Baltimore and Annapolis

We have been home almost a week and everyone is still on a high from our wonderful trip. Near the end of our trip we went to Baltimore, and then met the grandparents in Annapolis for a crab feast.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, and one of the highlights of our trip. We started the day with lunch in Baltimore Harbor. We thought about going to the National Aquarium – but honestly, when did aquariums become so expensive? We live a little over an hour from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so decided to skip it. The B&O Railroad Museum was our primary destination for the day anyway.

After lunch we headed to the B&O Railroad Museum. Our boys love trains, and the museum did not disappoint. After buying tickets in the gift shop, you enter into the Roundhouse, a giant building with steam engines from the Railroad’s long history. You can board one engine, and walk through the cars, otherwise all of the trains are viewable from outside.

One warning, the engine that you can board makes noise. This totally freaked Xander out. I have a picture of him with wide eyes standing inside the engine. If you’re child scares easily, I recommend waiting until the Iron Works to board the trains.

In the Roundhouse there was a kids toy train table (which of course was Caleb’s favorite part).

Once we dragged Caleb from the train table the Roundhouse opens onto a large courtyard. The courtyard has a large electric train set-up (the kids can push buttons to make it go). This would be Caleb’s second favorite part. It also has a wonderful wooden train for the kids to climb on, and pretend to steer.

We were there on a Monday (but Wednesday through Sunday they have train rides). We will definitely take them back next trip to DC to ride the trains.

There is also a refrigerated train car, with another electric train set. It was a hot day – so this was Jonathan and my favorite part. The Iron Works was also a highlight. Some of the wheels on the old trains stood about six feet tall … really awe inspiring.

After three blissful hours at the B&O Railroad Museum we headed to Annapolis for an early dinner at Cantler’s. I think small children do best at outdoor restaurants, eating at picnic tables. Jonathan and I were the only ones that had a crab feast. Caleb and Xander loved the very spicy Maryland crab soup.

The boys were well behaved for the most part, until Xander threw a mallet across the restaurant. It didn’t hit anyone (thank goodness), but forced grandma and me to take the boys downstairs to see the crab tanks, and the pier. Note to self, keep mallets away from small children.

Baltimore and Annapolis was our last major outing on the East Coast adventure. The next day was fairly mellow spent at a local park, and a brief visit to one of Jonathan’s high school friends.