My husband, two younger children (16 and 8) and I are spending Christmas time in the Baltimore area; we’re coming down on the 23rd because we have tickets to the BSO Holiday Extravaganza for that afternoon.
We have plans with family for Christmas Eve night, but will have all of Christmas Eve day in which to entertain ourselves. Due to unexpected budget constraints, we have to do it on the cheap.
So, what do Dopers from that area suggest for inexpensive family outings? If all else fails, we can go to DC and see the Smithsonian, but we’d just as soon stay in the Baltimore area.
Your kids are too old, it seems, for Port Discovery, the children’s museum, but my younger kids do love it.
There are old ships at the harbor that can be toured, including the frigate Constellation, the Torsk submarine, and a lightship.
Lexington Market is a neat place - a classic old city market, but because it is Baltimore, utterly unpretentious, unlike its cousins in Boston or Washington. I’d get lunch there - everyone can get something to their taste.
Most of these things are on the light rail or subway line, so park your car and get a day pass.
It’s a street where all the neighbors sort of band together to decorate the whole thing. You might want to check it out. There’s a bakery right there that sells sweets and cocoa. There’s a dude who sets up a hot dog cart. People drive down it, but they also park, and walk it. It’s only one block long.
If you want to park, your best bet might be on Beech Ave near 34th street. It’s a safe stroll to the block from there.
Obviously, it’s better at night, but I bet on Christmas Eve, it still has a lot of activitiy during the day. Some dude runs a toy train, and some people have music playing. It’s got Disney stuff, and also a Xmas tree made out of hubcaps.
Lex Market and Cross Street Market are both kind of cool.
Fells Point Market is all right.
They’re real city-type things to do. . .they’re bustling. You can get Maryland Crab Soup. They just have cool sights and sounds that will probably stay with the kids.
The Inner Hardbor is the classic tourist place, of course, and it’s kind of cool around Christmas. It has a little village of lights, and one of the tall ships has lights strung on it.
But, the Miracle Block is definitely cooler. . .not put together by the tourism committe. It’s not going to take up a whole afternoon, though. It’s not huge.
But, there are a lot of places to eat on the cheap around there. It’s at 34th street. If you go up to 36th street, there are a ton of places to eat and drink. . .lots of places to “window shop”.
“Cafe Hon” is most widely known, but I’d recommend “Golden West Cafe”. Try the Chorizo Burrito.
You know, hubby and I both grew up right outside of Baltimore, and as such, have both been to Lexington Market, but I’m glad you brought it up. Our kids have never been there, in fact have never been anyplace even remotely like it. I believe we will take them there for lunch. We can tell them “Kids these days have it easy! You have shopping malls with food courts! When we were kids, this is what we had! And we were grateful!” I can also tell them (true story) that my mother, who grew up in Baltimore, used to roller skate to Lexington Market to get fresh sauerkraut for her mother to fix for dinner! The kids probably hate those kinds of stories, but I enjoy telling them, and when you’re a parent, you have to get your fun where you can!
Yes, Inner Harbor is a good place to go, just to “people watch” when you’re on a tight budget. Hubby and I used to do that sometimes when we were broke, dating, and living in Glen Burnie. The kids have been there to the Aquarium and such, but maybe we’ll take them to see how it’s decorated for Christmas.
I checked out the Walter’s Art Gallery. Unfortunately, it’s closed on Mondays.
I hadn’t even considered that, but that’s a great place to go.
It’s kind of like a crazy dude who just wanted to collect a bunch of crap and had a ton of money put it together. . .Roman busts, suits of armor, preserved insects, pottery, fine art. It’s really nuts.
Yeah, we actually went there on our honeymoon (which we had to stay in town for, as my mom was terminally ill). I haven’t been there since, and that was 19 years ago; but when we were there, there was a woman hand-making lace right there in the museum; I bet I stood and talked to her for an hour! It was fascinating!
Better yet, admission is now free. We’ll definitely have to take the kids another time we’re down there!
Hey, I recognize that street! At least I think I do!
It’s not too far from Johns Hopkins, right? A little bit north/west of the University, a little south of Roland Park, near the Rotunda shopping center with the Giant supermarket?
I lived near there for about a year while my wife did a post-doc at JHU. I remember driving to the supermarket once and seeing just this glittering row of houses bedecked for Christmas. I didn’t know it was a local “Miracle on 34th St.”! Pretty funny!
I can also tell them (true story) that my mother, who grew up in Baltimore, used to roller skate to Lexington Market to get fresh sauerkraut for her mother to fix for dinner! The kids probably hate those kinds of stories, but I enjoy telling them, and when you’re a parent, you have to get your fun where you can! 
