Living in Columbia MD
Living in Columbia MD has major upside for people looking to live in between some of the most popular areas in Maryland. If you are looking for a place with high school rankings, close proximity to Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington DC, you may want to consider Columbia MD.
Quick Facts:
Population is 103,000+ people
2nd most populous place is MD
Unincorporated area located in Howard County
Consistently rated as a best place to live in America according to CNN Money Magazine
Where is Columbia MD:
Located in Howard county along I-95. Route 29 runs through the center of town making it an important access route in Columbia. Columbia is located South of Baltimore, North of DC and West of Annapolis. There is easy access to all 3 of these areas making Columbia a major community and a popular place for those looking for that kind of proximity.
Dining in Columbia MD :
Columbia MD is home to a lot of options! I am going to name a few but trust me, there are a bunch of great places to choose from. Some notable places are the sister restaurants Cured / 18th & 21st. Cured has a neighborhood corner bar feel to it and 18th & 21st has an old school speakeasy vibe. Stanford grill is a good go-to spot for surf & turf meals usually featuring a catch of the day. For Italian you have Tino’s Italian Bistro and Maggianos Little Italy. Xenia Greek Kouzina is a popular Mediterranean spot while The Corner Stable May sound like your typical rib shack but they are know for ribs & crab cakes.
Columbia MD Schools:
Columbia schools are governed by the Howard County School District (Howard County Public School System - HCPSS). There are 8 High Schools that service the Columbia Community. These schools are:
Athloton HS
Centennial HS
Hammond HS
Howard HS
Long Reach HS
Oakland Mills HS
River Hill HS
Wilde Lake HS
For more information on Columbia MD Schools click HERE.
Shopping in Columbia MD:
The first place I would recommend someone to check out when they mention shopping in Columbia MD if the Mall in Columbia. There are over 200 stores to chose from including anchor stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble. There are many places to do your shopping like Wegman’s, Harris Teeter and Safeway for groceries and many shopping plazas like Columbia Crossing (they have Target, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, etc.). If you need to do any shopping whatsoever, you have plenty of options to comb through in Columbia.
Recreation:
There are plenty of activities to get into in Columbia. You can take an educational trip to the Howard County Center Of African American Culture. Chrysalis Amphitheater has community and family events. Toby’s Dinner Theatre puts on broadway and original musicals along side your buffet-style dinner. Black Flag Brewery has fresh brews on tap all the time. Fairway Hills Golf Club for the golfer(s) in your life. Most of the community’s pools, playgrounds, parks and recreation facilities are overseen by the Columbia Association. The Columbia Association is responsible for maintaining open spaces and they offer recreational activities and facilities for the community.
Living in Columbia MD offers a lot to those looking for the suburban community, in close proximity to 2 larger cities (Baltimore and Washington DC), with a ton of options for dining, shopping and recreation. Columbia may be a place for you to consider.