Learning is fun when it doesn't feel like learning. Am I right? Last weekend, we hopped in the car and drove to Baltimore, MD to visit the Port Discovery Children's Museum. Approaching their 20th birthday, the museum is looking forward to their next 20 years. They are exploring new exhibits and programs, facility improvements, and how they can make the experience at the museum even better. We thought it was pretty amazing already.
In the heart of the museum is an amazing three-story treehouse called KidWorks. It has many different entrances where the kids can climb, slide, and explore. It is recommended that you go with your child as the paths open on different levels of the museum. Signs at the entrance of each path warn you where it leads so you can meet your child on the floor where it exits if you do not want to go in the treehouse with them. My husband and I climbed through it with them a few times. Not an easy task in some places where there are tight squeezes, climbing walls, rope ladders and other obstacles that kids just love. Get your imagination juices flowing as you hike along Mount Rushmore and climb up a tower or wall and slide down a dark slide back to the bottom. The boys loved it and spent a good amount of time exploring all the paths. Although it is recommended for ages 5 and up, my 3-year-old was able to enjoy it with the help of his brothers.
Surrounding KidWorks are three floors of rooms and exhibits all offering hands-on, interactive experiences that encourage children to use their imaginations, ask questions, and explore how things work as they learn through play. They can shop for all of their groceries in the convenience store and then head to Tiny's Diner to take orders and combine their ingredients for delicious meals for their patrons. You'll be amazed at the chaos when a bunch of kids are in charge of a kitchen. And speaking of A-Maze-D, my youngest son had fun trying to find daddy when he entered the maze designed by Dave Phillips. Twisting and trying to avoid those dead ends as he used logic to find the exit.
Other rooms include the BGE Studio Workshop that will bring out the artist in any child, a very colorful room filled with puzzles, books, and fun games, and a fun toddler room just for ages 3 and under to learn gross motor skills along with balance and language skills while reading and singing.
The museum currently has a Dora the Explorer Exhibit where kids can blast off in Dora's rocket ship, plant and water flowers, sail on a pirate ship, explore the rainforest, rescue and care for rainforest animals, and many other fun activities.
Wonders of Water was the favorite room for all three of my boys. Note: Although rain jackets and crocs are provided to wear in this room, you may want to bring an extra change of clothes for your children because they will get wet. Children will learn human interaction with water by building tubes for the water to run through, spraying water chimes to make noise, redirect water flow using various objects, cranks, a lock, and more. Find out which objects will float and which will sink. The bubble hoop was very fun. Stand in the middle of a hoop resting in bubble solution. Slowly pull it up and surround yourself with a huge bubble. How far can you make it rise before it pops? The kids loved it! And oddly enough, my boys really loved washing windows. What? After exploring the entire museum, this is the room they chose to visit again with our leftover time.
Deciphering hieroglyphics in 1920's Egypt had me exhausted. I tried climbing in the pharaoh's tomb that appeared empty to take a nap, but quickly found out it was already occupied! 😲
The museum was appealing to the eyes with bright colorful art everywhere. It was clean and the staff was very friendly. There are employees on every floor equipped with radios should your child need help, get lost, or you have any questions. Bathrooms are always close by and very clean. The museum has an elevator so it is both stroller and wheelchair friendly. There is a place to hang your coats or lockers are available to store anything you don't want to carry. Everyone visiting the museum wears a wristband coded with a number assigned to each family so your child cannot leave with anyone else.
Just a little over 3 hours away from Wilkes-Barre and within walking distance to Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium, Fort McHenry, and lots of shopping, the Port Discovery Children's Museum is a must stop in your Baltimore experience.
*Our visit to the Port Discovery Children's Museum was a hosted event. I received free admission for the purpose of writing the review and tickets to give away. All opinions are true and my own.
**Giveaway**
One lucky subscriber will win a Family 4-Pack of Admission Tickets to the Port Discovery Children's Museum in Baltimore, MD. Tickets are good through and must be used by February 19, 2018. Contest ends Sunday, January 7, 2018, at 8:30 pm EST!! Only one entry per person, please.
Congratulations to our winner, Linda Graham!
Please read the official rules.
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