Looks Salon and Spa: Take a Peek at Your New ‘Do

Looks Salon and Spa might be one of the best places for a little R&R in the Columbia area. From its stark white furnishings to the lush, green plants scattered all over, this beautiful and upscale spa is designed to promote relaxation.

This full-service hair salon staffs skilled stylists who administer natural color treatments and the trendiest haircuts, but they always offer one-on-one consultations beforehand in order to understand the expectations of the client. In its spa area, Looks hosts a full nail service station offering gel manicures and pedicures. Waxing and hair removal is available for face and body in one of the private treatment rooms, while the salon also offers massages to relieve tension and soothe sore muscles.

Looks Salon and Spa is open Mondays through Saturdays. Appointments can be made via the salon's website.

Looks Salon and Spa
6822 Oak Hall Lane
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-9030
www.looksllc.com
www.yelp.com/biz/looks-salon-and-spa-columbia

Do a Flip Into the Foam Pit at Sky Zone Trampoline Park

For both kids and adults, Sky Zone Trampoline Park is one of the most fun places you’ll find in all of Columbia. This unique facility is filled from wall to wall with padded trampolines, and after slipping on a pair of treaded Sky Socks, you can hop on and enjoy hours of jumping fun.

Learn to do flips and other tricks by jumping from the trampolines into the large foam pit, or bring the little ones to enjoy the specified toddler jump period. There are open jumps during which anyone can pay to jump, or if you’re looking for a unique birthday party idea, you can rent out one specific area for all of your friends.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park has a snack bar that offers tasty pizza, soft drinks, and other snacks, as well as private lockers where you can store all of your belongings while you jump.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park
7175 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21046
(443) 546-4477
www.skyzone.com/Columbia

Take Your Morning Run to the 2-Mile Loop at Lake Elkhorn Park

Whether you’re an avid runner looking for a scenic trail or simply seeking some outdoor R&R in Columbia, Lake Elkhorn Park is a beautiful place to visit. This popular local park is centered around a scenic lake that makes a great place to fish during warmer weather, and the numerous benches along its shores also create relaxing places to catch up with a friend on a sunny day. You’ll even find kayak launches where you can go boating amidst the ducks on the lake’s calm waters.

Lake Elkhorn Park has a 2-mile paved trail that winds around the perimeter of the lake, offering a scenic loop for runners to exercise outdoors, as well as outdoor exercise equipment if you want to add some strength training to your run. Have a picnic at one of the shady tables or even host a child’s birthday party at the pavilions for rent at this beloved area park.

Lake Elkhorn Park
7200 Dockside Lane
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 715-3161
www.yelp.com/biz/lake-elkhorn-park-columbia

Take Your Morning Workout Outdoors at Centennial Park

If you’re an active Columbia resident who is always looking for new ways to switch up your workouts, pay a visit to the scenic trails at Centennial Park. This family-friendly park is a favorite amongst the area’s runners, cyclists and walkers, as it contains scenic trails that wind through wooded areas and along the large lake.

Fishers will enjoy casting off at one of the lake’s sturdy piers, while just about anyone would love spending the afternoon relaxing along the lake’s shores. You can even rent paddle boats for an even closer view of the lake’s calm waters. Centennial Park contains a number of pavilions, picnic areas and barbecue grills perfect for a summer afternoon cookout, and there are attached public restrooms at some of the larger pavilions. The playground area is popular with younger children, and the entire park is dog-friendly if you want to bring your furry friend.

Centennial Park
10000 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042
(410) 313-7271
www.centennialmd.org
www.yelp.com/biz/centennial-park-columbia

The Mall in Columbia: Your Source for Fabulous Fashion Finds

If you want to treat yourself to some new clothes or those great sneakers that you’ve had your eye on, you’ll find all kinds of clothing and accessories at The Mall in Columbia. This local mall is home to all of your favorite national chain retailers, including Macy’s, Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor. For trendier finds, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch and Express offer stylish options for men and women, while Foot Locker and Finish Line boast name brand sneakers and other styles of shoes.

There are also stores for children, bath and beauty stores and even a few options with stylish home décor items. The Mall at Columbia is large and modern, with a spacious food court with some upscale options like P.F. Chang’s and the Cheesecake Factory. If you’re not in the mood for shopping, take in one of the latest blockbusters at the mall’s AMC movie theater.

The Mall at Columbia
10300 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
(410) 730-3300
www.themallincolumbia.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-mall-in-columbia-columbia-2

Brunswick Zone: Pin It to Win It, Monarch Mills!

If you’re looking for a night of fun in the Columbia area, you’ll find it at Brunswick Zone. There’s something for visitors of all ages at this all-in-one facility, which contains a bowling alley, an arcade, a billiards room, and much more. There are 32 lanes containing optional automatic bumpers in the well-maintained bowling area, as well as comfortable seating areas at the end of each lane and electronic scoreboards that make it easy to keep track of every strike and spare.

The pro shop offers bowling shoes and balls for rent at a low price, while the snack bar offers affordable food and beverages that will keep you fueled for the next game. Classic games line the walls of the arcade, and there are even billiards tables for those who prefer pool to bowling. Brunswick Zone even contains party and event rooms that can be rented for fun birthday parties and other gatherings.

Brunswick Zone
7100 Carved Stone
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 381-7750
www.bowlbrunswick.com

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

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

Centennial Park: Take a Break in Nature

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

Conquer a New Route Today at Earth Treks Climbing Centers

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

Brunswick Columbia Lanes: Beer and Bowling

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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