One of the trailheads of the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail (aacounty.org) is located at Dorsey Road in Glen Burnie, near the Baltimore Light Rail's Cromwell Station. The 15.5-mile trail follows the route of the former Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad. Families with children can bike or hike along the trail, which includes restrooms, picnic areas and water fountains throughout the route. The North Arundel Aquatic Center (aacounty.org) features an eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool and a leisure pool with three 20-yard lap lanes. It is also the site of an indoor water park with a 134-foot water slide, preschool water slide and vortex area. An admission fee is charged to access the center, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
To the west of downtown Glen Burnie is the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (bwiairport.com). The airport is named after Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, and an exhibit chronicling his life is located at the airport. Children interested in aviation and watching airplanes will enjoy the BWI Observation Gallery, located between Concourses B and C on the airport's upper level. The gallery included exhibits on aviation, and windows to view the airfield and approximately 757 take-offs and landings each day.
Marley Station Mall (simon.com) offers department stores such as Sears, Macy's and JCPenny, and is also home to Children's Place and Kid's Footlocker. Drop and shop services for parents are available at Marley Bounce Party, which features moon bounces and a play area. For older children interested in gaming, EB Games offers customers opportunities to test new software titles and get gaming guidance and opinions. The mall is also home to the city's only movie theater, the UA Marley Station 8. A Bowl America (bowl-america.com) location in the city features 48 lanes and offers "cosmic bowling," where customers can experience bowling surrounded by darkness, lasers and music.
Held annually since 1908, the Big Glen Burnie Carnival (gbia.org/carnival) offers families fun games and rides every summer. The event beings on the last Friday in July and continues for eight nights. Visitors can roam the grounds and enjoy various skill and chance games, as well as a selection of foods, including hamburgers, specialty sandwiches, ice cream and pizza. The organizers of the carnival, the Glen Burnie Improvement Association, also organizes a 1-mile family fun walk every October, along with a marathon and the city's Memorial Day Parade.
