Garrison - Owings Mills, MD

Named for historic Fort Garrison, which was utilized by American soldiers during the French and Indian War, Garrison flanks neighboring communities Pikesville and Owings Mills - home to the Baltimore Ravens’s headquarters facility. Garrison houses revered educational facilities, such as the Garrison Forest School, a nationally acclaimed girls’ preparatory school with over 100 years of scholastic excellence, and Ner Israel Rabbinical College. McDonogh Roots Farm School, which teaches area youth the importance of farming and agriculture, stands as another area educational establishment. Not to be excluded from the neighborhood's wealth of academic offerings, Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center features an extensive art gallery and after-school programs for area youth. By all accounts, Garrison prevails as a student's delight.

Garrison delivers a delightful share of neighborhood restaurants. While chains such as TGI Friday's and Boston Market provide familiar fare, a selection of home-grown favorites add to local appeal.

CJ’s Crabhouse and Grill, rated one of the area’s best crab houses by Baltimore Magazine, serves up generous portions of tasty crab, savory seafood and traditional American fare. The atmosphere here is vibrantly raucous and full of character.

For warm, delicious crepes, sweet or savory, Sofi’s Crepes stands as a neighborhood favorite. Try the crepe brie filled with rich, buttery slices of brie, generous dollops of orange marmalade and a heaping helping of slivered almonds. Your taste buds will thank you.

Linwoods, a top Baltimore restaurant, satisfies your yin for fine dining and even provides catering and event-planning services. If you go for nothing else, be sure to enjoy the heavenly taste of the crispy oysters with a side of piquant celery root remoulade.

In the mood for dinner and a movie? Pike’s Cinema Bar and Grill has you covered in nostalgic style. An old movie theatre updated to include a diner and a venue for live music, the Pike’s interior overflows with classic movie memorabilia, including posters of Elvis, James Dean and Betty Boop, comfy booths and a popcorn machine. A must-have menu treat, the Baltimore Club, puts a tasty spin on the classic BLT -- topped with yummy grilled crab cakes and shrimp salad, it might just become your new favorite movie snack.

While some areas of town are walkable and many residents ride bikes, Garrison remains most easily traversed by car or bus. Plentiful parking exists in retail areas, though residential parking requires the purchase of an inexpensive permit.

Garrison residents enjoy the nearby convenience of Interstates 795 and 83 and the neighborhood's primary thoroughfare of Reisterstown Road/Hwy 140, which also offers direct access to Interstate 695. Bus service runs frequently along Reisterstown Road, making getting around a cinch for folks without cars or those who prefer not to drive.

Commuter bus and subway service – with commute times usually only about an hour long – provide smooth public transportation into the city.

Taxis and car services such as Lyft and Uber remain available to Garrison locals, yet are best utilized when maneuvering in downtown.

Much natural beauty exists in and around the Garrison neighborhood.

A quick drive down Highway 140 brings you to two of the area's most scenic golf courses: Green Spring Valley -- originally a fox-hunting club -- and Woodholme.

Discover breathtaking forests, wetlands and meadows at Irvine Nature Center. Enjoy the center's summer nature camps and fun community events such as Tracks & Trails and Kids' Night Out.

Robert E. Lee Park, a multifaceted community facility with numerous hiking trails, delivers environmental programs for youth, pavilions and waterfront activities such as canoeing and kayaking for all. Dog-friendly throughout, the park also features Paw Point Dog Park, a fenced in facility just for your four-legged friends. Volunteer-run, Paw Point stands as a 1-acre, off-leash area with affordable annual membership.

For a taste of history, Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area is a favored nature reserve and designated Maryland wild land. Extraordinary plant species, rare insects, uncommon rocks and minerals and local flora make Soldiers Delight an enchanting place to visit.

Overall, Garrison's cost of living lies just under 20 percent higher than the national average, with the cost of gas about 10 percent higher than the national average cost.

A one-bedroom apartment here goes for $1237, and a beer at the pub runs between $5 and $7.

Traveling by Metro bus or subway costs $1.60 for a one-way ticket and $3.50 for a full-day pass.

Garrison features the two main shopping areas: the Garrison Forest Plaza Shopping Center and St. Thomas Shopping Center. Here you have access to big-name favorites such as TJ Maxx, Ross, Starbucks, Home Depot and Sam’s Club.

For groceries, well-known national stores Trader Joe’s and Safeway ensure your staple goods are covered. Local purveyor, Giant, has over 150 stores in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland, including one conveniently located in the Garrison neighborhood. Opened in 1936 as D.C.’s first grocery store, Giant also fills prescriptions and provides Peapod home delivery service.

Sun Fresh Produce stands as the neighborhood's answer to a local farmer's market. Though a brick-and-mortar establishment, this inviting store provides reasonable prices on fresh produce and unprocessed foods, and a tempting selection of Russian and European treats.

Visit locally owned Ruth’s Closet for women's resale clothing with a purpose. Ruth's sells a unique selection of goodies. Additionally, your purchases benefit House of Ruth Maryland, a program for survivors of domestic violence.

Synchronicity Boutique, another area favorite, offers beautifully designed formal and semi-formal gowns, tuxedos, jewelry and accessories. If you've got a special event that calls for something fancy, the ladies at Synchronicity really know their sequins.