Ellicott City, Maryland

Ellicott City is an affluent town of about 60,000 residents that can be found on Maryland's Patapsco River. Just fourteen miles away is Baltimore, and Washington D.C. isn't very far off either. Many visitors to Ellicott City come to enjoy the town's historic charm and its all around appeal. There are plenty of fun things to do, and when you're not exploring the quaint streets, you can always break at one of the fine restaurants and enjoy a satisfying meal. It's not hard to understand why visitors have been flocking to this well-to-do Maryland destination for more than 200 years, and should you be planning a visit, you might stop first at the visitor information center on Main Street.

Enjoying a walking tour is one of the top things to do in Ellicott City Maryland, thanks largely in part to the lovely old buildings that characterize the historical downtown area. Walking tour brochures are available at the visitor center, and since these brochures offer some fantastic insight into some of the city's more historical structures, they are worth picking up. Should you be interested in other tours during your visit, the ghost tours are popular, especially those that also feature wine, beer, and cocktail tastings. Wine enthusiasts can also sample some wines downtown without delving into ghost talk if they please.

Shopping is one of the other top things to do in Ellicott City Maryland. The city's relatively upscale nature lends to the fact that there are enticing shops to choose from, some selling fine goods that you might not be able to find elsewhere in the area. Antiques are in especially good supply, so you might look for that something special to decorate your home with while in town. Jewelry and high fashion apparel are just some of the other things that you can buy on an Ellicott City shopping spree, and if you can't entirely satisfy the shopping bug on a visit, you can always go shopping in Baltimore, D.C., or any other number of area destinations.

Many Ellicott City attractions relate to the city's rich history, and they include the old stone buildings on Main Street. When you're not checking out these buildings from the 1800s, you might wander over to Maryland Avenue to inspect the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station. Seeing this station is one of the top things to do in Ellicott City, and for good reason. Completed in 1830, it's the oldest train station in America. There is a museum at the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station that you can visit Wednesday through Sunday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. It offers insight into the building, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and early American transportation on the whole.

Two other historical Ellicott City attractions that can be added to the itinerary on a visit to town are the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin and the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. The former is a simple settler's cabin that dates back to the 1780s, while the latter offers insight into life of one of the country's earliest African-American men of influence. Benjamin Banneker, it should be noted, surveyed the land that would be used in the building of nearby Washington D.C. When you're not learning about his life at the museum, you can wander the open green spaces that the park affords or take to the nature trails.

The inviting Ellicott City attractions help to make to this charming town such a tempting place to visit. Should you be thinking of dropping in for more than a day, there are some good Ellicott City hotels to choose from. The bed and breakfasts are especially popular and can make for fine places to stay when a romantic Maryland vacation is the plan. The Baltimore hotels are also worth keeping in mind when looking to visit the area, as are the hotels in Washington D.C. and the other area communities.