/2 hours meandering the halls. If you get peckish, they do have a snack counter where their sandwiches and wraps top out at $13.

It's truly magical for kids to use their imagination. Giants Big bed to jump on, space station,…read more and so much more. Go with an open mind to explore this imaginative space

Summary: while Doodlehatch is definitely not short of character, there are some key points that…read moremake it hard to love. A question I had prior to visiting Doodlehatch was "what is it?" The best answer I can think of is that it's an interactive art museum. There are tons of random sections throughout: a space area, a unicorn area, a tea party area, a giant bed, etc. Most are designed to be "interactive," but I don't know how much care + maintenance is going on. Parts of the exhibit don't feel sturdy and a lot of it doesn't feel clean. There are a lot of areas that have fabric that retain moisture/dirt like the giant bed (plush), bean bag chairs, and hammocks. Coming off a fresh pandemic, it didn't give the best feeling to "interact" with something like that. Conclusion: I think the concept is cute and the art is unique. The exhibit itself makes for a cute little outing. I'm just a bit more wishful as far as care/maintenance goes. I wouldn't describe myself as a germaphobe, but even so I didn't feel great about it.

Not your typical art museum and that is why it is a Five Star experience. Funky and fun (and…read morepoignant) art work by those who are not typically featured in a museum. This strikes me as somewhat similar to the two excellent Kohler Art museums in Wisconsin. Super interesting and thought provoking especially the stories of many of the artists accompanying their work. The main museum building is a work of art itself. The gift shop is a riot. Hands down the best and craziest museum gift store. Thank goodness my friend recommended this stop. Heads up on parking - the meters on the street are way way cheaper then the Rusty Scupper lot across the street. This place is a gem. Don't miss it!

I've lived in the Baltimore area for quite some time now and I can't believe I've never been to the…read moreAmerican Visionary Art Museum. I mean how can you pass by the mirrored egg or the golden hand and not think to find out what type of dope art is hidden inside. With so many unique pieces to look at I took my time leisurely strolling through the two buildings for the museum. Welcomed by a half naked mannequin with wings floating in the center of the stairs, you can't help but be intrigued to learn more about the artists work. There was so much to take in with every turn. I especially liked the homage to the staples of Baltimore's culture in the second building. And we can't forget about the gift shop that I literally could've spent hours in just rummaging through all the eclectic finds. I'm happy I finally bit the bullet to visit the American Visionary Art Musuem, and I look forward to a return visit to see all the things I missed.

Definitely one of the first places to visit if you're in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore. We…read morestopped by as our first stop when staying in the neighborhood, since the vantage point provides perspectives and ideas of all the other places to visit afterwards. The harbor views are beautiful and vast, and the signage within the observation area talk about all the neighborhoods and give a history of Baltimore. There's even a small section dedicated to honor the memories of Marylanders lost in the 9/11 attack. Pricing is very reasonable at just $8 per person, and the elevator ride to the top is quick.

We were in Baltimore for the weekend and staying about two blocks from the inner harbor. My…read morehusband suggested going to this place Saturday morning. It was a great idea. Pricing is only 8 dollars for each adult which is a great price to go up to the 27th floor of the World Trade Center. There are four different sides of the building with written panels explaining what landmarks and buildings are out in that direction. The views are spectacular. They also have tributes to those from Maryland who perished in the World Trade Center in New York on 9-11. There are also several panels listing movies filmed in Baltimore and famous people from Maryland.

A bit of a hike from DC, this cozy free museum is a must for history and technology buffs…read more Located, appropriately enough, right next to the heavily secured National Security Agency. Plan on taking an hour, maybe an hour and a half, to leisurely examine the exhibits. Docents are available to answer your questions. I found the exhibits amazing. Walking away from visiting NCM, I have to marvel at how smart and clever humans are. Encryption started way back. The Egyptians were known to encrypt messages. Thomas Jefferson encrypted his sensitive letters. Napoleon was a big fan of encryption. The mechanical encryption devices on display, from World War I on, are fascinating to see with all their bells and whistles.

Brought a group of High School students here for a field trip. The museum is free so you can't beat…read morethe price. We had a guided tour. It was very interesting to see all of the history and learn about the science behind all of the exhibits. Some have a little interactive portion as well. The tour lasted about a hour. After it was done the students looked around on their own for a few. Not a bad way to spend a day away from school while still learning something.

Play Street Museum is a franchise that specializes in kids' play areas that encourages imaginative…read moreplay and fun settings. The one in Severna Park is one of my favorites to take the kiddos because it has a great mix of interactive toys and buildings. Just to name a few: - an area for crafts - one of those motorized air funnels that you can put a scarf in - ice cream store - grocery store - doctor's office - vets office - a recycling truck with slots to sort different recyclables - a play house with kitchen stuff - pretend firetruck and firehouse with hose and slide You can also opt into extra add ons that allow you to participate in crafts you can take home (think DIY activities like slime). I like that there's only a finite number of spaces for time slots so it never gets too crowded. You should check their website before going just in case they're sold out (I believe they do allow walk ins though). They also have punch cards for a slightly discounted rate. It's usually around $18 for a single visit, but comes out to like $15 a visit with a punch card at the time of this post. I would totally recommend for little ones, but they may start to get bored for any ages 5 or older.

We had an amazing time at Play Street Museum for our triple play date! We reserved our spot online…read morethe night before for a 10:30 AM to 12 PM session. When we arrived, we were greeted with an easy check-in process. If you haven't signed the waiver online, you can quickly scan and sign it on-site. The staff was friendly and explained how everything worked. The space itself is fantastic! It's an open playground where kids can freely explore and play to their hearts' content. There are fun zones for every interest--a craft area near the cubbies, a science section by the check-in counter, and a little shop filled with books and small activities at the entrance. There's even a food token system: you drop the token off when you leave, and each kid gets a free snack, which is such a thoughtful touch. The restrooms are conveniently located at the back near the slide area, so everything you need is nearby. Overall, this is a well-organized, kid-friendly spot that offers so much for little ones to enjoy. We'll definitely be back!

I visited Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum last weekend, when I was exploring Old…read moreEllicott City with my husband and his family who were in town visiting. It's a museum decided to Benjamin Banneker and, as I didn't know anything about him before I visited, I really enjoyed our visit to the museum. Benjamin Banneker was a naturalist, mathematician, astronomer, and almanac author. He was born in Baltimore County to a free African-American mother and a father who had been formerly enslaved. The museum is small but has information about his life and times. Exiting the back of the museum, you can walk to a reconstructed cabin that estimates how Banneker lived on these acres of land he owned until his death in 1806. I learned a lot from this little museum, and the employee working at the museum when we visited was very kind and helpful. He shared a lot of information with us about the museum and about Banneker. If you haven't been before or if you don't know anything about Benjamin Banneker, this little museum is definitely worth a visit!

This place outside of Baltimore offers a small museum, a reconstructed hut, and a set of gardens…read morearound it, and some trails. It is free to enter and there is plenty of parking. I got a quick intro with some interesting information related to the history of the famous person who lived here. The place offers a window into American colonial history, as well as an education on the pastoral lifestyle that was the norm at the time. The museum is just a couple of rooms and won't take a long time to get through. I did not have time to stay for the trails. It wasn't the most lively or deep historical site that I've ever been to, but there was enough in terms of aesthetics and in terms of information to be worth checking out.

The place is small but enough for about 10 people. The man who outlined our work is an artist for…read moresure and gifted!! I do feel like he rushed on outlining my art piece; however it still came out nice. The guy who worked there also got me a drink of water which I appreciated!!!! They are all nice and friendly here and are some talented people.

Casual art space with a mini hip hop gallery upstairs. Walls are lined with original artwork for…read moresale. They host a variety of events - mostly sip and paints for adults with various themes. Some classes for kids too. I noticed adult themed events / BYOB. I attended a sip and paint with friends; staff was friendly. Call ahead if you have limited mobility; only saw steps to reach upper level.