Winter Fun!

Earlier this past summer, I sat down one evening to compile a pretty epic (if I do say so myself) list of fun summer things to do, so aptly named "Summer Fun".  I gathered 30 different ideas - places to go, things to do, etc.  We used this list all summer when we needed an idea for things to do during the week.  It was great and Alexia loved crossing things off the list that we accomplished...I may have helped instill this love of check-lists in her...

Now I will preface this post and say, one of the things I LOVE about living in Maryland are the seasons - defined times of the year in which we experience different temperatures, different elements, different smells, different appropriate activities.  Spring brings new flowers and crisp mornings but warm afternoons.  Summer brings all things related to water, snowcones, and shorts. Autumn brings pumpkin-spiced everything, breathtaking trees changing colors, and warm days but cool nights. 

This brings us to winter.  

I am a fan of winter, don't get me wrong. I love a good snowfall, hot chocolate, and cozy fire more than most people. BUT, having children has tainted my view of winter. Now when I think of winter, I think of the sun going down at what feels like 2pm 5pm, threats of the flu, strep throat, and basically the bubonic plaque when I even THINK about venturing out of the house, and afternoons that can't be passed by simply playing in our backyard baby pool or hulahooping the moments away.  Winter calls for a bit of planning, even more so than Summer Fun.  I think anyone with kiddos understands the trepidation I feel when thinking about what winter has in store for us.  

This inspired me to create a Winter Fun list - with 30 different activities uniquely designed to be completed during the cold, horrible, dreadfully long winter months of December, January, and February.  While this list pertains directly to things to do in Baltimore, many cities offer great resources if you take the time to find them!  

As with Summer Fun, my list is outlined below, complete with links when available. Enjoy!

• Storyville
• Port Discovery 
• Fireman Museum
• Bowling
• Earthtreks Climbing Gym
• Baltimore Aquarium
• Home Depot Kids' Projects
• Arundel Mills Mall
• Trains at Kenilworth Mall
• Leakin Park miniature train ride**
• Fells Point water taxi**
• Carrie Murray Nature Center Insect Zoo
• Ice Skating 
• BWI Observation Deck
• Skyzone
• Maryland Science Center
• Walters Art Museum
• Gymnastics open gym
• B&O Railroad Museum
• Operation Christmas Child**
• Cylburn Arboretum
• National Building Museum, DC
• Baltimore Maritime Museum
• Baltimore Streetcar Museum 
• Longwood Gardens
• Make Playdough 
• Shape hopping
• Indoor hopscotch 

Please note, that while I hope to utilize this list starting in December, I did not include any Christmas/holiday related activities.  We will be doing many of those, but most likely, as a family, and I wanted this list to capture things to do Monday-Friday.  And the holiday season always flies by as it is!  

**Also, some items are best completed BEFORE December, either because of scheduled closings, or the weather.  

I hope this list helps any other stir-crazy mamas, papas, sitters, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas out there this winter! - says the village idiot