Baltimore 2011 - days 1 & 2

A couple weeks ago we took a much-anticipated trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor - something we try to do every year.  Evyn had a half day of school, so as soon as she came home we hit the road- getting to the hotel just before dinner. We stay at the same place each year - the Hampton Inner Harbor.  It's become one of Evyn's favorite traditions.  There is a small indoor pool that, apparently, nobody but us uses- a real treat for the kids!  So after arriving, unpacking, and grabbing some sandwiches in lieu of dinner, we went for a swim. 

Getting the kids to sleep that night was a challenge!  They opted to share the sofa-bed, but when I got up around 1am both kids were snoozing on the floor.  I later learned that they were "camping" - ??  Crazy kids.

Day 2 - we all slept in!  After raiding the breakfast buffet we walked to the aquarium.  Evyn loved it, as usual.  Andrew?  Not so much.  In fact, by the time we got to the best part - the spiral walk around the round tanks full of sharks and other curiosities- he was crying and asking to leave.  Always interesting with this little guy!  Although, he did enjoy the 'rainforest' on the top level, particularly the turtles.

 

Evyn checking out the telescope

 

beautiful jellyfish

 

By the time we finished at the aquarium and grabbed some lunch, Andrew was tired, with a capital T.  The plan was to take him back to the room for a nap, while Evyn & Scott did a little shopping.  

Well.  

Almost two l.o.n.g., tearful hours later he did finally conk out - like this:

After nap the kids were begging to go swimming again, so we scrapped the idea of taking a water taxi to another neighborhood to check out some great restaurants we'd heard of.  Instead, we checked out the Top of the World observation level at the World Trade Center building, rode a dragon paddle-boat in the harbor (where Andrew pitched a fit over not being able to pick a purple dragon), grabbed some dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, and hoofed-it back to the hotel for an evening swim.

click to enlarge

 

 

 Thankfully, getting the kids to sleep was a LOT easier this night, as they were worn out from all the walking and swimming!