Westminster, MD (Baltimore, Frederick, Hagerstown: receptions, townhomes, neighborhoods)

[pkoons]

Westminster is the county seat of the fairly rural, but rapidly changing, Carroll County. The city is located at the intersection of Rtes. 32, 97, and 27, which makes it easily accessible but not particularly convenient to any metro area. It is probably best characterized as a Baltimore exurb (bedroom community) or a VERY small metro area of its own. It is also convenient to Gettysburg, PA and Frederick, MD. McDaniel College (a liberal arts school formerly known as Western Maryland College) is located in Westminster, as is the Carroll County Regional Airport.

Westminster is a small town that, unlike Frederick, has remained fairly sleepy despite the building of new homes and the influx of chain restaurants over the past 10 years. Even though cities 65-70 miles from DC such as Hagerstown and Martinsburg, WV have become DC suburbs due to the proximity of the MARC train, Westminster has not as no major highway or rail system connects Westminster to the DC area. There is a pleasant mix of neighborhoods with homes on large lots, farms, and a quaint "old town" area along the town's Main Street. There are antique stores and independently owned eateries in Westminster proper, though the unincorporated areas in zips 21157/21158 attract more of the new homes and big box retailers. My aunt & uncle used to live on Main Street, and I recall their house was right up against the street despite the fact that they had a huge backyard.

When in town, there are a handful of places worth eating at. Johansson's is a good if unexciting restaurant (steaks, veal medallions, pork chops, etc). Maria's is a hilarious exercise in contradiction - wedding receptions can be held in the Botany Room while nearby "Thirsty Thursdays" are being held in the bar with cheap shooters and beers. They tend to have pretty tasty food though if you are stopping by with no expectations for atmosphere. There are the obligatory chains (Olive Garden), burger joints (Five Guys - one of the best), and buffets (Cactus Willies - steaks cooked to order, better than you would expect...) The best spot though, a must see, is Baugher's Orchard and Farm - complete with a family restaurant and bakery. They make a mean breakfast as well as homemade ice cream and more than a dozen fresh fruit pies. You can also pick your own locally grown produce. It's a great local spot with a lot of character. I can honestly say I don't know much about Westminster nightlife outside of the aforementioned Maria's, which can get pretty hopping, and the Pour House, which is a solid place to hear live music.

The great thing about living in Westminster is that it is cheap by Baltimore/DC standards. You can find townhomes for under $250K in good shape, or a turn of the century clapboard home along Main Street for a similar price. For newer homes, Eden Farms, Meadow Creek, Meadow Ridge, and Avondale Run are all decent communities with moderate (2500 sq ft) homes. There is a lot of development in Westminster - as I said before, mostly mid-sized homes on large lots. A new home in Ridge Terrace on an acre would run you right around $500K - not a bad investment with similar homes around $950K just 15-20 minutes away in Woodbine/West Friendship on the Howard/Carroll County border. If you're looking at top dollar properties ($1M+), you're probably looking at 10+ acres with an older farm house.