Wilde Lake - Columbia, MD

Built around the man-made lake within the planned community of Columbia, Wilde Lake was designed from the start to work with the natural beauty of Maryland's landscape. A number of the stone outbuildings that surrounded the Oakland Manor dating to the 1700s still stand among the village, reminding residents of the history of the area and creating a pleasant mix of classic architecture and modern residences.

Head east of Wilde Lake Park to visit the Howard County Center of African American Culture. The public museum documents a century's worth of memorabilia and artifacts representing African American life in the surrounding rural area during the early 1900s. Additional audio-visual presentations of historic items bring the various exhibits to life. For a small price, adults and children can both explore history close to home.

Local schools offer programs that put emphasis on creating art, and summer enrichment programs prepare kids for potential careers in the art field. For local art shows and performances, the Slayton House Theatre is the place to be.

Wilde Park and its immediate surroundings collect a number of gourmet restaurants in the new American style, creating a friendly competition of sorts, with top chefs in the area constantly experimenting with new ways to present old classics in a new light. Spending an evening out within Wilde Park ensures a good time, whether you spend it in one of its many fine dining establishments or at the colorful local pub.

Hickory Ridge Grill, found within the Hickory Ridge Village Center, creatively combines traditional Greek dishes with American cooking to produce a unique and varied menu. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike should order the Full Mozzy. This sandwich's thickly sliced mozzarella cheese, baby spinach leaves and sun-dried tomatoes covered with pesto does not disappoint. The aptly named firecracker pasta proves red-hot spice and classic Italian noodles can mix together in the most tasty of ways. If you're trying to save a little money, stop by on Sundays for brunch, which combines many of the excellent flavors you'll find throughout the week in a number of more affordable breakfast options.

With a range of vegetarian and vegan options, a wine bar, unique dessert presentations and a creative menu where every item contains 475 calories or fewer, Seasons 52 provides patrons with a fresh and memorable dining experience. Be sure to consult the knowledgeable sommelier about the best wine to pair with your meal, and seafood fans should not miss an opportunity to try the caramelized scallops.

Columbia provides little in the way of options in Indian restaurants, perhaps because Curry & Kabob in the Wilde Lake Village Center scares off the competition. The large dining area means seats almost always remain open for dinner, though the value-priced buffet lunch can attract a large crowd. Not sure what to order? Order the momo, a unique brand of Nepalese dumplings packed with well-spiced chicken. A single order serves 12 dumplings, and the incredible flavor ensures you'll be back for the leftovers.

Looking to spend your evening in the company of a lively crowd? Union Jack's rests on Little Patuxent Parkway, bringing locals together over an extensive selection of craft beers, complex cocktails and good music. The jukebox runs a little loud for those who like that, and if it gets to be a bit much, you can always head out to the patio during the warmer months. A number of televisions around the bar make Union Jack's a great place to catch the Orioles game in good company.

The Parkway wrapping around the southeastern edge of Wilde Park makes vehicle travel through Columbia quick and easy, and Routes 29 and 108 both run near the neighborhood for travel beyond the surrounding area. Both the Uber and Lyft services are available within Columbia, and a number of taxi cab companies serve the surrounding area. If you want to travel by cab, be sure to call ahead, as hailing one on the street proves difficult. Bus stops serviced by the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland can be found along the Parkway to the south and east of Wilde Park.

Free public parking access lies along many major roads, and parking lots are plentiful near most local businesses. The area along the parkway near the Village Center and Columbia Mall proves to be surprisingly walkable for residents, though those living further out make frequent use of a vehicle to get around.

Several biking paths to and from parks in the area provide ample room for bikers to get around town while getting a workout.

The Wilde Lake Park provides locals with an expansive field and lightly forested area, making it the perfect destination for a summer picnic with the family or a place to play a pick-up ball game with some friends. Head down to the banks of the lake to admire the view, or take the dog along on a scenic jaunt along the expansive paved trail, which encircles the over 22 acres of lake.

Looking to get caught up in local community events? Look no further than the Columbia Festival of the Arts, located just east of the Columbia Mall. The festival runs throughout June each year and features a varied collection of programming, which changes each year, including live music, comedy, dance and film.

Columbia's cost of living averages 30 percent higher than that of Baltimore. A typical one-bedroom apartment costs an average of $1,245 for a single month's rent. For those who need public transport, a 30-day pass for the RTA bus line costs $60.

A pint of beer at nearby bars average a cost of $6, and gas prices hover around 6 percent above the national average.

The Wilde Lake Village Center collects a number of valuable shops in one convenient place, including a UPS Store, David's Natural Market for fresh produce, the Today's Catch seafood market, Absolutely Wine or Spirits and the public Columbia Swim Center. Those after brand-names can stroll just southeast of the parkway to visit The Mall in Columbia. The high-profile stores include Nordstrom, JCPenney, Lord & Taylor, Forever 21 and much more. Locals also travel to the mall to catch the latest movies at the AMC Theater. Food Lion and 7-Eleven represent the local grocery chain options.

Head northwest of Wilde Lake to Columbia's outer reaches to uncover one of the town's hidden gems. Specializing in high-quality outfits and custom apparel for young girls, Kaybella Boutique on Rock Coast Road presents customers with an array of fabrics, designs and styles and works to meet individual needs. Bring in one of your daughter's favorite dolls to have an outfit made to match.

Those willing to make the trip into nearby Ellicott City can bask in the pure Americana of the Antique Depot. Located on Maryland Avenue, the Antique Depot stocks four floors from wall to wall with vintage furniture, decorations, dinnerware, collectibles and clothing from over 40 vendors. Be sure to stop by the basement before you leave, as many of the more unique items can be found there along with deeply discounted pieces.

Columbia lacks a local farmers market option, but those willing to make the drive can head southeast to the town of Laurel to support local producers. The Dutch Country Farmers Market runs throughout the year from Thursday to Saturday. In addition to a number of stalls selling goods from local vendors, the Lantz Restaurant puts those fresh local ingredients to use and makes for a great stop for a quick meal before heading back home.