questions about Columbia (Baltimore, Silver Spring, Ellicott City: hair salon, waterpark, neighborhood)

[mandyk]

Hello- I am a single mom with a 3yr old son who has just moved to Columbia. We live on Harpers Farm Road. We are so happy to be here. I have a few random questions and would appreciate input/advice. Here are some things I'm looking for:
-a good, honest mechanic
-a babysitter (for nights out- not full-time)
-a good hair salon/stylist
-a nail shop
-a place to buy good fresh bread/muffins/scones
-any suggestions about great playgrounds and activities for a 3yr old.
We just joined the Columbia Association- it seems like a great resource.
Thanks so much
-mandy

[SmokeyLisa]

Welcome to Columbia,

Parks
1)Centennial Park is great and not far from Harpers Farm, just up the street on 108. You can feed the ducks, walk the lake, nice big play area, play ball, skate board or scooter, boat rides, fish. If Centennial is too busy then try the park off of 100, I think it is Meadowbrook. It seems less crowded.
2)Cedar Lane Park not too far, up 108 on Cedar Lane
3)Across from Swansfield school on Cedar Lane - there is a park, I always see a lot of kids out there.
4)Of course you have the tot lots but he might be playing alone there.

Activities
1)Personally, I love the library and they have several classes/activites for kids
2)Look online and in the paper for the CA neighborhood events, you can usually choose any of them and a lot of them are free.
3)Pools - Swansfield has a nice pool with kiddie water sprays
4) Paddle boats at Centennial
5)Indoor activities when the weather is bad - unfortunately, we hit the fast food circuit mainly McDonalds in Clarksville and Chick-FLA over on dobbin, they have pretty nice place spaces and there are usually a decent amount of kids playing. We also go to the place space at the mall. Bass Pro shop fish feeding at Arundel Mills Mall. You also have places like CA, jump zone, my gym, etc. We tend to stick with free activities.


Outside of Howard County - The Zoo, Aquarium, and the Children's Science Center.

[SmokeyLisa]

Forgot to add, the free train rides (donations), it is outside of Hoco, there are a few of them. I have gone to the one in Leakin Park (I believe that is where it was). My kid loved it, I'm sure we will be back. I believe it was in Baltimore Child. There are a few local magazines that I picked up from the library and food stores and they had a lot of events and suggestions.

We will probably do the B&O railroad as well.

How do you like Harper's Choice and Columbia, I feel that the area gets a bad rep. on here. I assume it must have changed and improve over the years because for the most part, I do not think the comments match the community that I see.

[hobbesdj]

Hey there, I grew up in Columbia and have lived 20-21 out of 22 years living here:

I would HIGHLY recommend you take your son to "Splashdown"! It's a bunch of water based activities for kids from the Columbia Association. Of course I haven't gone in ten years but they used to have a gigantic water slide, rope swings, swimming lessons and more. I know they just renovated it in 2009 so I'm sure they've added much more. It gave my friends and I some incredible memories growing up so I imagine your son too would equally benefit from it!

Columbia Association


I can also recommend you a very honest, hardoworking mechanic - at the Hickory Ridge Sunoco (a few mins down Cedar Lane) there is an auto shop run by a middle-aged guy named Jeff and two of his buddies - they've been taking care of my car for the last several years and have been nothing but great people.

In addition to Centennial Park which Lisa mentioned, Lake Kittamaqundi is great too - they have a lakefront with similar events - paddle boating and free music, and lots of cool restaurants!

Welcome to Columbia!

[ricky2000]

hi there i have three kids and my son loves trains and kids are very bored anything in columbia for them when its not to hot

[mandyk]

Hello- Sorry it took me a few days to respond- I truly appreciate all this helpful information. Thanks so much.

[SmokeyLisa]

It's not in Columbia, but we are going to eventually try the trains at Wheaton (Silver Spring) and Cabin John Park - Rockville.

Columbia - skate park, minature golf, batting cages, splashdown - indoor waterpark that is currently open, swimparks in the summer.

[newhart]

Just echoing what someone said about Cedar Lane Park. When my kids were little, it was one of our favorite places to go. Haven't been there in a while, so I can't confirm it's still good. I hear the playground at the Rt. 100/Long Gate Pkwy intersection is also nice. And if you don't mind traveling to Catonsville, there's a great "tire playground" at the Hilton Avenue area of Patapsco State Park.

For car repair, most of my friends go to British American off of Snowden in Columbia or Hillmuth, near the post office in Columbia, and in Clarksville.

My favorite bakery at the moment is Touche Touchet in the Atholton Shopping Center near Seneca Rd and Rt. 29. I've only had their sweets but I'm pretty sure they also have croissants and muffins. Here's an article on them. B More Sweet: Where All the Other Cupcakes are Jealous: Touche Touchet Bakery (http://bmoresweet.blogspot.com/2009/04/where-all-other-cupcakes-are-jealous.html - broken link)

For Breads, check out The Breadery on Rt. 40 in Ellicott City. I'm a big fan of their Grains Galore bread and rolls. They also have lot-fat muffins and sweet breads. Here's their FB. The Breadery | Facebook

[mandyk]

Thanks so much for this really helpful information- I greatly appreciate it. -mandy