The other articles are for boring grown-ups -- this article is for kids (and people who want them to have a good time going to the Worldcon). We can't tell you what the other bidders are going to offer (but you ought to ask them), but we can tell you all the cool stuff for kids here in Baltimore.
The con will be in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. Within walking distance ae several fun things things for kids. Just stroll down Light Street (walk along the Harbor and chase the gulls while you go) and head into the Maryland Science Center. It's like the Exploratorium in San Francisco only newer. There are lots of "hands on" science things you can do, and the exhibits are changing all the time. There's an IMAX theater with lots of cool movies, and a planetarium with shows. Younger kids like the T.O.T.S. (Turn On To Science) room because they have costumes you can dress up in like real fire fighter's uniforms. There are four floors of exhibits, and volunteers are always around to explan stuff (but we've never done all four floors on the same day because I poop out). There's also a Friendly's ice cream restaurant in the lobby if you don't want to go back to the Harbor to eat. (It takes about five minutes to walk from Harborplace to the Science Center). Outside there's a carousel and a playground that's fun to play on. I don't ususlly see playgrounds near convention hotels so this is really neat. (Benchs nearby. Get a tan while your kid plays!).
From in front of the Science Center you can catch a water taxi back to the Harbor, over to the National Aquarium, over to the Museum of Industryy, or even to Fell's Point. (Adults like it; there are lots of bars.) You can even walk to the aquarium from the Science Center, but the water taxi is lots of fun. It's not a taxi, exactly, but like a shuttle bus on water.
The aquarium is really famous. Outside they have a seal pond, and inside ae all these water creatures like dolphins, fisj, and turtles. They have an area where you can play with things like horseshoe crabs and starfish. Up on top they have a real tropical rain forest with frogs and stuff. There's also a marine mammel wing with dolphin shows.
Up the street is where the new Children's Museum is going to go. It will be built by 1998. (We have one now , only it's out in the 'burbs. I like it, but it's not real close to downtown.)About a mile from the Inner Harbor is Fort McHenry, a favorite for tourists and school filed trips. (although locals have been known to actually go here of their own accord.) You can look out and see where Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the "Star Spangled Banner". Plus, it's a cool place for a picnic, and since it's windy, you can fly kites there.
We also went to the Walters Art Gallery. There's lots of knives and swords and armor there. We had a birthday party and they gave us pamphlets with things to look for. You would not believe how many places you can find lions in the Gallery.
There are many other museums nearby, too, like the B&O Railroad Museum for train fans, and the Street Car Museum where you can ride on a street car. (They have a tourist trolly system downtown, too,) And across the street from the con is Harborplace where even a picky eter can find stuff to eat, and people like me can pig out. (It's bigger than 11 years ago. They have four floors of mall stuff under the Stouffer Hotel.(
Also, there's a really great zoo just a few miles from the con. Take a picnic - locals will tell you where to get supplies - and make a day of it. One of Baltimore's favorite parks, Druid Hill Park, is nearby.
There are also good things for kids a bit further out, like Hanpton Mansion, the Carroll County Farm Museum (if you wnat to see what a farm was like in the olden days), and the Ladew Topiary Gardensvwhere they have all these bushs in neat shapes.
Another great thing about Baltimore with kids is that it can be used as a base for some great day trips. I'll tell you more about those in the next issue of the Factsheet.
Part Two