Spring Is Coming! Head Out to Oregon Ridge Park with the Kids

This free kid-friendly Baltimore activity is something my son and his four cousins (ages 4-10) loved: the Purple Park at Oregon Ridge. It's in Cockeysville, about 20 minutes from my home in Pikesville. There are two different parts of Oregon Ridge that we visited 1. the playground 2. the Nature Center, hiking trails (and the beach).

1. The Purple Playground (free)
(Once you turn on to Beaver Dam Road, follow the road which kind of leans to the left and the playground will be about a .5 mile on your right. It shares a parking lot with the dinner theater.)

This playground is super great for young kids. The ground is covered in that plastic-y asphalt. There are a bevy of slides with high sides made out of plastic so the kids don't fall off on their way down or finish their slide ride with second degree burns. It's a great playground for hide and go seek. There's a mini rock climbing plastic thing the kids enjoy scurrying up (even my risk-averse 3 year old). There are a couple of slides and a smaller scale playground for even younger children. The kids were running around for a good 45 minutes - hour.

There's tons of space for flying kites, ball playing, sports, etc. There are some benches on the side for moms. I believe there were some port a pots there too.

2. The Oregon Ridge Nature Center 410-887-1815 (free)
"Mommy, is that dead?" So, there are a lot of dead animals there - taxidermized, out where your kids can reach and touch them. There are also some live ones in cages - but small rodenty / foresty ones like possums, birds, turtles, etc. There are some games like: identify the skull of this dead animal that really didn't interest my precocious 3 year old. I'm sure someone thinks that's interesting. He did like touching the things that looked like rusty metal axes though that were out on display. There were some pretty cool stuffed animals like a small bear, a beaver, some big birds, etc. The real point of interest was looking or trying to find the live animals in their cages, but there weren't that many of them. There were a few hands on things to do like listen to animal calls or tip over the rusty ax behind a dinky chain meant to keep out respectful adults, not curious children :).

Outside, there was a VERY cool bridge that led over to a hiking trail. Highlight: finding a walking stick for my son so he could hike. Although I'm posting this in February, we did this activity in November when the leaves were still changing, and it was gorgeous. There were families and folks with dogs all enjoying great hikes. I definitely want to go back.

Plus, there's a lake beach area. (Not Free) We didn't see this because it was the Fall, but I definitely want to go back and see that.
Admission though is $8/adult. $4/kid. Season passes are available. FYI folks, it's cheaper to get on to an Ocean beach. What's with that?

Directions To Oregon Ridge Park

Directions to the Lodge, Concerts, Picnics, Festivals, & Dinner Theater

1. Take I-695 toward Towson.
2. Take I-83 North (Exit 24).
3. Continue North to Exit 20-B (Shawan Rd. West).
4. At first light make a left. (Beaver Dam Rd.).
5. Follow Beaver Dam Rd. for aprox.1/2 mile.
6. You will see the park entrance on the right.
*The Lodge is the building with the flag in front of it.

Directions to the Beach and Nature Center

1. Take I-695 toward Towson.
2. Take I-83 North (Exit 24).
3. Continue North to Exit 20-B (Shawan Rd. West).
4. At first light make a left. (Beaver Dam Rd.).
5. Make an immediate right (between the red shed and the Oregon Grill).
6. Go across bridge.
7. Fork right (following ONE WAY signs).
8. You will see the Beach Building on left...parking is on grass.
9. Continue to the paved parking for Nature Center.
10. Nature Center is located at top of path.

Totswap, without the kids

The last Totswap insanity is about to begin tomorrow through Sunday. If you haven't attended (and neither have I), it sounds like one massive consignment frenzy. Here, you can trade in your kids, while you buy their toys for well below retail. Seriously, it sounds like the last place on earth I'd take my kid (I'd either kill him or lose him).

"Join over 1000 Maryland families as they turn their gently used toys, equipment, clothing and more into CA$H this Fall!"

They do this at Fairgrounds and other massive places where anyone can register and drop off children's clothes and toys in good condition, and then en masse, these items make up one huge consignment event made up of thousands of items.

Consignors make 65% back on what they sell (a check is mailed after the event), based on a price set by the consignor. The Sunday of the event is 50% off day, where items that the consignors chose in advance to discount are sold at half off.

I am sooo curious-maybe I'll try to make it on Sunday. This last event is near me in Timonium:
2200 York Road, 21094.
Open for shoppers Fri & Sat, 9:00-3:00. Sunday 10:00-2:00
http://totswap.net/

When All Else Fails: Storyville!!!!

I love Storyville. More importantly, so does my 3-3/4 year old son. We went to the one at the Woodlawn Library (there's another one at the Rosedale Library) on a whim, and boy did it pay off! (How can this place be FREE???)

The first time we went, we spent about 2.5 hours playing and reading. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, and there were probably about 30 other people. The second time we went, it was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and there were about 15 people. My son didn't want to leave.

Storyville is a museum-quality early literacy program of the Baltimore County Public Library system. It was started in Rosedale in 2007, and it has been wildly successful. I think they logged in 50,000 visitors in its first 8 months. It is a popular haunt for stay at home moms during the week, as it should be. This place is AMAZING.

It is designed for children 5 and under, with a max capacity of 60 people. It's approx. 3000 sq. feet total. In the Woodlawn library, you walk through the library, through the children's section and then enter Storyville. The staff is strict about not allowing older children in to play - children must be accompanied by an adult or child over 14. It is a great place to play WITH your child. At least at the Woodlawn Storyville, there is ample place to hang your jackets, park your strollers, a clean bathroom right by the Storyville entrance (as well as the one in the library proper), and a locking gate that ensures your child isn't running out of Storyville without you knowing. This is a great, safe toddler play place! Since they limit the ages of Storyville-goers, it is that much more comfortable for pre-schoolers to play free of intimidating, bigger kids.

It's not too big or too small. There are several areas within Storyville:

1. The woods: There is a 2 story "tree" kids can climb up and look out of with a cutout to sit inside of and read. There is a log to crawl through and little chirpy, plush birds.

2. Train table (self-explanatory)

3. Construction area (with legos, bristle blocks, dump trucks, etc.)
Metal sheeting wall with magnetic ledges, pipes, and balls to arrange in a path that will send the ball from the top of the wall to the bottom without falling (not so easy).
Magnetic gears that you can arrange on the adjacent wall, turn, and spin.

4. A trolley car with seats mounted on springs, costumes, puzzles, magnetic letters, buttons to push, etc.

5. A 2-story house with a "grill" outside, a kitchen, living area, upstairs bedroom. A real "play" house.

6. A grocery store with cash registers, bins of fruits and vegetables, dry goods, baskets, etc.

7. A theater with costumes, scenery (a bridge and a storybook backdrop), and props (instruments). Now playing: The Three Billy Goats Gruff. There is a large version of the book set up on an easel in front so you can narrate while your kids act out the billy goats or the trolls.
There is also a puppet theater with the three little pigs puppets.



8. A children's library. Bookbags, books, and more.

This place is insanely wonderful and habit-forming. There are books, letters, and hands-on playing in each of the nooks. I read to my son in the "woods", let him act out the Three Billy Goats Gruff, had him grill me up some burgers, and he's still annoyed he hasn't yet played in the grocery store (he's been there twice, for a total of probably 4 hours).

The second time I went, I took my 10 month old and my husband. There is an infant area with balls, baby books, pillows, and toys set out in a "garden". My daughter loved the mirrors on the floor and pulling all the books and toys off the shelves.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Website: http://www.bcplstoryville.org/storyville_about.html

Locations:
Storyville @ Rosedale
6105 Kenwood Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21237-2097
410-887-0512

Storyville @ Woodlawn
1811 Woodlawn Drive
Woodlawn, Maryland 21207-4074
410-887-1336

All Aboard Leakin Park Steam Trains Before Winter!

Aptly put, Leakin Park doesn't offer full-service restrooms, but I'm taking the kids again anyway.

Painstakingly detailed steam engines. Stout, grown men straddling small-scale trains, driving my son and me around 3 miles of track. Could I find anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon?

(And it's FREE!)

Located in Woodlawn/Security in Baltimore, members of the Chesapeake & Allegheny Steam Preservation Society have built gorgeous model trains, with approx. 3 miles of track spanning across the park. Rides are offered FREE the second Sunday of each month (11:00-3:30) between April-November, weather-permitting. Honestly, if I were them, I'd barely let my grandkids ride them. They are REALLY nice.

My 3.5 year old son LOVED these trains. He named the blue engine Gordon; he even waited longer on line the second time to ride the diesel... this is a Thomas-lover's dream. They do not allow babies on laps for safety reasons, so don't take your infant if you don't have someone to leave him/her with. There were both boys and girls waiting in line ages 2-10, and they were all clamoring to get back in line when their rides were finished. We went at lunchtime in August, and our wait on line lasted about 10 minutes. They had about 4 or 5 different trains running intermittently. My son is pretty cautious, but parents sit on the upper bench, and children fit lower into the train cars, so he felt pretty secure. Plus, the trains aren't overwhelmingly noisy.

There is a small playground right near the track area as well, so kids can let off some steam ;P once they're finished riding. There were birthday parties at the picnic tables next to the track area and some musicians practicing on the lawn.

It was hot when we went, so we spent about an hour total between the train rides and the playground.

Although free, do take some money to leave in the kitty. They appreciate donations! This is not a federal/state funded operation. This is all done by steam engine aficionados. God bless them. These trains and rides are seriously one of the few things my son asks to do over again.

There is ample parking about 100 feet from the waiting line. It is all outdoors, with shade trees all around. It is a GREAT photo opportunity. The trains are awesome, the kids are smiling, and the ride is relaxing, and the people on line are friendly.

Pdf info: http://calslivesteam.org/images/calfly3.pdf
4921 Windsor Mill Road, Baltimore, MD 21207 Directions
Website: http://calslivesteam.org
Dates remaining:
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
(They do not run in rain)

Recent NY Emigre Brings Family to Baltimore...

Confession: I lived in Baltimore since 1989. I moved to NY in 2002, met my husband online, had two kids, started getting $1425/mo. rent bills for a shabby 2 bedroom apartment in Queens (sans central air conditioning) and decided it was time to move back to Baltimore.

Now, once we're here, I ask myself: what is there to do with the kids? Back in NY, I had the NY Hall of Science in my backyard, bi-monthly cultural events at Flushing Meadows Park, the NY Museum of Natural History with sky-high dinosaur fossils... so now how do I tear my precocious 3.5 year old son away from the TV every weekend without spending $50/each activity?

I would like to share answers here with other parents. So, please let me know what you do & I'll let you know what I'm discovering!