# Anything to do around Columbia, MD in July? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381 "2021-05-04T17:44:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/1 "2021-05-04T17:44:21Z")
I’ve got tickets to the M3 festival in Maryland (rescheduled from last year) on July 4th weekend. If my family were to come with me for the weekend, they have no interest in seeing the show, but is there anything for them to do in the area? (17 year old boy and 22 year old girl). They don’t _need_ to come with me, but if anyone is from that area and knows of anything they could visit or do while I’m at the shows, I might bring them with me. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/2 "2021-05-04T17:48:20Z")
Annapolis, Fell’s Point and The Smithsonian Museums are all a good bet. If you’re feeling energetic, Ocean City is doable in one day. Berlin, MD is really nice too. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/3 "2021-05-04T18:00:33Z")
I lived there a few years. There’s the shopping mall. The whole city is basically centered around it. There are two man-made lakes nearby. Wilde Lake has a park and a 1.5 mile walking path around it. In Columbia itself, that’s about it; it’s primarily just residential. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/4 "2021-05-04T19:47:04Z")
You mean, other than go inside and turn on the air conditioner? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/5 "2021-05-04T20:37:17Z")
Other than the monument marking the spot where Ms. P and I were married, not much. Baltimore is close by, though. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/6 "2021-05-04T23:45:16Z")
Yeah, Baltimore has the National Aquarium, a nice Zoo and the Science Center. DC’s not far away either. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/7 "2021-05-05T01:50:40Z")
Do you want to do a Dopefest? We haven’t had any of those for some time now. It’s been so long that I better explain what a Dopefest is. It’s when a bunch of Straight Dopers get together for an afternoon and an evening, usually at a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/8 "2021-05-05T12:01:33Z")
Downtown Frederick is nice, and only 40 minutes away and a straight shot on I-70. Downtown Baltimore is 30 minutes away. DC isn’t too far away, but getting there might not be as much fun. Six Flags America is maybe 30 minutes away as well. The ride section doesn’t get too crowded, the water park can get pretty packed though. I need to think about going to M3, it’s been awhile since I’ve been, though I’ve seen most of the bands listed. The only one I’d really like to see is Accept. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/9 "2021-05-05T13:51:21Z")
well, no, because I’m going to be busy at the M3 festival. Just looking for some reason for them to come down with me…I think they’d like to visit the aquarium in Baltimore and go back to Ft. McHenry (we went there maybe 12 years ago, so the son at least only dimly remembers it). ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/10 "2021-05-06T03:38:45Z")
If you/they do decide to visit Baltimore, along with the aquarium I would recommend Geppi’s [http://geppismuseum.com/Home/7/1/52/503?articleID=68394](http://geppismuseum.com/Home/7/1/52/503?articleID=68394) I happened upon this place a few years ago, and loved it. Particularly if they are into comic books. But tons of movie and TV related stuff. A great place to beat the heat/humidity. Just time your visit when there isn’t an Oriole’s game - the museum is spitting distance to the stadium. Annapolis is cool, but it was pretty crowded when I visited. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/11 "2021-05-06T14:17:13Z")
This looks like someplace I’d like to visit…thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/12 "2021-05-06T14:40:56Z")
Also nearby is the National Cryptologic Museum > **[National Cryptologic Museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cryptologic_Museum)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The National Cryptologic Museum (NCM) is an American museum of cryptologic history that is affiliated with the National Security Agency (NSA). The first public museum in the U.S. Intelligence Community, NCM is located in the former Colony Seven Motel, just two blocks from the NSA headquarters at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. The motel was purchased, creating a buffer zone between the high security main buildings of the NSA and an adjacent h... - right outside No Such Agency ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/13 "2021-05-06T14:43:03Z")
I saw that…it appears to be temporarily closed for renovations. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/14 "2021-05-06T14:50:25Z")
Sorry about that. It’s a fun place to visit - hope it is back open again soon ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/15 "2021-05-06T16:53:21Z")
Just down the road (US 1) is **[Historic Savage Mill](https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TdIM07KNjNgtFI1qLCwTDJPNTe1sDBMNEqyNDG1MqgwTE2yMLNMNDQ1TTRJTjUy8eIuTixLTE9VyM3MyQEAGG8R0A&q=savage+mill&oq=savage+mill&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46i175i199l2j0i433j0l4j46i175i199j0.8201j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)**, a nifty place; I bought a pair of high-topped moccasins from a lady there almost 40 years ago, when I was in my Renaissance Fair phase. Take a hike along the Savage River while you’re there. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-do-around-columbia-md-in-july/941381/16 "2021-05-06T17:09:52Z")
^ I beg your pardon – I was hoodwinked – the river alongside the Savage Mill complex is the Little Patuxent. Savage River is way out near Frostburg, MD. Now it all makes sense.