Welcome to Columbia
Serene suburban community featuring ten idyllic villages
Columbia is a serene suburban community located southwest of Baltimore and northeast of Washington DC. This idyllic community consists of 10 master-planned villages designed in the 1960s to provide residents with the highest possible quality of life. Every village within Columbia was designed to have its own shopping center and recreational facilities. The central hub of the community features the major retail destination of Columbia Mall, the outdoor performance venue of Merriweather Post Pavilion, and the scenic Lake Kittamaqundi.
Each village within Columbia is subdivided into relaxed residential neighborhoods featuring a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums.
What to Love
Idyllic master-planned villages
The Mall in Columbia shopping and dining
Merriweather Post Pavilion live performances
Local Lifestyle
Columbia offers residents of each of its villages the perfect balance of outdoor recreation and convenient amenities. Walking paths run through each village and all feature lots of green space. Here you’ll find an abundance of boutiques, locally-owned eateries, and
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
The Mall in Columbia is a sprawling shopping mall featuring around 200 businesses anchored by a 14-screen AMC movie theater, the Main Event Entertainment bowling alley, and an entertainment complex. Here, you’ll find a plethora of shops, whether you’re searching for your next favorite book, trying to find the perfect pair of jeans, or perusing fine goods and furnishings.
The Mall’s similarly extensive array of dining choices include Bourbon Street Cajun Café & Grille, The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys, Maggiano’s Little Italy, P.F. Chang’s, Panda Express, Seasons 52, and Walrus Oyster & Ale House.
Wilde Lake Village Center offers a variety of other restaurants and retailers within the Columbia village of Wilde Lake. Highlights here include David’s Natural Market for vegetarian-friendly health foods, Curry & Kabab for authentic Indian and Nepalese dishes, Hunan Family for flavorful Chinese food, and Today’s Catch for fresh local seafood. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel’s 5485 Restaurant & Bar pairs delicious meals from breakfast through dinner with wines, spirits, and local craft brews. Cazbar is a lively Turkish taverna offering traditional cuisine plus belly dancing performances.
Things to Do
Merriweather Post Pavilion is an acclaimed outdoor concert venue nestled within Columbia’s 40-acre Symphony Woods. The venue has ranked highly on lists of the United States’ best performance venues by Rolling Stone and Consequence of Sound. Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry as part of Columbia’s original 1960s masterplan, Merriweather Post Pavilion has hosted performances ranging from legendary acts such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, The Who, and Led Zeppelin to many of the biggest names in contemporary music.
Trails traverse the rugged wooded terrain of the picturesque 18-acre Robinson Nature Center. The 23,000-square-feet Nature Center hosts around 450 events, programs, and classes every year. In August, the Howard County Fair is a traditional agricultural celebration celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2021. The fair features many agrarian exhibits as well as thrilling rides and live entertainment. October’s Hops & Harvest Festival pairs fresh local food with craft beers from dozens of local breweries. This lively celebration also features live music and artisan vendors.
Schools
Columbia is served by Howard County Public Schools.
Atholton Elementary School, Public, PK-5.
Clemens Cross Elementary School, Public, K-5.
Waterloo Elementary School, Public, PK-5.
Wilde Lake Middle School, Public, 6-8.
Atholton High School, Public, 9-12.
Howard Community College, Public, Higher Education.
Columbia Howard Lifestyle
