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    Port Discovery Children's Museum

    3.8 (231 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Port Discovery Children's Museum Photos

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    Molly H.

    My toddler had a great time at Port Discovery but only certain rooms were really for her age. She loved the water room and the buttons on the ship the best but I'm sure as she gets bigger she'd be interested in more things. The main downside is how busy it gets and the price. $25 for an adult and also kids is kind of crazy.. that means $75 plus tax for my kid and both parents to go. We're zoo members so I appreciate they have a deal with the zoo to do half price tickets in February - that helped a lot.

    Sarah M.

    I cannot believe I've never been to Port Discovery before! We were invited by a friend who has a membership with guest passes and had the best time! Parking was super easy as there is a public garage just a 2 minute walk from the main entrance. It was easy to know where to go because of the crowd walking towards the museum. We just followed everyone and getting in was easy. They give you a wrist band to wear. (I do think they might want to consider having parents write their phone number on their child's wrist band just because the museum is so large!) If you have belongings, there are lockers to place your stuff in. It is located in their cafe which has tables, loads vending machines and microwaves as well. There is hand sanitizer stations scattered around. If you have small children, there is an in closed area for babies. The exhibitions, activities and engagement opportunities are endless. My child had such a good time. We barely scratched the surface and will need to go back to see more!

    Halloween puppets
    Courtney C.

    I cannot believe I've never written a review for this place. Every year I get an annual pass at a new place and 2023 we had passes here. I cannot say enough great things about this place. The locations is always clean and well maintained. There are 3 total floors with activities ranging from water play, to puzzles, to physical activities. My kids favorite attraction is of course the but slide. We do this no less than 5 times every time we visit. There are rotating attractions in addition to their standard ones (grocery store, gas station, a restaurant, water play, and more) and annual holiday themed activities. Our favorite by far was the Halloween parade and dance party. Each visit would include several interactive activities as well, giving you a variety of things to do, which is helpful if your kids get tired of routines. We easily spent 2 1/2hrs here on any given visit and I've never had a bad experience. A membership pays for itself in 2 visits and my kids always enjoy their time here. I decided to get passes to the science museum this year because I thought my kids may have aged out (7&8) but they still talk about how much they loved Port Discovery. Like any place that caters to children you have the expectation of unruly kids and germs. Be kind to the workers, bring your patience and some antibacterial wipes and you'll be fine. If you have children aged 5-8 I would say this place is ideal for them.

    Cass O.

    This place is really cool. It's great for kids ages four through seven. I did go with my sisters to take my nephews who were admittedly a little too young to fully enjoy it. They do have a toddler room and a water room. Unfortunately, the water room was out of commission. And the toddler room is fun, but it definitely needs some TLC. Each room and each level have different activities for children to enjoy and central climbing area! there's fun activities and sometimes even guided activities. The kids can participate in. I would say my two major complaints is it's just crowded. It's in a city and it's just crowded. there's not much they can do about that. It's heavy traffic and that's something you should be prepared for when going for a visit. I wish they would have different section that would work too kind of contain the mess and sanitize during playtime. The great thing about different area. Is it fostered the kids creativity but sometimes that includes fostering with germs. Some kids play styles can be very chaotic so things often get misplaced or unorganized and the responsibility falls onto the parents to contain the mass while watching their kids. I wish each location had a team member who was in charge of containing the mess as much as possible, and also armed with sanitizing equipment so when they see toys going in and out of toddlers mouse, there's a better system to ensure we're minimizing germs as much as possible! Staff members could also lead creative play. For example if a staff member was working in the fake diner, they could pretend like they were server who also encourage kids to use the stove and put food back where it goes before they're done! That definitely would make the experience more enjoyable for the parents!

    Starr driving the big train
    Denise J.

    It was a lot of great activities for the kids to enjoy. We had a blast. It showed our children's some of father great things about Baltimore

    Three story cargo net and slide
    Dan E.

    I'm just not convinced the value is there. Over $95 for a family of 4 to come plus downtown parking, and despite the large exterior of the building, the musuem itself is rather small in number of exhibits. In reality, I think it's a stretch to call it a museum, it is much more of a "play center" with mild facts sprinkled in that no children pay pay attention. The cargo ship is probably the only thing where everyone cab learn - from how the engine room works, to how the cargo is loaded, to the port security - it is all hands on fun. However, the rest of Port Discovery was trite and not well suited to the large crowds they admit - a "diner" (basically a large plastic Fisher Price kitchen), a library with some themed books, a agricultural area, and an Egyptian adventure that was difficult for even the adults in our party to understand the procedures. The main feature is truly just a giant slide accessible only be climbing an enclosed cargo net. Wait times can get rather long, but it was fun. Overall, I think Port Discovery would benefit by having timed entry tickets on their peak days and hours. Beyond that, I don't think I'd go back with the prices the way they are; it didn't provide enough value for me and my family.

    Dakota M.

    We took a day off work and came up as a family to baltimore. Drove two hours in car for kid to have an epic, family fille day! We registed way in advance and planned out to have it on a community day to maximize cost savings since we had to plan gas, snacks and resturants in that area. The parking was more than the tickets...And it seemed like 2/3 of the items were not for the kid's age group we brought or it was under construction (all of the top level and other attractions). Was a huge disappointment since we travled for it and never got an email saying the exhibits would be closed or that they would require an age level or height level to participate. The favorite activity was the ropes suspended "bridge". But the kids that were there pushed and kicked our kid off the suspended seat/circle and didn't let her participate, event though she waited her turn. There is not supervision it seems from staff and a lot of parents seem to be local /residents that were meeting other parents like at a park and didn't care what their kds were doing. This part was cool, that it was local, but not cool for out of towners that were expecting all parents be at the same level of supervision. Overall we had a terrible experience and I do not think we would go back to baltimore for this experience. It was miserable trip to get there and to get back due to time of travel and when the time we spent there was not memory inspiring.

    Austin G.

    After paying $65+ for my wife, five-year-old daughter, and I to visit Port Discovery, I was skeptical. After several hours wandering the space, I'm a convert. The building is tight hence why they build up. The first hour, my daughter and I climbed the giant rope course to the very large slide. It was a blast for both of us! Afterwards, we found the craft room and did a few paintings. Then we visited the kid-sized grocery store, diner, maze, ship, and so many exhibits. There are ample restrooms and kids my daughter's age could easily stay for hours. However, our friends that went with us didn't love it for their two-year-old. They were overwhelmed by the small space and crowds. If you go, keep your receipt. Kids eat free at nearby Phillips Seafood. Also, avoid the expensive parking garage and park on the street if you can.

    Quiet play area
    Carlyn M.

    Came here with my bestie and niece. I love the fact they have different areas to rest. They also have sensory/quiet rooms. There was plenty of sanitizer stations. There is an area to eat for lunch/snacks. We came on a day when it was a field trip for a school. But surprisingly it wasn't over crowded. I parked in the garage that's adjacent to the Power Plant. You can also get your parking validated. Lol it didn't discount anything. *shrugs * Lol!

    Gabrielle H.

    THIS place is amazing. My children thoroughly enjoyed every single part of it except of course check in. Lol I even went down the big slide. I cried. I wish I could add an emoji so you can understand that I thought it was all over for me. Lol the only reason I went down the slide is because climbing back down those ropes was not an option for my toes. So adults be warned. Lol Each floor was filled with surprises. Each room was filled with entertainment. We ended up buying the family annual pass. How could you NOT buy the family pass? 1 thing I would say that was deceiving was the "Kids eat free at Phillips Seafood when you purchase port discovery tickets." That is a complete lie. Only 1 child per port discovery receipt was able to eat for free. ...and the food at Phillips was awful. When I say terrible...I mean terrible. The service was not bad, but the food was awful. So...why partner with them if you're 1. Going to lie about the kids eat free and 2. The food is despicable. All in all Port Discovery was theeee best. I took away 2 stars for the deceit about Phillips Seafood.

    Taking the rope bridge

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    1 year ago

    Incredible children's museum , lots to see and do for the little ones. Definitely worth a stop while in Baltimore.

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    Best kids place ever.... Been going there for more than 10 years and it's always a hit!!

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    Port Discovery Children's Museum Reviews in Other Languages

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    DoodleHATCH - Most of it closed off- not sure if it's normally open or not

    DoodleHATCH

    4.0(26 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    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.

    Overall: Okay place to spend an hour or two with young kids, but it is very dirty and most exhibits…read morefeel like safety hazards and are close to breaking. They have multi-stall gendered restrooms. We went right when they opened on a Saturday morning and had the place pretty much to ourselves. We used a Groupon deal. My son just turned 3. His favorite exhibits were the mail station, the space station, and the room with the ukuleles and guitars. The mail station was really cute. It had instructions to write a letter to your younger self and you could put it in the mail box and organize the mail by year you wanted to send it back to. It really didn't look like this place had a cleaning regimen. I can't imagine who thought it was a good idea to put that many (very used) plush toys in a place where this many children visit. You sign a waiver saying you're liable for anything your kid breaks, but so much of this place is about to break and I'd be worried about my kid being hurt as much as I'd be worried about parts of these installments breaking.

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    DoodleHATCH - Princess Castle

    Princess Castle

    DoodleHATCH - Space station

    Space station

    DoodleHATCH - Jumping on the Giant's bed!

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    Jumping on the Giant's bed!

    National Children's Museum

    National Children's Museum

    3.8(111 reviews)
    35.5 miFederal Triangle
    Not-for-profit
    Wheelchair accessible

    OK. So for the record, it is very much overpriced And they…read moredon't take ACM reciprocity for other museum members, so that was a huge let down. That being said, they have a decent amount of activities, and my kid was never bored. There were a lot of different activities for kids of varying ages. The little brothers and the younger brother won't be bored. On top of that it's right next to the National Mall, so... four stars.

    From the moment we walked in I knew this was going to be a fun experience for my 4 year old. I wish…read moreI'd come sooner since there's certainly enough for younger children to do as well (including areas that are for 3 & under specifically). The space is bright, open & welcoming. There's so many interactive areas & experiences it made me wish there was more things like this for adults too. We happened to be there for the Curious George area that closes in early Sept. (2026). My daughter didn't want to leave that section. There were so many tangible things for her to play with, watch, read, ride & interact with. The other families visiting that day were so helpful with littles it was great to see. I can't wait to come back again soon for another visit. I am certain my daughter will beg me to. We rode Metro there & walked so I'm not certain about how easy the garage parking was in that section of DC, but we did walk by enough places that didn't seem full. Street parking is much more challenging around that area though, so don't count on it & plan ahead.

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    National Children's Museum
    National Children's Museum
    National Children's Museum

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    Play Street Museum - Severna Park

    Play Street Museum - Severna Park

    5.0(7 reviews)
    15.1 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    Spot is pretty cute and not "huge". Overall very…read moreentertaining for toddlers and kids but can't say it's anything amazing but worth the money 100%. The lady at the front desk made me want to drop a star but can't say it's the owners fault. Reason being is she was very dry and quick with the rules I couldn't catch anything she was saying because she was so dry. Didn't seem like she wanted to be there but whatever that interactions like a second. It's basically a bunch of stations like shopping , doctors office, a slide, and so on. Like I said pretty cute.

    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.

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    Play Street Museum - Severna Park
    Play Street Museum - Severna Park
    Play Street Museum - Severna Park

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    National Museum of Railroading History & Innovation - Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    National Museum of Railroading History & Innovation

    4.2(157 reviews)
    1.4 miPigtown/Washington Village

    Apparently it changed its name in the last couple of weeks from the B&O Railroad Museum, but it was…read morecool when I went and look forward to any other upcoming changes. Although my Monopoly piece souvenir has been rendered obsolete. Anyway, there is plenty of parking and plenty of giant trains. I would recommend coming in the spring or fall because while cool, the giant train warehouse gets a bit toasty in the summer. You start off inside with a bunch of different train models. There is an exhibit on the underground railroad, but it feels disconnected to the rest of the museum. Then you can go into the roundhouse with full sized wagons trains with signage to tell you about the functions/time period/etc. There are more outside as well. It feels very thorough for the 19th and early 20th century, but it would be great if they incorporate more modern trains someday to show the throughline from the past to present. Except for the limiting time outside due to weather, it is an exceptional space with actual train cars you won't see anywhere else. The fact it was an old train station reused for a museum is a great use of an old space. It's something that will be engaging for children and adults.

    The museum itself was really amazing. I thought the inside of the museum was beautifully maintained…read morewith great attention to detail. The admission price was very reasonable, and my young kids really enjoyed the time we spent there. This museum is connected to the Smithsonian, though you wouldn't know it. It's very quietly stated on one of their signs, but not many other places. Some things that weren't as positive were that the website is out of date. The website said there were rides outside for kids. Which there was technically one ride. But it hasn't been in operation for quite some time. The other ride wasn't there. The other bummer was that I left an item behind at the museum. Even though I called the museum the week after our visit 3 times, left voicemails every time, and emailed, no one has ever gotten back to me. It really disappointed me that they have no one to help customers. Even when we were there, staff was minimal. Museum cutbacks I assume. Still, I would go back.

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    National Museum of Railroading History & Innovation - Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    National Museum of Railroading History & Innovation - Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    National Museum of Railroading History & Innovation - Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

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    Fantastic viewpoints everywhere

    Baltimore Museum of Art - The Cone Collection is stunning

    Baltimore Museum of Art

    4.6(238 reviews)
    2.6 miJohns Hopkins Homewood

    For my first Baltimore review, I'm giving praise to a solid overall art museum experience. And it…read morewas also a museum experience that was completely FREE! When I was looking at Baltimore attractions closest to my Airbnb, I instantly made a note. And from the moment that I first walked through its outdoor sculpture garden before even entering the building, I knew I was in for a treat! It might not be as expansive as other art museums I've been to, like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and MOMA. But it's well curated with impressive Asian and African art wings, an awesome section devoted to local Baltimore artists, and works from artists spanning across the globe and centuries. I've touched on it in the opening, but the fact that its a free museum experience unless you choose to pay less than $10 to see the special featured exhibit is absolutely amazing and unfathomable! Since the current featured exhibit had the works of Matisse, whom I've seen plenty of times, I decided to take in everything else, and could have easily spent 5+ hours taking it all in! With features like this inside and out, and the incredible value, I'm honestly surprised that the BMA doesn't get mentioned in the conversation about must-visit art museums in the US!

    WHAT A TREAT, to have caught the entire Amy Sherald exhibit and BAM! I loved this museum, and this…read moreexhibit specifically! My college campus and myself took a trip here for this, and 5/5 would recommend! So enlightening, so thought-provoking, so CHROME. ;) I'm also especially thankful for the guides that walked our group through Amy's pieces, who then were able to describe and confirm the emotions and response she wanted her audience to receive! Love love love this museum, and thank you to my campus for coordinating this.

    Photos
    Baltimore Museum of Art - The band @candlelightconcert @Whitney #veryhappychic

    The band @candlelightconcert @Whitney #veryhappychic

    Baltimore Museum of Art - Michelle Obama portrait by Amy Sherald !

    Michelle Obama portrait by Amy Sherald !

    Baltimore Museum of Art - Auditorium

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    Auditorium

    The Walters Art Museum - Gorgeous room with a piece of art

    The Walters Art Museum

    4.7(280 reviews)
    0.7 miMount Vernon

    I simply cannot believe that this lovely museum in Baltimore was FREE!! We spent about two hours…read moreexploring the 3 floors of art, artifacts and exhibits. We were lucky enough to see the Douriean Fletcher: Jewelry of the Afrofuture exhibit that showcased her various works and costumes that were made for The Black Panther, which was super cool. A great way to spend a morning or afternoon and cannot complain that it was free!!

    Cost: Free (!) Neighborhood: Mount Vernon…read moreHow much time? 60-100 minutes, maybe. Depends on exhibits and how much you like certain time periods Baltimore Reviews 9/11: I went to this wonderful free museum, located in the historical Mount Vernon neighborhood, while traveling through the city with a couple of others, though apparently I had been there about 10 years earlier when I went to Baltimore for an Orioles game. The space was well air-conditioned, and there were several floors for us to explore. The special exhibit was about contemporary jewelry maker Douriean Fletcher and her exhibition, Jewelry of the Afrofuture, which showcased her modern designs and how she drew inspiration from her ancestry and other African countries. She's probably best known for Black Panther, and the exhibit did a good job of comparing while also including some other useful information. It was nice overall and well spaced. Otherwise, we went to the top and made our way down through the various floors, though we didn't take as much time as I would have liked, since we left at one point to go back to the hotel and get ready for the convention center. My favorite sections were probably on the Middle East and ancient Asia, as there was an impressive amount of antiques, ranging from bowls and jugs to statues and other items. The sections containing European artifacts were also nice, with a good hall to relax in, though I've never been the biggest fan of works from the Italian Renaissance. Some spaces felt a bit discombobulated, but there was a ton of stuff there to see, so it's hard to complain. Overall, we had an excellent time. If you want to see a wide variety of things and prefer more historical objects over modern art, I would heavily recommend this museum. It's hard not to, as it's free, though I did give them a small donation, as they definitely deserved it.

    Photos
    The Walters Art Museum - Messenger Collection

    Messenger Collection

    The Walters Art Museum - Looking down at the courtyard

    Looking down at the courtyard

    The Walters Art Museum - The Walters Art Museum 8/2025

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    The Walters Art Museum 8/2025

    Port Discovery Children's Museum - childrensmuseums - Updated September 2026

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