Everyone wants to have a ‘90s kid summer again. We millennials have some great memories that we want to create with our own children. But a ‘90s kid summer was filled with days playing outside, riding bikes, and drinking water from the garden hose. That’s a bit tricky this year with scorching heat and thunderstorms.
We can still give our kids summer fun without sacrificing a laid-back approach. Because the other key ingredients for a ‘90s summer are less planning and more going with the flow. That’s why we’ve made a list of play places around Annapolis where you can just show up with no (or minimal) planning. So put away the massive calendar and the different-colored Sharpies. Instead, load up the station wagon (I call the trunk seat!) and head to one of these spots.
Annapolis Mall Play Area
The new-and-improved play area is an entire room with the same ocean-themed climbing structures. It’s located right next to where it used to be and near the new Tesla dealership. It closes at 1 PM for a quick cleaning every day, which gives you the perfect excuse to finally get the kids home for an afternoon nap.
Address: 2002 Annapolis Mall Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours: Open during mall hours. Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM. Closed during cleaning break from 1 to 1:30 PM.
Anne Arundel County Public Libraries
You can see our previous rundown of all the children’s and teen areas of every library. Each location is filled with books (of course), pretend play items, building toys, vehicles, STEM activities, and more.
Address: Find your local library’s address on their website.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Select libraries are open on Sundays during the school year.
Arundel Mills Mall Play Area
This play area has large, Maryland-themed climbing structures, including a lighthouse and a treehouse. There are wall-mounted toys for sensory play, including a little piano to have some musical fun!
Address: 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD 21076
Hours: Open during mall hours. Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM.
Barnes & Noble
In the children’s book section, there’s a stage painted like the Hundred Acre Wood. It includes different dress-up clothes and puppets. You can sit down on one of the little benches while your kids put on a show. Or they can bring over some books to read next to Pooh Bear and Piglet.
Address: 2516 Solomons Island Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 9 PM. Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
Chuck E. Cheese
Admission to this center is always free. Once you’re in there, you have to pay to play arcade games and buy food. But the climbing and bouncing areas are available to all guests. They have Homeschool Play Days and Sensory Sensitive Sundays, as well.
Address: 6637 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 9 PM. Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 10 PM. Sunday, 11 AM to 9 PM.
Home Depot Workshops
Create something with these hands-on building projects. There is a different theme each month, so it never gets old for your kiddos. The classes are free, but registration is required.
Address: 55 Forest Plaza, Annapolis, MD 21401; and 145 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401
Hours: First Saturday of the month, 9 AM.
IKEA
This drop-in play area is intended for kids to have fun under the supervision of IKEA staff while their parents have a look around the store. Småland is available for up to an hour, or up to 90 minutes for those who are IKEA Family members.
Address: 10100 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
Hours: Monday to Friday, noon to 5 PM. Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM.
LEGO Stores at Annapolis Mall and Arundel Mills Mall
These two stores in our local malls offer plenty of blocks for building enthusiasts to play with. It’s much better to play with LEGO bricks here than step on one at home. No one needs that kind of pain in their life. Build a little world together, regardless of whether you buy a kit that day. (Tell your kids—and yourself—that you can always put it on a birthday wish list!)
Address: 2002 Annapolis Mall Road, Annapolis, MD 21401; and 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD 21076
Hours: Both malls have the same hours for their stores. Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM.
Marley Station Mall Play Area
The Marley Station play area has delightful storytime and school themes, complete with Humpty Dumpty and giant crayons. Things are a bit quiet over there right now, so expect a low-key visit.
Address: 7900 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM. Friday and Saturday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Sunday, noon to 6 PM.
Wyrd Bookstore
The children’s book section, located in the back of the store near the storytime area, has toys for kids to play with. They are on-theme with a play coffee maker, so your little ones can pretend they’re bookshop baristas, too. Or they can practice reading to one of their stuffed-animal friends.
Address: 135 Mitchells Chance Road, Edgewater, Maryland 21037
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM. Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
When you don’t want to think about what you’re going to do with the kids, let alone how much everything costs, just head to one of these spots near Annapolis. They’ll burn off energy by running, building, and using their imaginations. So embrace the chaos this summer with some no-cost and no-schedule fun!
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