Fun awaits around every corner! From the award winning dinner theater at Toby's Dinner Theatre to the adrenaline pumping speeds you can reach at Autobahn Indoor Speedway, Howard County is full of exciting entertainment, a vibrant arts community and great family fun. There are 30,000 acres of parkland just waiting to be explored, concerts to be experienced at Merriweather Post Pavilionand shopping to be done at the Mill, the Mall and Main Street! 

Howard County is the perfect combination of historic and hip. Located in the center of Maryland, it’s convenient to explore both the rural and urban settings nearby. Whether you’re attending a special event, going on a shopping spree or indulging in the best cuisine, you’re sure to enjoy the picturesque scenery and freshness of the area. Howard County is the green in between, making it the ideal destination to visit!

Check out Historic Ellicott City, where the Ellicott brothers discovered the famous milltown in 1772. Today, Old Ellicott City's Main Street is host to many shops and restaurants. The shops carry antiques, home furnishings, pottery, books, clothing and much more. Beyond Ellicott City's historic heart, Route 40 bustles with shopping areas. Which leads to another milltown Historic Savage Mill, the community of Savage revolved around a  textile mill for decades. Now, Historic Savage Mill has become the home to many artisans and antiques. Just 5 miles south of Historic Savage Mill is Elkridge, Maryland! Elkridge was a bustling port on the Patapsco River. Today the river is buffered by a state park with miles of hiking and horseback trails.

Looking for a more upbeat place to discover? Columbia has grown to be the new hip! Developed by Jim Rouse vision of one big melting pot and building Columbia with the atmosphere of a small town, yet city amenities such as downtown, shopping malls, and a large concert venue.  On the uprising, Maple Lawn creates the atmosphere of a small town. It's a place where you can find a unique mix of boutiques and high-quality restaurants. If you want to take a scenic car ride on a sunny day, drive west on Fredrick road and experience the beautiful countryside of Western Howard County. You will drive by dairy farms, cornfields, and stables of horses. 

Howard County is enjoyable, family driven, unique shops, cultivating dining, and the practical way of life! Visit, Enjoy, Repeat!

Howard County has a distinct and thriving collection of communities, old and new, stable and growing. In Columbia, one-third of the land is designated as open space. Woods, parkland, playgrounds and other public spaces are required by covenant to remain undeveloped.

Elsewhere in the county, a farmland preservation program designates certain areas for housing and permanently protects others from development. Newcomers to the county should explore the status of the property in which they are interested. Prospective Columbians should also investigate the Columbia Association property assessment; this extra “tax” supports Columbia’s recreation and community facilities.

Designated as an “All-America County” by the National Civic League, Howard County is one of the nation’s most outstanding places to live, work and play! Howard County has a balanced blend of pastoral farms, historic towns, suburban communities and urban lifestyle.