Wonderful Maryland (Baltimore, Potomac, Largo: neighborhood, good schools, colleges)

[kjg1963]

Don't worry dhelfoioracle. I thought the premise of your thread was good. Too bad that some couldn't just take it for what it was. A little less negativity in at least one thread would've been nice.

[dhelfoioracle]

thank you kjg1963
does anyone else have any favorite areas of maryland?

[vivo]

Originally Posted by Terrapin2212

I think Annapolis and southern Maryland are great if you like boating and fishing, especially St. Mary's county where the Potomac River empties into the Chesapeake Bay. And definitely Assateague National Seashore south of Ocean City, and Ocean City itself. Just stay away from Montgomery, PG, Howard, and Baltimore COunties and Baltimore City and Maryland is quite a lovely place.

what places do u like in moco? poolesville? dickerson?

drive up northern baltiore co where it is semi rural (but affluent) is quite nice I've read. i'm sure someone else can elaborate. of course u could just mean as a rule stay away knowing there are nice places in the counties.

[cutgarden]

I don't like cities, and don't go to inner city Baltimore. That being said, there are lots of really cool, older burbs around Baltimore that I could live in, no problem (if forced... I'm a country fella by nature) There's lots of great things about Maryland; I love it here over all. Yes, it's much faster paced than when I moved down from PA back in the 80's, but with that comes the opportunity to make more money. I've even seen Frederick trashed on this board, which I think is ridiculous; the historic downtown is way cool, lots to see and do, lots of shops, etc.

Anywhere you have a gathering of humanity, you will have some undesirables mixed in, along with an uptick in crime. Small towns have crime too. Just not drive by shootings.

When, or if, I ever move from Maryland, it will be south for warmer weather all year around. But, with that you take the plate sized spiders, thumb sized bugs, and all manner of creepy-crawlies. I like Maryland. I just hate the taxes. lol

[Tom Lennox 70]

Vivo, in Montgomery County my favorite places are the Poolesville area, up toward the western end of Route 28. There are some farms there where you can pick your own fruits in the summer and fall. Also, Lake Needwood and the Great Falls on the Potomac River by the C&O Canal National Historic Canal are wonderful, especially in the spring and the summer when the Potomac is high. Therre's a trail that goes across the canal to an island in the river across from Virginia. Its not Niagara Falls but still quite impressive watching the white water rapids and just being around nature. Also have to mention Broooksville, near the Howard County line, north of Olney in the northermost part of MoCo. Its a two-lane country road through town with some really nice old buildings and some antique shops and some barns along the road.

There are some places in more developed areas, like in central Rockville or old parts of Germantown that you can take a step back and pretend you're still in a nice little town. Same with MD-32 through the heart of Damascus on the way toward Mt. Airy and Westminster. I'm very nostalgic for the old days thoguh I've never lived there. You know how many people are fascinated by a foreign country or culture? For me growign up on the East Coast, that fascination is of Middle America and those perfect little towns I've only seen in the movies or heard about in country music song. I long for the past and try to see hints of it wherever I go, even in Montgomery County.

My favorite urban area in the state is probably College Park, because of my wonderful memories there. The surrounding towns are ghetto, but CP itself is its own thing. The campus is beautiful and the surrounding neighborhoods are rather nice. Some people aren't satisfied with the nightlife but I loved the small town feel where when I go to the bars I know everyone there...I prefer this to more upscale or larger more impersonal bars in Baltimore or DC. Or maybe I go enough to get to know the bartenders.....but hey I made it to pharmacy school haha .

More beautiful places in Maryland. The view from the visitor center at Sideling Hill on INterstate 68 near Hancock is pretty impressive and I've always wanted to visit Sharpsburg and Antietam National Battlefield. Kent Island in the Bay is also in a very dramatic natural setting.

[Tom Lennox 70]

I think my ideal place is those places where suburbia meets rural. Far enough from the city to avoid the noise, crowds, crime, etc but still conveinent to nice restaurants and shopping.

[kjg1963]

Terrapin, you are right about Brookville. I took the back roads to Mount Airy and one minute I'm in typical metro area sprawl and the next I'm in a small country town. That place definitely has some character. I'm like you when it comes to the history. I love it. The older the architecture the cooler it is. I live in Laurel and love to see the pictures of Main Street from the 1890's and try to pick out the buildings that are still there to this day.

[vivo]

thanks for the detailed response. i know balt co and hoco have strict smart growth laws. moco does too but u know i guess since dc borders it it's still quite developed. try historic ellicott city and from there drive east on Frederick rd to I695 (balt beltway) it's pretty popular and u will be in catonsville. hehe i don't know if u want to drive from baltimore to historic ellicott city. new market in fred co is supposed to be md ctr for antiques if u r into that sort of thing. although ell cty has a lot of that too.

the md tourism pg

Visit Maryland Home Page

historic ellicott city

Historic Ellicott City, MD - Welcome to our town, in Maryland

[vivo]

try patapsco valley state park. gunpowder falls state park i'm guessing is worth a visit etc yeah i can see being fascinated with small towns etc. a simpler way of life. without microsoft zune's which I bought this week. u might like cecil co as well. not sure how racist it is but i guess u could day the same thing about many rural/semi-rural places. also historic syskesville in carroll co. a lot of smaller towwns still exist i think just the majority of people don't live in them.

[kjg1963]

Vivo, I've been to all the places you've suggested. Born and raised in Maryland. My parents were really big into day trips when I was young. I think I've been to just about every corner of Maryland. Some people just don't realize how much is really here.