Good family friendly areas near Jessup? (Columbia, Ellicott City: house, good schools, living in)

[Mazlynn]

My family is likely relocating in 2012. My husband will be working in Annapolis Junction/Jessup, but will probably be spending a fair amount of time in Fairfax, VA as well. (Jessup will be his home office, so we're looking close to there, but the commute to Fairfax will happen often enough that we don't want to make it any longer than it has to be.)

We have a preschooler and an infant, so I'm looking for places that are family friendly and have good schools. The idea of living in a cookie-cutter suburban tract makes my skin itch, I'd prefer someplace with a bit of character and would love to have some basic walkability, to playgrounds or parks if nothing else. (Right now I'm spoiled - we're the last house on a dead end street with a large lot that backs up to a wooded area, but I'm also a five minute walk from the supermarket.) But I'm willing to deal with suburbia if it gives us a good commute and good schools. I do want a single family home with enough yard for a garden and some play area for kids though.

I've heard lots of recommendations to check out Columbia, but also seen some cautionary things about it - does anyone have recommendations for other places to check out, or advice for specific areas in Columbia to look into or avoid?

[SmokeyLisa]

Elkridge, Ellicott City, Columbia