Fun Things To Do In Columbia Md

Peace A Pizza Catonsville

Everything You Need to Know About Columbia Maryland!

Speaking of kid friendly AND Mom and Dad friendly, if you havent checked out Peace a Pizza in Catonsville, they are fantastic. Other than a chalkboard corner, there isnt much by way of kid activities even though the pizza is great, as is the ice cream from the adjoining bakery and ice cream shoppe.

However, Peace A Pizza regularly hosts special event nights like Pizza and Pajamas or craft nights. Other restaurants that are super fun for kids include:

  • Crabtowne USA Crabs and a huge video game arcade!
  • Papermoon Diner great food and fantastic opportunity to play I-Spy!
  • The Board and Brew Dont be confused by the brew part.. there is a full restaurant menu and plenty of kids games.

Baltimore Museum Of Art

This art museum in the heart of Baltimore really tries to cater to families. There is a family audio tour and family activity guides you can pick up. Also, the BMA holds Free Family Sunday events pretty much every Sunday afternoon. Upcoming events will give kids the chance to make paper crowns, sculpt animals, create a collage, and much more!

Attractions For Kids In Columbia Md

Whether you are just passing through or planning to stay awhile, the planned suburb of Columbia, Maryland, offers plenty of activities and attractions for kids and families to enjoy. This idyllic suburb, just 20 minutes from Baltimore, is made up of 10 villages, or neighborhoods, each with several parks, pools and other tantalizing attractions the kids are sure to love.

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See A Concert At Merriweather

Merriweather Post Pavilion is located a block away from the Columbia Mall and brings the biggest music festivals and artists to the Howard County area. Its over 40 acres within the Symphony Woods, and was named the second-best amphitheater in the US by Billboard Magazine.

While the main stage is technically outdoors, it is covered or, you can grab lawn seats and enjoy the sun and some great music.

Thrift And Antique Shopping

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There are several great thrift and antique stores in Columbia if youre looking for a steal, including the 2nd Ave Thrift Store on Dobbin, the Goodwill in Snowden Square, and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore by the Wegmans on McGaw.

If youre willing to go slightly outside of Columbia proper, the Antique Center at Historic Savage is not to be missed.

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The Mall In Columbia Columbia Maryland

The Mall in Columbia was built to service the needs of the planned town of Columbia, offering a great combination of high-end department stores, small boutiques, restaurants, movies and more. Shopaholics can enjoy a great day of shopping in the attractive open-air setting which boasts over 200 specialty shops. There is always something on the go to keep children amused including cookery classes, build-a-bear workshops and family-fun days. When you need a break from the shopping you can watch a movie or rest your feet as you enjoy lunch, dinner or a snack at one of the several restaurants and coffee shops in the Mall.

The Mall in Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044, Phone: 410-730-3300

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The Maryland Zoo In Baltimore

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is one of our favorite places to go ever. I seriously cannot gush enough about this zoo. It is very walkable and very stroller friendly. There are tons of young kid friendly play spaces . The petting farm is great.. kids get to brush goats!

The animals are very close and accessible. And with the renovations to African Journey, your kids can get even closer to the lions, giraffes, and elephants.

Read our in-depth review of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore here.

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Cabin John Regional Park

The regional park in Potomac, MD has so much to offer families with toddlers and preschoolers. You can check out the Locust Grove Nature Center, ride the miniature train , and spend quite a bit of time on the sprawling playground. This playground is shaded and does have a few areas better suited for older kids, but there are plenty of toddler friendly play structures too.

About Symphony Of Lights At Merriweather Post Pavilion

First Thursday on Main, Downtown Columbia – Things To Do In Columbia, SC

The Symphony of Lights has been a time-honored Howard County holiday tradition set in historic Merriweather Post Pavilion. Made up of more than 300,000 bulbs, this family-oriented spectacular is a dazzling display of larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light creations. With the addition of new lights and a refreshed course, your time walking through the twinkling, winding path will surely be a night to remember!

A portion of proceeds from this event benefit the Howard County General Hospital.

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Play N Learn Playground Superstores

There are two locations for this indoor playground showroom. However, at the one in Columbia, MD, kids can play for up to 2 hours on the weekends for $9. You can read about our experience here. This is a great option for burning energy on a rainy day.

Talk about bringing out the big guns. It is hard to beat Port Discovery for best indoor play venues in the area. In 2019, Port Discovery underwent major renovations. And they are amazing! You can read my in-depth review here.

Go Bowling With Your Kids

I didnt even consider this possibility until my daughter was invited to a birthday party at a bowling alley. Bowling alleys can cater to younger kids, but you will have to check with the specific bowling alley near you. Some area bowling alleys include:

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Howard County Land Acquisition

By late 1962, citizens had elected an all-Republican three-member council. J. Hubert Black, Charles E. Miller, and David W. Force campaigned on a slow-growth ballot, but later approved the Columbia project. The Howard County Planning Commission Chairman Wilmer Sanner declared, “if this adds to the orderly development of the county, that’s what we are looking for.”:56 That July, Sanner sold the majority of his 73-acre Simpsonville farm to Howard Research prior to the public announcement. In October 1963, the acquisition was revealed to the residents of Howard County, putting to rest rumors about the mysterious purchases. These had included theories that the site was to become a medical research laboratory or a giant compost heap. Despite the moniker of being a “planned city”, the planning for the city occupied Rouse officials for most of 1964 after the announcement while marketing director Scott Ditch was brought from Baltimore’s Cross Keys development to promote the project to community groups.:56

The African Art Museum Of Maryland

Founded in 1980, the AAMM or the African Art Museum of Maryland is an institution in itself. During your visit to Columbia, you can visit the museum and take part in their African Experience Tour, which is a hands-on experience that includes a number of activities that will most certainly enhance your visit.

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Parks And Water Parks

Columbia has 23 swimming pools, several of which are considered mini water parks with all the slides and water play activities of the larger parks. The Swansfield Mini Water Park features a tube water slide and a colorful water playground, while Kendal Ridge Pool includes a water play structure and a water mushroom in the kiddie pool. The most popular, however, is Splashdown , which features two 40-foot, winding, tube water slides a jungle rope swing and a kiddie pool. All of Columbia’s pools offer several birthday party packages to choose from.

Dine And Bar Hop Along 11th Street Nw

Many restaurants thrive on 11th Street NW, but arguably none more than the 24-seat Bad Saint, which earned Phillippines-born chef Tom Cunanan the James Beard Award for the Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic in 2019. Eats aside, the strip is also a buzzing byway for happy hour or late-night drinks. Dance to DJs on weekend nights upstairs at the delightfully divey, memorabilia-filled Wonderland Ballroom.

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Why Do People Live In Columbia

Because it has great public schools, is an easy commute to Baltimore and Washington D.C., and real estate prices arent as bad as D.C. Historic Ellicott City is also a quick drive from town center, and the quality of life is pretty darn good.

Even if you are just visiting, you will want to dig into all of the things to do in Columbia, MD that make this city great.

Patapsco Valley State Park

REAL Stuff YOU Must Know Before Moving to Maryland – Things They DON’T TELL YOU!

This gem of a State Park is excellent for toddlers and preschoolers. There are so many easy walking paths, a cool waterfall, fishing pond, and the Patapsco River. There are numerous park areas too, each with their own unique playgrounds .

Our favorite section of Patapsco Valley State Park is the Avalon/Orange Grove area. Read our review here.

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Ninjabe In Columbia Md

A great indoor ninja course play space for kids age 5 and older . NinjaBE delivers 10 FitGames to our Ninja family. Two of the ten FitGames are truss-based Ninja Warrior Obstacle Courses. Each course has 15-20 elements. Physical strength, span of arms, span of legs, all factor in to how many elements are doable by each of our Guest Ninjas.

Indoor Adventure And Play

Enjoy indoor electric go-karting in Jessup.

8251 Preston Court, Jessup, 410-880-0010. autobahnspeed.com

Breakout Columbia

The escape room craze hits Howard County. Test your mettle in live-action entertainment.

8661 Robert Fulton Drive, Columbia, 443-832-6980. breakoutgames.com

Bowlero

Columbia bowling center holds parties for children age 4-12.

7100 Carved Stone, Columbia, 410-381-7750. bowlero.com

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Code Ninjas

Children ages 7 to 14 learn to code, also known as computer programming, while building games during weekday sessions and day camps.

5725 Richards Valley Road, Suite A3, Ellicott City, 410-680-2633. codeninjas.com

Dancel Y in Ellicott City

Yoga, zumba and cardio classes for kids, plus swimming, soccer, lacrosse and rock wall climbing.

7100 Carved Stone, Columbia, 410-465-4334. ymaryland.org

Drama Learning Center

The center provides theater classes and camps for children of all ages at its Columbia headquarters, as well as at local schools.

9130 Red Branch Road, suite I, Columbia, 410-849-6335. dramalearningcenter.com

Earth Treks Climbing and Fitness Center

This Columbia climbing center offers open-climb sessions with a range of rock walls, as well as climbing lessons for children ages 6 and up.

7125 Columbia Gateway Drive, #110, Columbia, 410-872-0060. earthtreksclimbing.com

Everkids Playhouse

Goldfish Swim School

NinjaBE

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Outdoor Adventure And Play

Howard County Conservancy

With two county locations , the conservancy offers a range of outdoor education programs and events for children of all ages.

10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock, 410-465-8877. howardnature.org

Robinson Nature Center

The nature center is home to a range of educational programs, a planetarium, an interactive nature discovery room and exhibits highlighting the Chesapeake Bay watershed and local forest animals, as well as several outdoor walking trails.

6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, 410-313-0400. howardcountymd.gov/robinson

Terrapin Adventures

From zipline rides and rock climbing to a multi-level ropes course, Terrapin Adventures in Savage provides aerial outdoor adventures for ages 5 and up.

8600 Foundry St., #50, Savage, 301-725-1313. terrapinadventures.com

Fun Things To Do In Columbia

To help you get started, we have selected 10 fun things to do in Columbia. This list contains everything from art exhibits, historical places to fun tours. This planned community of 10 self-contained villages has many hidden gems for you to discover and make the most of your time here. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington, and youll be pleasantly surprised with what towns like Columbia have fun to offer

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A Game Of Rooms Columbia

Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 17 reviews

The highly rated and acclaimed escape room from Rockville, Maryland now has a new location in Columbia! It’s the perfect experience for birthdays, corporate team building, family bonding events, or even just a gathering of friends.

Reviewed By pakhuu89

I absolutely love escape rooms and each one I’ve gone to delivers a unique experience. Our group completed Cabin fever with little time to spare and we enjoyed every minute of escaping and avoiding the avalanche. As we walked into the establishment, it smelled like fresh wood in a cabin! Clues were literally everywhere in the room and our host Andy was great, in costume and everything! I don’t want to give any spoilers, but let’s say I got to see something in this room that I’ve not seen in the other 8+ rooms I’ve completed before. The possibilities of escape rooms are endless and this one provided a new experience for me that I was not expecting. I hope this business is able to expand to create more rooms!Andy: I hope the title of this review is something to remember our group by! haha

Sports In Columbia Md

Dont love anything we are throwing at you yet? Spend an afternoon at Skyzone Trampoline Park flying high, or at ShadowLand Laser Adventures on Red Branch Road playing laser tag with your closest friends .

If you want a kid-friendly outdoor activity, check out the Columbia Sports Park, which has batting cages, a clubhouse, a skate park, and several pavilions.

If you want something a little more thrilling, check out Main Event located inside the Columbia Mall. Main Event has arcade machines, games, food, and more.

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Hiking & Biking Trails

  • Trolley Trail
  • Cascade Falls Trail

Many Ellicott City residents love to strap on their hiking boots or grab their bikes when the weather permits. The Trolley Trail is the area’s most iconic trail and used to be a trolley track. Only three miles long, this in-and-out trail is good for all skill levels and welcomes dogs on leashes.

Cascade Falls Trail is a must-do trail for anyone who lives in the area. The 2.1 in-and-out trail features a waterfall and is a good option for all skill levels during warm months. However, bikes should not be on the trail when snow is on the ground. Dogs are permitted throughout the year.

With so many outdoor activities, Ellicott City residents and visitors can find something to do year-round. Many outdoor groups have been formed over the years, allowing new and long-term residents to find those interested in similar activities.

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Aida Bistro And Wine Bar Columbia Md

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar is a popular Italian restaurant where you can enjoy up-market home-style Italian cuisine paired with a great selection of wines, many of which are available by the glass. The restaurant prides itself on serving delicious food prepared from the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. The atmosphere is casual and the restaurant offers an outdoor patio for alfresco dining on good-weather days. If you would like to sample some of their excellent wines-on-tap you can visit the wine bar during Happy Hour from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays. Aida Bistro is open for lunch from Monday to Friday and for dinner from Monday to Saturday.

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar, 6741 Columbia Gateway Dr, Columbia, MD 21046, Phone: 410-953-0500

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Lost Ark Distilling Company

If you have ever wondered what it takes to craft a unique and delicious all-American spirit you can make your way to the Lost Ark Distilling Company on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday to take a guided tour of the production facility. The company was founded to create an outlet for the creativity and passion of the companys founder Brad, who distils a range of unique spirits based on historic events in the history of Maryland. Your distillery tour includes a host of information about the distilling process and ends with a tasting of some of the companys most popular products.

Lost Ark Distilling Company, 9570 Berger Rd, Suite L, Columbia, MD 21046, Phone: 443-276-6178

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