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Iron Bridge Wine Company: Get Caffeinated or Wine-d Down

October 9, 2015 by

Iron Bridge Wine Company offers a beverage for every time of the day, from that first sip of coffee in the morning to that glass of Pinot Noir while you wind down your evening. This wine bar and coffee shop is frequently voted one of the best eateries in the Baltimore area, and it’s even been recognized in national publications as a hotspot for fine wines.

Inside, you’ll find a warm, dark wood bar and wine bottles lining the walls, as well as cozy dining tables for those who want to enjoy a sit-down dinner along with their glass of red or white. The menu features gourmet cheese platters, tapas-style appetizers, and grilled flatbread pizzas to start, as well as quiche, pastas, and salads for lunch or dinner.

Everything on Iron Bridge Wine Company’s menu is made with seasonal, local ingredients in a small-plate style, and the dishes are so artfully plated that they’re almost too pretty to eat!

Iron Bridge Wine Company
10435 State Route 108
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 997-3456
www.ironbridgewines.com

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Centennial Park: Take a Break in Nature

September 29, 2015 by

If you’re looking to disconnect from your electronics for a while and get back to nature, Centennial Park is the perfect place to do so near Monarch Mills. This award-winning park spans an impressive 325 acres of land, and it is a part of Howard County’s park system, which comprises more than 7,000 acres.

A beautiful lake sits at the center of Centennial Park, and a 2.4-mile walking trail creates a loop around it. Visitors spend time walking, jogging, or bird watching on the trail, and it also connects to areas at the lake’s shores where you can cast a fishing line or launch a boat. There are grassy open areas ideal for picnicking, and you’ll often see rabbits, deer, and beavers in their natural habitats while you relax nearby.

Many of these areas also make great places to play a pickup game of soccer, tag football, or catch with the little ones!

Centennial Park
9801 Old Annapolis Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7271
www.centennialmd.org

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Granville Gude Park and Lake House: Great Outdoors

September 17, 2015 by

Right in the center of Laurel, the Granville Gude Park and Lake House is a place for relaxation, recreation, and community events for everyone. Spanning 29 acres, the park is perfect for a hike or jog around Laurel Lake. The lake is beautiful and available during the summer months for boating fun. You can also rent a paddle boat for a small fee. There’s plenty of open space for different sports and there’s also a few barbeque pits for public use. Check out some of the fun events during the year, like the Easter Egg Hunt, Movies in the Park and the annual July 4th celebration, complete with music and fireworks! The Granville Gude Park and Lake House is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is free!

Granville Gude Park and Lake House
8300 Mulberry Street
Laurel, MD 20707
(301) 490-3530
http://www.yelp.com/biz/granville-gude-park-and-lakehouse-laurel

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National Wildlife Visitor Center: Learning Made Fun

September 10, 2015 by

The National Wildlife Visitor Center is a terrific place for families to explore and learn about how researching wildlife is essential toward the goal of preserving our natural resources. Located just south of Laurel and north of Bowie, the National Wildlife Visitor Center is the largest science and environmental education center operated by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. Come into the visitor’s center and learn about global environmental issues and endangered species Bring your binoculars to the viewing pod. There you can view acres of landscape and wildlife habitats. Check out the art gallery and the interactive kiosk. Take your choice – a tram ride through the facility, or take a hike! The half-hour tram tour is available on weekends, and during the week in the summer. Either way, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of nature, and maybe learn something, too!

National Wildlife Visitor Center
10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop
Laurel, MD 20708
(301) 497-5760
http://www.yelp.com/biz/national-wildlife-visitor-center-laurel

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Conquer a New Route Today at Earth Treks Climbing Centers

August 12, 2015 by

Maryland boasts three Earth Treks Climbing Centers, including one in Columbia, and they're more than just climbing gyms. Earth Treks serve as watering holes for the local community of climbers, which you can join yourself with just a single visit to the gym. Take an introductory class to learn the basics and then embark on a journey up the walls, which are designed to evoke the great outdoors.

The Earth Treks in Columbia encompasses a whopping 20,000 square feet of climbing space, so you can expect to experience a new route every single time. It helps that staff continuously switches up the routes, too, so even the most seasoned climbers will encounter new challenges with each visit. Go bouldering in a separate area dedicated entirely to this freestyle sport, boost your strength and endurance in the typical gym area, or attend a private class to enhance your existing skills.

Earth Treks Climbing Centers
7125 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 872-0060
www.earthtreksclimbing.com/md
www.yelp.com/biz/earth-treks-climbing-centers-columbia-columbia

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Brunswick Columbia Lanes: Beer and Bowling

July 21, 2015 by

Grab a pitcher of beer and a pizza and settle in for a round of bowling at Brunswick Columbia Lanes. As part of the Brunswick Zone chain of bowling alleys, Brunswick Columbia Lanes boasts contemporary technology—including newly installed automatic bumpers—at each of its 32 lanes. With a snack bar that some Yelp reviewers rate as above par, you have everything you need to spend a night at the alley.

Keep an eye out for special pricing and packages to snag a discount on bowling for you and a few friends or the whole family. Try Cosmic Bowling, which features flashing lights and thumping music, if you have some free time on a late night. You can also just grab a drink in the lounge or let your kids take a break in the arcade in between rounds at Brunswick Columbia Lanes.

Brunswick Columbia Lanes
7100 Carved Stone Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-7750
www.bowlbrunswick.com/about-us/142/1
www.yelp.com/biz/brunswick-columbia-lanes-columbia

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Explore the Past at the Howard County Historical Society Museum

July 7, 2015 by

During the 19th century, the wealthy residents of Baltimore considered Ellicott City a resort town, a place to wait out the stifling heat and crowds of the city. Many of them flocked to Howard House, a popular hotel at the time. It was there that staff discovered an artifact around 1940: a collapsible key and a Howard House plate. The key quite literally hinges in the middle, making it easy to stuff inside a pocket or purse. And it's one of the relics of Ellicott City's past that's on display at Howard County Historical Society Museum.

This museum showcases bits and pieces of the county's past, dating as far back as pre-settlement Native American life all the way up to current events. Explore pieces that belonged to the Ellicott family, vintage boy and girl scout uniforms, and artifacts from everyday life during an afternoon at this local museum.

Howard County Historical Museum
8328 Court Avenue
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-1050
hchsmd.org/museum
www.yelp.com/biz/howard-county-historical-society-museum-ellicott-city

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Tocar Spa: R&R Through the Healing Power of Massage

June 2, 2015 by

Tocar Spa is a unique health spa that focuses on the healing properties of touch. Through their various styles of therapeutic massages, Tocar Spa’s skilled masseuses are able to tailor treatment to a client’s specific health needs and even offer preventative measures to help keep muscle pain and tightness at bay.

Services include Swedish massages, stress-busting deep tissue massages, hot stone massages, as well as massages targeted to athletes and expecting mothers. If you prefer to have a more relaxing massage experience with a group of friends, planning a group spa party is a fun and unique idea for a birthday or bachelorette party!

Tocar Spa is conveniently located in a large, modern office facility, but once you enter the spa’s doors you’ll feel like you were transported to an oasis of relaxation. Enjoy an hour-long massage and feel your stress fade away.

Tocar Spa
One Columbia Center
10025 Governor Warfield Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 718-0611
www.tocarspa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tocar-spa-columbia

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Soak Up the Sun at Centennial Park

May 19, 2015 by

Centennial Park encompasses 325 acres' worth of the 7,000-plus park acreage in Howard County. That's plenty of space for Columbia's local outdoorsmen and -women to get some fresh air and exercise. Many of them come here to go for a run or a bike ride on the 2.4-mile path. It rings the lake, so no matter which part you traverse, you'll have a view of the sparkling water.

Some folks come just to fish in the lake. Rent a boat and spend a day angling for your dinner or just spend some time sunbathing. You can also explore the sights and smells of the buds that burst into colorful blooms in Centennial Park's designated wildflower space. You'll probably see birds dancing around the blossoms and splashing nearby in the lake. Take the kids to the playground if they're still small enough to enjoy a good slide (or two).

Centennial Park
10000 Route 108
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 313-7271
www.centennialmd.org
www.yelp.com/biz/centennial-park-columbia

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Robinson Nature Center: Protecting and Showcasing Mother Earth

May 5, 2015 by

Robinson Nature Center doesn't just invite Columbia residents to explore nature; it pays homage to Mother Earth in every part of its daily processes. Solar panels generate juice for the facility (15% of its total electricity, in fact). Geothermal air conditioning and heating saves on traditional energy. Water-conserving features protect the globe's limited water resources. The nature center boasts an LEED Certification—one of only three buildings in the state that does.

But these are the things unfolding behind the scenes. Locals come here to check out the hands-on exhibits. Head to the NatureSphere, a domed planetarium that shows various films regarding natural phenomena. Spend some time in the Children's Discovery Room if you have little ones along. You can also meander the nature trail, which winds throughout 18 acres of land (connected to another 1,000 known as the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area).

Robinson Nature Center
6692 Cedar Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 313-0400
www.howardcountymd.gov/RobinsonNatureCenter.htm
www.yelp.com/biz/robinson-nature-center-columbia

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