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Tired of watching the kids play video games? There are dozens of places in Howard County to take children — indoors and out — for fun, exercise and, yes, even learning experiences. Here are 50 venues to check out in 2020.
Indoor Adventure and play
Autobahn Indoor Speedway
Enjoy indoor electric go-karting in Jessup.
Breakout Columbia
The “escape room” craze hits Howard County. Test your mettle in live-action entertainment.
443-832-6980
Bowlero
Columbia bowling center holds parties for children age 4-12.
410-381-7750
Code Ninjas
Children ages 7 to 14 learn to code, also known as computer programming, while building games during weekday sessions and day camps.
5725 Richards Valley Road, Suite A3, Ellicott City. 410-680-2633. codeninjas.com
Dancel Y in Ellicott City
Yoga, zumba and cardio classes for kids, plus swimming, soccer, lacrosse and rock wall climbing.
410-465-4334
Drama Learning Center
The center provides theater classes and camps for children of all ages at its Columbia headquarters, as well as at local schools.
Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness Center
This Columbia climbing center offers open climb sessions with a range of rock walls, as well as climbing lessons for children ages 6 and up.
Ellicott City Firehouse Museum
Originally built to house hand-drawn fire equipment, the museum explores the challenges of fighting fires in late 19th century and early 20th century Ellicott City.
410-313-0420, howardcountymd.gov/historicsites
Everkids Playhouse
This indoor playground keeps preschoolers busy while parents relax with coffee in massage chairs.
443-542-9655
The Family Game Store
In addition to selling family games and puzzles, the store hosts weekly game nights and special events.
301-776-5980
Goldfish Swim School
With its 90-degree pool, Goldfish provides year-round swim instruction for children 4 months to 12 years old, as well as family swim times.
goldfishswimschool.com/columbia
Gymboree Play and Music
Gymboree, in Columbia, offers a range of play and music classes, as well as open gym time, for children 5 and under to help them develop cognitive, physical and social skills.
410-730-4410
Howard Astronomical League Observatory
Open for special star-viewing events, the observatory sits in Alpha Ridge Park and includes a 15-foot dome with a 12-inch telescope.
Howard County Table Tennis Center
The center, in Columbia, offers open play and private and group table tennis lessons, as well as summer camps.
Hyper Kidz!
Indoor play center for infants to 13-year-olds in Columbia.
410-844-6841, hyperkidzplay.com
Kids First Swim School
Jessup venue offers small classes at different levels for children.
443-755-0111
Launch Trampoline Park
This 30,000-square-foot center has wall-to-wall trampolines where kids and adults can bounce while playing everything from basketball to dodge ball.
launchtrampolinepark.com/columbia
LifeTime Athletic
Columbia facility offers play areas for toddlers and kids including swimming, martial arts, dance, fitness, yoga and gymnastics.
410-953-0022
My Gym Columbia
Zumba, Ninja training and art explorers classes are among the offerings for children to age 7.
410-290-7008
NinjaBe
This 25,000-square-foot “American Ninja Warrior”-inspired obstacle racing center includes a trampoline dodgeball court, climbing walls and mechanical bulls, as well as classes for children as young as 3.
9301 Snowden River Parkway, Columbia, 443-600-9550, ninjabe.com
Play N’ Learn Playground Superstore
Children can play on its showroom swing sets, trampolines and air hockey tables for up to two hours.
9033 Red Branch Road, Columbia, 410-992-0992, playnlearn.com
Roger Carter Community Center
The Ellicott City center includes a swimming pool, splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts and a rock-climbing wall, and it hosts family-friendly special events throughout the year.
410-313-2764
Skyzone Trampoline Park
This indoor park in Columbia includes wall-to-wall trampolines for freestyle jumping, a trampoline dodgeball court and a “foam zone” where kids can jump off tramps and land in pools of foam squares.
Terrapin Adventures
From zipline rides and rock climbing to a multi-level ropes course, Terrapin Adventures, in Savage, provides aerial, outdoor adventures for ages 5 and up.
Outdoor Adventure and play
Columbia Horse Center
Laurel farm offers horseback riding lessons, age 5 and up, on an 88-acre facility.
Columbia SkatePark
Open year-round, the Columbia Association skate park is home to 15,000 square feet of ramps, including a 20-foot straight rail, an 8-foot quarter pipe and a 10-foot vert wall.
Howard County Conservancy
With two county locations (Woodstock and Elkridge), the conservancy offers a range of outdoor education programs and events for children of all ages.
410-465-8877
The Mall in Columbia carousel
Keep the kids entertained during a shopping trip.
Monster Mini Golf
Jessup site offers mini golf, an arcade and virtual reality attraction.
Robinson Nature Center
The nature center is home to a range of educational programs, a planetarium, an interactive nature discovery room and exhibits highlighting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and local forest animals, as well as several outdoor walking trails.
Rocky Gorge 4 Seasons Golf Fairway
This Laurel golf complex, which includes an outdoor driving range, a 19-hole mini-golf course and a batting range, is open year-round.
410-489-2345, rockygorgegolf.com
ShadowLand Laser Adventures
Play laser tag, glow golf or enjoy the 3,000-square-foot arcade at this Columbia venue.
shadowlandadventures.com/columbia
Soccer Dome
Soccer Dome, in Jessup, offers soccer skills lessons to children ages 3 to 11, as well as summer camps.
SplashDown
Open every weekend through May, this newly renovated Columbia Association facility is home to water slides (riders must be at least 4 feet tall) and a rope swing. Within the same facility, recreational swimming is also available.
Arts and crafts
Burning Down the House
In addition to offering paint-your-own-pottery, this do-it-yourself fired arts studio in Fulton offers special events like canvas painting and movie nights with movie-themed pottery.
301-317-9936
Joann Fabric and Craft
The store offers a range of sewing and craft classes for elementary-aged children and up.
6161 Columbia Crossing Drive, Columbia, 410-872-0550, joann.com
Michaels Arts & Crafts
With two Howard County locations, the craft store offers a range of classes for children to bring out their creativity.
Columbia, 443-285-0808
Ellicott City, 410-480-8140
The Pottery Stop
The paint-your-own pottery shop offers walk-in painting, special classes and camps for children, and a snack and coffee bar.
9050 Baltimore National Pike, #109, Ellicott City, 410-480-0111, thepotterystop.com
Museums and history
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station
The museum, billed as the oldest surviving railroad station in America, includes a replica of the first horse-drawn passenger rail car, a 1927 caboose, model railroads and displays highlighting small town railroad life.
410-461-1945, borail.org/ellicott-city-station.aspx
Ellicott City Colored School, Restored
The school, which opened in 1880 to provide an educational space for black children, is now a genealogical resource center and museum highlighting the history of African Americans in Howard County.
410-313-0420
Howard County Historical Society Museum
The museum tells the story of Howard County’s history through collections and exhibits highlighting everything from the Ellicott family and the Patapsco Female Institute to Native American tools and the Enchanted Forest.
Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum
Dedicated to preserving Howard County’s agricultural history, the museum in West Friendship includes farm sheds, historic farm equipment, a blacksmith shop and six miles of nature trails.
410-489-2345
Howard County Police Department Museum
Honoring the men and women of the Howard County Police Department, the museum in Ellicott City includes exhibits on vintage police uniforms, antique weapons and fallen heroes.
Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park
Tours of this 19th-century site, known for its Greek-revival architecture, reveal its multiple uses since opening in 1837: a women’s school, a hotel, a summer theater and even a nursing home.
410-313-0420
Vintage BMW Motorcycle Museum
The Jessup museum showcases more than 65 vintage and classic BMW motorcycles and side cars, as well as motorcycle memorabilia and art.
301-497-8949
Farms
Breezy Hill Alpaca Farm
Call to schedule a one-hour interactive visit with the Woodbine farm’s alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens and learn how the farm processes wool.
410-489-5802, bhalpaca.com
Clark’s Elioak Farm
In addition to housing the former Enchanted Forest attractions, the farm has a “petting farm,” with pigs, emus, donkeys and goats, play areas and special events for children.
The Enchanted Garden
A quarter-acre teaching garden features vegetables, herbs and butterflies, adjacent to Miller Library in Ellicott City.
Howard County Times: Top stories
410-313-1950
Larriland Farm
The Woodbine farm is home to a variety of pick-your-own fruit, vegetable and flower fields, as well as fall activities like hay rides and straw mazes.
410-442-2605
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm
Along with special seasonal events and open houses, the farm hosts educational farm tours covering everything from worms and birds to farm life and gardening.