Eldersburg, MD

Eldersburg got its name from John Elder, one of its early settlers. The many churches built in the settlement's early years indicate the importance they held. The Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed in 1821, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. As recently as the 1950s, much of Eldersburg contained farmland, though the following decades have transformed it into the busier suburban place known today.

Preserving much of this area's history, the Sykesville Gate House Museum of History displays past antiques and educates the community through special events highlighting history, art and culture. Yearly community events enhance your experience in Eldersburg; an annual Holiday Marketplace features free, family friendly activities and shopping opportunities from over 45 local vendors. Liberty High School runs a similar annual Spring Craft Fair.

You can find almost every restaurant in Eldersburg on or in close proximity to Liberty Road. Everything from good old American classics, traditional East Asian cuisine and Italian pizzerias can be found in the neighborhood.

Make room in your stomach before going to Smoky's Barbeque Restaurant, as this place treats you to big portions of beef, turkey, or pork as well as your chosen home-style sides. You get to observe all the food as its being prepared, and servings come in a simple but efficient cafeteria style. You can't beat the local favorite junior special on Fridays and Saturdays, saving you lots of cash while still dishing out tons of barbecue goodness.

If instead you desire fresh seafood, Salerno's Restaurant & Catering proves to be the spot for you. Locals consider this the best place in the area for steamed crabs, as their size and priced better than the competition. Besides the signature crabs, Salerno's has an extensive menu of seafood, pizzas, chicken and more. Be sure to check the website for up-to-date specials and coupons. If you go to the restaurant often enough, you may even stumble upon baseball hero Cal Ripken Jr., who likes it enough to hold some family parties there.

A special Hibachi dinner awaits at Osaka Hibachi, where you enter an elegant atmosphere and cross over an attractive koi fish pond by bridge to your table. Hibachi meals include complimentary salad and soup appetizers, and the chefs put on a show of tricks and skill while cooking your food. Though more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area, Osaka Hibachi provides an overall quality experience few can match.

After dinner, you can explore the local bars and pubs to extend your satisfaction. Oscar's Alehouse may be the most frequented. With a large bar in the back, Oscar's Alehouse features a long list of beers on tap, two private rooms and music on the weekends. Themed nights throughout the work week keep things fresh. Come in Wednesday nights for trivia night, which packs the house.

Eldersburg remains a mostly car-dependent neighborhood, with its considerable size placing importance on convenient roads. Fortunately, navigating the area comes easy with Maryland Route 26 and Liberty Road passing through the center of Eldersburg from its western to eastern edges. These routes eventually lead into Baltimore for commuters that continue eastward. Sykesville Road, the north-south section of Maryland Route 32, passes through the neighborhood as another heavily traveled route.

Key local roads connect to these highways, with free parking available throughout the neighborhood. Generally, Eldersburg does not does prove ideal for walking and biking near main roads. Residential areas with sidewalks provide more opportunities for residents to walk; however, no bike lanes exist in the area.

Call up Carroll County's biggest cab service, Carroll Cab, or use the always available Uber service to facilitate local travel. The Carroll Area Transit System provides the main method of public transportation and has multiple shuttle routes through Eldersburg-Westminster. The closest commuter airport lies in Baltimore, the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

One of the more enticing aspects of Eldersburg quickly becomes apparent when you step outside; the area features an impressive stretch of outdoor parks and attractions. Exercise while playing some ball on the baseball fields or relax in the open space of Hodges Park. While not an official park, perhaps the nicest stretch of nature in the village occurs along the Liberty Reservoir, with activities such as biking, hiking, fishing and bird-watching permitted.

The Morgan Run Environmental Area Trail sits at the upper end of Eldersburg and includes about 6 miles of looping paths through nature. Primarily used for hiking, some of the trails have an equestrian utility. Feel free to bring the dog on your walk, with only a leash required. By the outskirts of the neighborhood and into Sykesville, Piney Run Park has yet more hiking trails, though it also contains picnic areas, tennis courts and activities by the small lake; the park has a $5 entrance fee for county residents and makes a great destination to take the family for a day. Each year, the park's nature center arranges a September Apple Festival featuring live traditional music, wagon rides, face painting, cider pressing and homemade apple pies.

Eldersburg has a cost of living that proves higher than national averages and slightly higher than state.The cost of living in Eldersburg sits about 22 percent higher than the city of Baltimore. A one-bedroom apartments in Eldersburg rents for an average of $1,120 a month.

The Carroll Area County Transit shuttles cost an affordable $2, with a discount for senior citizens. You can fill up on gas at prices about 1 percent higher than the national average. Local bars and pubs typically charge $6 for a beer.

Just as with restaurants, Liberty Road serves as the central location of shopping in Eldersburg, and residents have their choice of many standard chain and specialized independent stores. Near or on this main road, you have your reliable Walgreen's, Home Depot and a Kohl's to purchase clothing for the whole family.

The mom and pop shops on Liberty Road bring out the local flavor of the neighborhood and provide a more personalized shopping experience. Photo Scraps, a small and creative scrap/stamp store, stocks the latest products. Plus, they offer classes to get your artistic imagination flowing. Harper's Kitchens & Appliances sells all the useful items you can think of when it comes to enhancing your kitchen, saving time and money by giving expert advice and being flexible when it comes to making a deal. The family owned Total Discount Liquors has been bringing the finest beers, spirits and wines to residents since 1988. They push consistent specials and discounts while hosting wine tasting meet-ups.

You can get your groceries at the Martin's Food Market on Londontown Boulevard or the Food Lion on Monroe Avenue. The closest farmers market sits on Ridge Road, as Buppert's Doran's Chance Farm continues to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, annuals and perennials since its 1951 origins.