Trip to Baltimore

We've been behind in posting lately so this news is about a month old now. We took a family trip to Baltimore last month to visit "Uncle Greg" (Dorothy's brother) and see his new home. It was the four of us with Grandma and Grampa Rich and we all flew down together. Greg's place is a nice little row home and he and his fiance' Jenny have done a great job with some renovations. It's also within walking distance of a nice park and Baltimore's "inner harbor".

Each day of our long weekend involved at least one big trip up to the park and beyond. The kids loved the park, of course, and spent plenty of time running and swinging and hiding and laughing. From the park there is a great overlook of the entire "inner harbor" and all the landmark buildings. It was a good opportunity to plan out what other cool things we might like to go visit.

On our first trip to the harbor Max and Uncle Greg and I went out in one of the paddle boats. Max steered, Greg peddled, and I sat in the back taking photos of the landmarks and the big "dragon boats". We had a good time checking out the public displays, and Max and I went on the old merry-go-round while the adults checked out a car show in front of the science center.

Another journey involved visiting Baltimore's National Aquarium. This is a fabulous aquarium and we had a great time there. They have some amazing displays built up here, including a glass-enclosed rain forest and a display of Australia wildlife. We also got to see the live dolphin show, and we saw a short movie in the "4-D immersion theater." I tried to get some good pictures at all of these installations, but in the end this one of Max in the 3D glasses was my favorite. It was a shame that the fourth dimension scared him out of the theater. All in all we really had a good time at the aquarium.

On our third day there I took Max to tour a old WWII submarine, the USS Torsk, that is on display in the harbor. It was fascinating, for me at least, to see this old vessel and all the stuff that is crammed into such a small space. Max mostly wanted to run from room to room and play with anything that didn't look too foreboding. In the end he said he enjoyed the submarine but that "Daddy took way too many pictures." Not an easy task, mind you, as I also had Lauren in a carrier on my back. Ducking through the portals meant ducking for two and staying ducked longer. Still, the kids and I had a good time checking out this honorable old machine.

Later this day the kids and I came back with Dorothy and we explored the Seven Foot Knoll Light. It's one of the smallest lighthouses I've ever seen, and the first of this "screw pile" type lighthouse. It has been relocated to the shore of the inner harbor and restored as part of the nautical museum. I love all things old, and the kids love anything they can run in, so this was a stop worth making as well.

Now, I can't close this post without saying how nice it was for Greg and his fiance to put us all up for the weekend and to show us around their little town. Everyone had a nice trip and we have a lot of nice memories take back with us. We'll all looking forward to next trip down, which it looking like it will be for their wedding in September. Thanks guys, see you soon!