Bottom Line: Blink and you might miss this little yellow gem of historic Ellicott City. Although…read moreit's small in stature, this historic building is worth a closer look. If you've ever seen the little yellow building at the intersection of Church Rd. and Main Street in historic Ellicott City, that is the Firehouse Museum. Although it's a small spot, it can leave a big impression. The 126 year old fire station is generally only open on the weekends from April through December. However, it tends to be also be open for special events like Midnight Madness in December and you can schedule private tours. The museum is staffed by volunteers and has old fire fighting equipment and a collection of toy firetrucks. The volunteers are awesome and sometimes even hand out plastic fire hats for the kiddos. Personally, I like thinking about what it would have been like to be a firefighter at this station in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Situated on a hill, fire fighters rolled the heavy equipment out of the house and downhill to bravely fight fires in the community. There is a very small, humble jar for donations on the way (which you'll only see if you are looking for it) and I bet the firehouse will appreciate a small donation to keep this historic landmark open.

This is an interesting little site that's only open on weekend afternoons during the Summer and…read moreearly Fall. Most people would miss it, especially since it's not conveniently located right on Main Street. If you do get a chance, though, it's free and worth at least one visit. The museum details firefighter history, especially that of Ellicott City. You'll see some cases with old equipment, historical artifacts, various photographs and clippings, a case of firefighter-related toys, and some information on firefighting techniques through the years. The building is only one room and its small, but the information is still interesting. I give the place four stars for two reasons. The single staff member was very nice and informative. Also, my 5-yo son was fascinated just with looking at everything. I'm not saying this is on the level of a full historic site, but it's a quaint attraction and worth the stop. So, give historic Ellicott City some love and learn a bit about the old firehouse and firefighting.

You cannot and should not spend a week in Laurel without stopping by the Laurel Museum. The hours…read moreare limited to a few days a week for a few hours at a time, but the museum, located in a refurbished historic house in the heart of Laurel's historic district, should not be missed. They feature one exhibit at a time in the main exhibition area (currently one on the Laurel Leader newspaper, the last one was based off of the popular local Lost Laurel blog) and downstairs have a children's educational play area and a gift shop. The workers are always incredibly knowledgeable on the exhibits and full of tons of Laurel tidbits. The museum won't just be appreciated by Laurel residents or former residents, it's great for anyone interested in history and how small towns have continued to evolve and thrive throughout the changing landscape of our nation. (whew, apologies for that dramatic sentence) Either way, the Laurel Museum deserves your patronage. Add it to your next walk down Main Street :)

Such a charming museum- has a kids area for hands-on activities, as well as historic exhibits…read more Admission is free. Museum staff is really nice!

Laurel has plenty of seating at the bars and restaurants with views of the track, and excellent…read morecustomer service. We visited on a Friday, but will definitely be back for a Sunday brunch. We've been to some pretty shabby tracks, and our local track has so much wasted potential. Not at Laurel, what a hidden gem we found. Such a great find!

I went to Laurel Park for the Rose' on the Railway event and had a nice afternoon overall. It was…read morethe perfect excuse to get dressed up, take a few photos, and enjoy the atmosphere. I purchased the VIP experience, but if I'm being honest, it didn't feel very VIP. The perks were pretty limited: just a couple of extra drink tickets (which didn't do much for me since I don't drink) and individual charcuterie boards. I was expecting something that felt a little more elevated and exclusive for the price. One thing that did stand out was the facility itself. The restrooms were surprisingly spacious, clean, and beautifully decorated, definitely nicer than I expected for a racetrack venue. The event itself was enjoyable, and I'm glad I experienced it at least once. That said, it wasn't the kind of event that left a lasting impression. Nothing was wrong with it. It just didn't feel memorable enough to make me want to come back. It was boring, tbh... Ratings: - Event: (2/5) - VIP Experience: (2/5) - Atmosphere: (4/5) - Value: (2/5) Overall Rating: (2/5)

Christmas Village in Baltimore - A Chilly, Charming Detour with a Few Caveats…read more The Christmas Village in Baltimore is, quite literally, cool, both in atmosphere and in temperature. On a brisk winter evening, the open-air market delivers exactly what it promises: twinkling lights, the hum of seasonal music, the scent of spiced wine in the air, and a festive energy that makes for an easy, if brief, holiday escape. One of the more curious aspects of the experience is its sponsorship and structure. Chase Bank sponsored a secluded, interior section of the village, an enclosed, tent-like space that requires a $5 per person admission fee. Inside, shoppers find higher-end, European-style goods such as wooden nutcrackers and specialty imports not available in the main village. While one could argue the intent is to manage crowd flow or provide warmth and exclusivity, the execution feels more transactional than magical. I spoke with several families exiting the space, groups that had paid admission for multiple people, only to leave empty-handed. Their consensus was candid: the section is worthwhile if you already know exactly what you're looking for, but therein lies the problem, you can't preview the offerings without paying to enter. For most, including myself, the value proposition didn't quite justify the cost, and I opted to move along. What does deliver unequivocally is the food and drink. The Glühwein is well-executed, warming, and flavorful, served in a souvenir mug (pictured). While carrying it around the rest of the evening is mildly inconvenient, the practical upside is that refills drop to $8, compared to the $14 initial purchase, making it a solid value for those lingering longer. In scale, the village is modest certainly not a full immersion into a European Christmas market, but it succeeds as a curated, bite-sized experience. Numerous small stalls offer enough food and drink options to comfortably sustain a visit, and the area around the Christmas trees provides a particularly pleasant focal point. That's also where I stumbled upon the standout of the evening: a toffee vendor. The Italian cappuccino toffee, in particular, deserves special mention. Rich, balanced, deeply flavorful, and not cloyingly sweet, it was without exaggeration one of the best toffees I've ever had. And that's coming from someone with both a pronounced sweet tooth and a well-earned reputation as a food connoisseur. It alone nearly justifies the visit. Bottom line: The Christmas Village in Baltimore may not fully replicate the charm of its European counterparts, and some elements feel more commercial than festive, but it remains a pleasant seasonal diversion. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the Glühwein, and absolutely do not leave without the cappuccino toffee. All in all, a solid holiday experience with a few memorable highlights.

Charming little Christmas Village along the water in Baltimore. Went on a Saturday evening, it was…read morepredictably packed with people. But the holiday music and the twinkling lights made it feel like I was living Silver Bells. Wandering among the stalls of thw outdoor market, there are a disproportionate number selling jewelry, but there are cool things to be found, like Bigfoot socks, and cool hats. To enter the indoor sale tent, you have to buy a $5 "season ticket," which seems odd. But inside that tent is the large Kathe Wolfhardt store with cute German Christmas decor. I bought ornaments and a blown glass tree. My biggest issue was that the signage for the village food options were not well lit. We went with the intent of eating giant soft pretzels and apparently the entire festival was sold out. I did greatly enjoy my raclette sandwich, hot chocolate with Bailey's in an adorable boot mug, and some grilled sausage. The process of ordering abd paying, them waiting a while to get my food order was frustrating but expected. This was a nice way to be filled with some holiday spirit.

Great spot for a free indoor adventure…read more Right in the heart of OEC this museum is a great spot for a quick dose of history. The displays are great and who can beat the model train garden! You can also get inside a train car and experience what it was like to ride the oldest continuously running rail line.

Want a nice distraction from reality, one that is free? Then make yourself a detour and come to…read morethis nice little museum in historic Ellicot City. I had no idea that this museum existed until I was already in town. I parked my car near the top of town in one of the many free parking lots and started down the hill. I figured if I started at the bottom and made my way up, it would feel less of a tiring task heading back up. By heading to the bottom of the hill I found this gem. Like I said at the beginning, this is a free museum to attend (donations are welcome to help maintain the place). When you visit, you are transported back in time to when the railroads ruled the country. What you will come to find out is that this is the oldest railroad station still standing in the nation (that is how they bill it). When you start to traverse the museum you learn more and more about the history of this particular train station. You learn that it was first used with horse and carriage, then converted into a freight train station, and finally to a freight/passenger station before it was essentially decommissioned. Making your way through the museum you discover that you can see the working parts of it all. You go through the room that was the living quarters of the man that ran the station. You make your way upstairs and through the areas that was basically the central nervous system of the building. You pass by the ticket booth which tells you that back then there was separate entrances for men and women. Showing you that back then the railroad was a male dominated industry. You even get a glimpse of some very old graffiti. Make your way through what was the freight house and continue out into where they used to work on the trains. Once you are finished inside you can head outside onto what was once the passenger platform. Hang a right and head past the turntable to the external exhibit spaces. In what I am guessing is another freight house you will find a model of the railroad of the immediate and nearby area. Take a seat in here and you can watch a short documentary detailing the railroad in the area. After, or even before, the show, you can interact with the railroad model. Push a button and you will see how the railroad worked. Look closely and you will see the detail of each area. All the intricate little pieces of this model comes to life. Once you have fulfilled your inner child, you can then head outside once again and see the last piece of this museum. A caboose. You get to actually climb up into the caboose and see how one was used. Take a seat and take it in. You can take as much time as you want here, or run through it and get it completely out the way quickly. I'm sure you could even revisit this place and discover something new you overlooked on your prior visit.

Update your website! We drove there based on the website saying it is open 1-5 PM Sat and Sunday…read more It was closed at 3PM on Sunday!

This museum exceeded all my expectations! I felt immersed from the moment I walked through the…read moreentry and was greeted by the sky-high ceilings of the First Presbyterian Church that was built in 1894. Mary greeted me right away, is very informative and a wonderful woman to talk to! The artifacts are well preserved and really painted a picture of what life was like in that time period. If you love history (especially American history) I highly recommend this quaint spot!

The Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Garden is a hidden gem in Baltimore! The fact that visitors…read morecan enjoy these incredible displays of plants for free from around the globe is such a treat. They accept donations though! If able, I suggest donating to help them continue their amazing programming. In addition to free entrance, there is free street parking directly outside. If you're a nature lover, artist, educator, and/or parent, I think you'll really enjoy your visit. It is directly up the road from the Baltimore Zoo if you want to hit up two great Baltimore attractions!

A couple of weekends ago the weather wasn't that great so we were looking for something inside to…read moredo and came here. Admission is free but they do take donations (cash or by Venmo). We wandered around for a little over an hour reading about different plants and taking pictures of them. If you're looking for something inexpensive and different to do - I'd give this place a shot.

Polish shopping: Many vendors - Polish food, souvenirs, Easter eggs, chess sets, jerseys... not…read moreexpensive. Cultural/educational : Entire room dedicated to Polish History, Polish Americans, Poland attractions, with movie about Poland on a large TV screen. Music/dance: Nice national costumes and dance. Interesting. Children's Corner: Very Good. Most of the festivals do not have children corner so Polish organizers and volunteers did very good job providing one. Added Bonus: Tour famous horse race track (Pimlico). It is right next door. Polish beer - good Polish food - very good and described in pictures Parking: free and unlimited. Entrance fee: yes