Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: February 2008

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland- Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Since Maryland Schools ranked #3 in the Nation, chances are your children will be attending a better school here than the one they left.  Only New York and Massachusetts rank higher.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools seem to have another award or accomplishment to announce nearly every time I visit their website.  I usually take the published information and boil it down to just what will interest folks living in my immediate market area, Crofton and the nearby communities of Crownsville, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton.

Following are links to some of those articles, which may interest you:'

• Crofton Schools Improve on MSA Tests
• Report Card for Crofton Middle & High Schools
• Crofton Schools Report Card
• Ten Crofton Teachers Earn Certification
• Maryland Outshines Virginia and D.C on School Report

If you are looking at homes on line, and trying to determine which public school your child will go to, if you live in a particular neighborhood, visit Anne Arundel County - Locate My School and simply type in the address.  Keep in mind, however, that school boundaries can change from year to year, as you'll read in School Redistricting Meeting Last Night.

In addition to outstanding public schools in Anne Arundel County, there are several Private Schools, Parochial Schools, and Jewish Schools, as well.  For information about Special Education and Home Schooling in Maryland, or to Compare Schools Nationwide, visit these links. 

While any child's education experience boils down to the individual teacher in that classroom and the child's relationship with his or her peers, the odds are good that you and your child can expect to have a positive experience with schools in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. 

CROFTON AREA SCHOOLS:

Archbishop Spalding High School

Arundel Middle School

Arundel Senior High School

Central Middle School

Crofton Elementary School

Crofton Meadows Elementary School

Crofton Middle School

Crofton Woods Elementary School

Monsignor Slade Catholic School

Saint Mary's Elementary School

Saint Mary's High School

School of the Incarnation

South River High School 

In case you're wondering how Maryland schools will cope with 20,000+ additional households, Maryland Schools Are Ready.

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Relocating to Anne Arundel County?  If you're interested in a waterfront lifestyle, here is an overview of properties on the market at this time.

ANNAPOLIS - 79 detached waterfront homes for sale.

They range from a bungalow on Black Walnut Creek on the market for $450,000 to Stonewater Estate, a mansion overlooking 8' of deep water on Crab Creek. 

RIVA  - 10  waterfront detached homes for sale

Homes range from $765,000 for a small 56-year old home on the South River to $2,795,000 for a 4 bedroom 4 bath home on an acre, on the South River

ARNOLD - 24 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from a 78-year old rancher situated on 1/3 acre and 2-3 ft. deep water on Lake Placid, opening to the Magothy River, to a $3,495,000 home on the Magothy River, with more than 4' MLW.

SEVERNA PARK - 24 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from $789,000 for a brick rancher on Smugglers Cove, on the Magothy, to $3,450,000 for a stunning 7 bedroom, 7 bath home on the Severn River.

CHURCHTON - 7 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from a traditional-style 3 bedroom rancher located on Deep Cove, with just 2' of MLW, to a frame colonial with a pier right on the Chesapeake Bay.

DEALE - 9 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from a small home on .18 acre with sweeping views of the Chesapeake Bay at $499,099 to a newer home overlooking the Bay at $1,595,000, with 169' of waterfront.

CROWNSVILLE - 6 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from a 50-year old multi-level frame home at $775,000 on the Severn River in Sunrise Beach to a large home on 8' of water in the same community at $3,500,000. 

CURTIS BAY - 6 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from  $525,000 for a bungalow on 8' of water on Back Cove to another a brick rancher with 300' of waterfront, at $1,900,000.

EDGEWATER - 59 detached waterfront homes for sale

Homes range from a 4-bedroom $430,000 home on Glebe Creek with 4' MLW to a $9,500,000 home located on Brewer Creek, with 8' of MLW. 

GALESVILLE - 2 detached waterfront homes for sale. 

A colonial built in 2004, on the West River, at $750,000 and a another home built in 2007 that is a mirror image of the first, at $775,000

GIBSON ISLAND - 7 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Hones range from $2,450,000 for 250' of waterfront on the Magothy River at the Chesapeake Bay, to a stunning contemporary on Otter Pond, with just 2' MLW, at $6,000,000.

GLEN BURNIE - 18 detached waterfront homes for sale.

Homes range from $195,000 for a teeny 2 bedroom rancher on Marley Creek to a large home on Nabb Creek, for $1,099,000.

There are 100 more detached waterfront homes for sale in Anne Arundel County, including some in Lake Shore, North Beach, Orchard Beach, Pasadena, Shadyside, Tracy's Landing and West River.  Additionally, there are 14 waterfront townhomes/condos for sale at this time.

As you can see, they come in all sizes and prices - from teeny to majestic, at a low of $195,000 all the way up to $13,000,000 plus.  There are hundreds more homes for sale in Anne Arundel County that are water-privileged or water-oriented, and those will be less expensive, for the same neighborhoods.

RELATED LINKS:

• Maryland Waterfront Property - Questions to Ask BEFORE You Buy
• Anne Arundel County Real Estate - WATERFRONT CONDOS
• Anne Arundel County Real Estate - "BUDGET" WATERFRONT HOMES
• Chesapeake Bay waterfront homes for sale
• 20 Places to Buy Waterfront Homes in Anne Arundel County

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

PEACE OF MIND - the #1 Reason for you to get a home inspection!

Whether you'r relocating to Anne Arundel County from another part of the country, or just moving across the street, a home inspection is always a good idea for any homebuyer.  However, when you move to a new area, where you're unfamiliar with local home improvement stores and contractors, it's more important than ever.  

While a home inspection is no guarantee that "nothing" will go wrong, it does help you anticipate LIKELY problems so you can negotiate with the seller to have them repaired before your settlement.

Joseph Lang, a home inspector in Cucumonga, California, frequently posts articles here on ActiveRain about situations he encounters during home inspections.  Here are just a few of his real-life inspection experiences - probably more convincing than any list of reasons I could create about "Why get a home inspection?" 

1. There's Never Problems with New Construction Homes... Right? 
2. Home Improvements
3. The Lion, The Witch and The Cabinet... Well Maybe Just the Cabinet
4. A Home Inspector Never Makes Assumptions
5. It's Already Been Inspected, It'll Be Easy For You

Generally speaking, a home inspection is a visual evaluation of the property to identify problems in areas that can be accessed.  In other words, home inspectors do not have xray vision, so they can't see behind the wallboard; they don't pull up carpet, move furniture or take apart appliances to make sure every part is in like-new condition.  And they don't report on cosmetic flaws, such as peeling wallpaper or dirty fingerprints on the walls.

They DO go through every accessible inch of the property, including the attic and crawl space, looking for evidence of anything from leaks to insects infestation to structural problems.  They DO test the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems, using standard procedures.  Depending on the type of inspection you order, they may also test well water and septic systems, radon and lead-based paint hazards.  When they identify any discrepancy, they note it so that you can decide whether to accept the defect "as-is" or negotiate with the seller regarding an item's repair or replacement.

For your peace of mind, get a home inspection to minimize your concerns about unexpected defects and repairs in the home you're buying! 

In Maryland, home inspectors must be licensed, and I always recommend that my clients choose an experienced home inspector who belongs to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

There's more to relocating than finding a home.  If you're anything like me, finding nearby shopping is pretty high on the priority list, once your boxes are unpacked.  Even though you moved all your household goods here, there will probably be things you need - perhaps new window coverings, shelving, closet organizers, and maybe you'll even make an unplanned purchase or two...  

You'll be happy to know the two largest shopping malls in Maryland are located right here in Anne Arundel County!  If shopping is a sport for you, or you just want a convenient resource for your annual holiday shopping, this is the place to live!

ARUNDEL MILLS MALL, the Maryland cousin of Potomac Mills Mall in Northern Virginia, is an outlet mall that is very accessible to Baltimore (10 miles north), Washington, (20 miles south) and all of Anne Arundel County via I-295 / Md. Rt. 100.  You will find 17 anchor stores and over 225 specialty stores - and you may want to grab lunch at one of the 20+ eateries.  If you're just too tired to go home and work on your new house, you can go to a movie (or send the kids, with their dad) or even shoot a game of pool.

Restaurants at Arundel Mills Mall may include some that you're familiar with, since they are popular national restaurant chains including Chilis, Chevys, Burger King, Subway and the like.   No unique local favorite restaurants here. 

Shopping at Arundel Mills Mall could be an all-day outing or a one-stop shop for a quick trip to get whatever you need for your new home - from clothes to crafts, shoes to sporting goods.  This link will take you to a complete list of stores and a floorplan layout for the mall.

Entertainment at Arundel Mills Mall includes your choice of 24 different movies under one roof at Muvico, an Egyptian-themed 24-screen mega-complex, the Medieval Times dinner theater set in an 11th century-style castle, and Dave & Buster's Grand Sports Cafe featuring their "Million Dollar Midway" of interactive arcade games and a stylish, world-class billiards/shuffle area. 

ANNAPOLIS MALL, located near the intersection of MD Rt. 50 and I-97, is my personal favorite AND the largest shopping mall in Maryland.  Officially, it is "Westfield Annapolis", one of several Westfield Shopping Malls around the country, but it's "Annapolis Mall" to shoppers!  Annapolis Harbour Center and other retail areas are nearby, making Annapolis a huge shopping mecca.

Restaurants at Annapolis Mall include several "typical" mall eateries such as Sbarros, California Pizza Kitchen, McDonalds, and Chick fil-aat the Mall Food Court, but one of the new restaurants in Annapolis Mall's recent expansion is the uspcale McCormick & Schmick's, which I recently visited and reviewed.  The Austin Grill is coming soon and there are cafes in Border's Books and Nordstrom's.  You won't go hungry or thirsty, while shopping at Annapolis Mall!

Shopping at Annapolis Mall is a "WOW" experience, with more than 300 stores on one level, and space for more, following the recent expansion.  The new Pottery Barn is the biggest I've ever seen - and believe me, I've visited Pottery Barn stores in lots of places.  Anchor stores include Macy's, Nordstrom's, J.C. Penny, and Lord & Taylor.   This link will take you to a complete list of stores located at Annapolis Mall.

Entertainment at Annapolis Mall is limited, compared to Arundel Mills Mall, but there is a stand-alone 11-screen theater with stadium seating.  (Not far away is the Annapolis Harbour Center Apex, so no shortage of movie options in Annapolis.) 

Valet Parking is available at Annapolis mall on weekends, at the California Pizza Kitchen entrance near Nordstrom's, and upcoming special events include a visit from the Easter Bunny every day from March 8 through March 22 at the Center Court, a BOSE Sound Seminar on March 8, and a bridal event at Williams Sonomo on March 9.

Several other major malls are nearby, and you'll probably visit them all when you live in Anne Arundel County:

• Bowie New Town Center, in nearby Prince George's County, is literally ten minutes from my home in Crofton.
• Mall in Columbia, in nearby Howard County, is about 30 minutes away for me.  I visit this mall when I want to shop at Restoration Hardware Store or their large L.L. Bean, since neither of those stores have locations in Annapolis.
• Marley Station Mall, in northern Anne Arundel County, features over 140 stores as well as restuarants and its own movie theater. 
• Prime Outlets, across the Bay Bridge in Queenstown, is on your way to the beach; you might want to allow a few hours for shopping when you make that trip.  While this Prime Outlets location is only about 40 minutes from home for me, there's aother location in Hagerstwon, about 90 minutes away.  In fall, it's worth the trip to Hagerstown, just to enjoy the beautiful drive along Rt. 70, flanked with fall foliage. 

If you're looking for unique shopping options, SAVAGE MILL in nearby Howard County is easily accessible from Anne Arundel County via MD Rt. 32.  With dozens of spaces occupied by antique dealers and crafters, this is the place to shop for unusual gifts or home accessories.  This is NOT a place to take your kids or spouse, unless your spouse happens to be interested in vintage clothing or antique glass...  This is a 19th century textile mill, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that has been restored and adapted to become a truly unique retail center.  There are five eateries, including the destination Rams Head Restaurant and Tavern and an authentic french bakery. 

Speaking of unique, the streets of HISTORIC ANNAPOLIS are lined with one-of-a-kind shops - not only Main Street, but Maryland Avenue, Eastport and West Annapolis.  Visit stores with names like The Brown-Eyed Girl (a funky boutique), Easy Street Galleries (Voted "Top 100 Retailer of American Craft" in 2005), Fleet Street Sports (a locally owned and operated store catering to runners), and La Belle Cezanne (four generations of custom designed jewelry - even while you wait). 

In good weather, the scenery is as good as the food at Carroll Creek Cafe in Eastport, where you can dine on the large deck overlooking the U.S. Naval Academy and "Ego Alley", just across Spa Creek.  Buddy's Crab House, overlooking the City Dock, is the restaurant we frequent most often - not for their crabs but for their amazing Sunday Brunch.   George Washington dined at Middleton Tavern, just around the corner from Buddy's, and you'll want to visit there, too.

LOCAL SHOPPING

It would be impossible to accurately list all the neighborhood retail centers throughout Anne Arundel County, so I'll just tell you about the new one in Gambrills, not far from my house:

If you live in the Crofton-Gambrills-Odenton area, it is likely that you'll do your grocery shopping at the Safeway store in the Village at Waugh Chapel, located at the intersection of Rt. 3 and Waugh Chapel Road.  Stores include Home Goods, Dress Barn, Pier One and Pat's Hallmark.  Robert Andrews is a large Tuscan-style salon (that I frequent monthly), and restaurants include Damon's (for GREAT ribs), Applebee's, and another Woda favorite, the Atlanta Bread Company.  

A medical center, banks, day care facility, gym and community meeting room are also located here at the Village.

I hope this gives you some idea of what to expect, when it comes to shopping in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  While we're out looking at possible homes and communities for you, I promise to include nearby shopping areas in our tour!

Photos:  Istockphoto

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

As we moved to different parts of the country, compliments of the U.S. Navy, I was very excited to experience life in a new places.  But I really missed winter, as I knew it, and I was glad to settle back in Maryland when Larry was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy as an instructor.  I guess each of us grows accustomed to the seasons, whereever we live, and relocation may require some adjustments to our expectations and maybe even our wardrobe.

You will have four seasons, here in Anne Arundel County, Maryland - 'Just enough to enjoy them all.   By the time you tire of any season, the next one is beginning.

SUMMER months of June, July and August are hot and humid in this area, so air conditioning in your home and car will be a necessity.  Your lawn and garden will require frequent watering and sometimes the water table gets low enough in August that outdoor water usage may be restricted.  Summer is a season for sailing, golf, the swimming pool, sight-seeing, crab feasts and picnics.  It's very laid-back here, in summer, and many employers allow more casual attire.

FALL months of September, October and November are absolutely gorgeous, with the changing leaves, mums in bloom, and moderate temperatures.  In fact, Fall may be my favorite time of year, in this area.  Somehow, the weather seems to know when Labor Day has come and gone, because the temperature seems to drop right on schedule as school starts, and the foliage colors usually peak in mid-October.  By November, it gets pretty chilly and the last of the leaves are falling.  If you have trees in your yard, be prepared to do some raking and bagging.

WINTER weather arrives by December and runs through February... even into March for a week or two, some years.  Winter can be marked by snow and ice, as well as temperatures well below freezing, although 2007-2008 has been moderate, with very little snow.  We get snow around here just often enough that road crews are well-prepared and know what to do, and school systems have several snow-days built into their calendars.  When we do have snow, it will be your responsibility to shovel the walk in front of your own home.

SPRING weather blows in with the March wind, and April showers bring May flowers, including daffodils, azaleas, tulips and cherry blossoms.  Sping is a beautiful season in this area, that folks are ready to enjoy after three months of cold.  Kids are riding their bikes and trying out for baseball, golf clubs are being dusted off and put to use, boats are moving on the water, and everyone seems to be working in their yards to prepare them for summer.  

Here are charts showing the average temperature and average inches of precipitation, in this area:

For today's weather, check out the Weather Channel, and simply enter the zip code for anywhere in the USA.  For Anne Arundel County, I simply used 21114 (Crofton).

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Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Or another time when my un-emptied kitchen trash can got packed?  (Week-old banana peels are not a pleasant surprise when you're unpacking.)  When we relocated back to Maryland from Charleston, South Carolina, my boys' friends came over for a last good-bye - only to find their bikes loaded on the van when they went outside.

Then there was a client of mine who hid her purse, cell phone and keys out of sight, in the oven, and when she went to get them after the movers were on the road... Yep, they (and the broiler pan) were apparently on the road, too.

Everyone has moving stories, so brace yourself.  There's no question IF you will - the only question is what your moving story will be.  

First, before I give you another copy of my to-do list, here are the utility companies you should contact this week, to make sure everything is turned on for you after closing on your new home in Maryland:

• Water and Sewer - Anne Arundel County, 410-220-7000 
• Gas & Electric - BGE, 800-685-0123
• Cable TV and Internet - Comcast, 310-731-4260
• Phone and Internet Service - Verizon.                   
      (Note:  FIOS Service is available in Crofton)

For a complete list of Anne Arundel County Services, here is a link to MyAnneArundel.com

CHECKLIST:

To make sure your story is NOT one about your purse, cell phone and car keys getting buried in a packing box, let's put those at the top of this to-do list for BEFORE the movers come!  Besides, that story is already in my collection - and I'd like to have some new ones for the book I plan to write someday.

I recommend moving the following items to your car, your office, or your neighbor's house before the movers come, because no place inside your house is safe!

 

Here's my Top-20 checklist, but you can add anything else to it you think of:

1.   Keys and Purse.

2.  Medical records for each member of the family.

3.  School records for each of your children.

4.   Veterinarian records for each of your pets. 

5.  The garage door opener, broiler pan, instruction manuals and anything else included in the sale of your home - after your movers leave, you can bring those back into the house to leave for your buyers.

6.  Cleaning supplies for preparing your home for the buyer's walk-through.  You'll probably want to dust, sweep, wash floors or even touch up the paint, so put those supplies out of the house, too, and bring them back after the movers are gone. 

7.  Suitcase containing necessities for your trip, if this is a long-distance move.

 

...and all the documentation previously provided to your new lender:

8.  Social Security number and birth date of each applicant.

9.  Income verification for each applicant (2 most recent pay stubs with year-to-date earnings).  If you are active-duty military, this includes basic pay and all allowances.

10. Tax information for each applicant (W-2's and tax returns for 2 most recent years).

11. Employment verification for each applicant (Employers names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses).

12. Bank account information for each applicant (2 most recent statements for all bank accounts).

13.  Assetsfor each applicant (2 most recent statements for IRA's, 409K's, CD's, Stocks and Bonds; if you have individual investments, bring a brokerage statement with name of the stock, number of shares and the amount per share).

14.  Personal property information for each applicant (cars, furniture, retirement accounts, jewelry, valuable collections and life insurance).

15. Credit information for each applicant (2 most recent statements for all creditors).

16. Current housing information for each applicant (If you own: address, market value, original loan amount, balance due, monthly payment amount, copy of listing if property is currently for sale; if you rent: copy of lease).

17. New home information (Receipt for earnest money deposit, copy of purchase contract and listing information).

18. Gift letter, if applicable (Letter from donor stating amount of gift and that money does not have to be repaid).

19. Self-employment information for each applicant (2 most recent years profit and loss statements and balance sheets), if applicable.

20. Divorce/separation information for each applicant (Copy of the divorce decree or maintenance statement and any amendments, 12-month history of child support and/or alimony payments), if applicable.

21.  In-school/student verification (If you don't have 2 years of employment history, you will need transcript and/or diploma to verify student status) for each applicant, if applicable. 

22. Rental propertyinformation for each applicant (For all rental property, you must provide addresses, copies of leases, account numbers, mortgage lenders' names, addresses, and phone numbers), if appicable.

 

While your loan has been finalized and the title search for your home is in, it's always a good idea to have your loan application paperwork handy - occasionally, I've had clients who needed something from the package at the last minute.  There are no unresolved issues that I know about at this time.  Should anything come up before you arrive, I'll give you a call and keep you informed. 

In the meantime, if you have any questions, plese don't hesitate to contact me.  Assuring that your relocation goes smoothlessly over the next week is my #1 priority!

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Find a Home online and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

In the unlikely event you run out of things to do in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, and even your own neighborhood in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the possibilities for day trips and weekend getaways are many, when you live in this area.  Boredom is simply NOT an option for anyone relocating to work at Fort Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, the U.S. Naval Academy or anywhere else in this area.

I could rarely get away for an extended time during the busy summer months when my children were small, so I often loaded them into the car and took off to the ocean, the mountains, an amusement park, or historic city not far from home, when I had a free day or two. 

OUR #1 DESTINATION - OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

It is precisely 2 hours east from my driveway in Crofton to a parking space within a block of the Atlantic Ocean around 57th street in Ocean City.  Many of the hotels have public rest rooms that can be accessed from the beach, and there are plenty of eateries along the boardwalk.  Sometimes, we arrived at the beach by 10 a.m. and were ready to head back by 4 p.m. to be home when my husband got there after work - and other days we stayed to enjoy the boardwalk at night, walking or taking the bus from the area we usually park down beyond 1st Street to the rides and games.

Of course, most of the day was spent enjoying the surf, sand, and people-watching; building sand castles, walking along the beach, or playing frisbee.  My children were never too young or too old to enjoy one of these day trips to the ocean.  

I'm looking forward to an opportunity to do this again with the grandkids, but Larry and I still enjoy our relative proximity to the ocean, even as empty-nesters!  Just last month, that's where I headed with "the girls" for a weekend stay at an Oceanfront hotel to work on scrapbooks.  And there's no shortage of events scheduled throughout the year: Coming up in March, for example, are the OC Hot Rod & Custom Car Show  the Home, Condo & Garden Show, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival.  Larry and I have even been known to drive to Ocean City and back, just for dinner.

By the way, Ocean City is a great vacation destination for the whole family, too - no reason to limit your visits here to day trips, if you can afford the time and pricetag to rent a condo or stay at a hotel for a week or more.  Some local folks even buy a second home at the beach, so they can get away year-round.

P.S. - There's a Prime Outlet located between Anne Arundel County and Ocean City.  You may want to allow time for a stop there, on your way home.

 

AMUSEMENT PARKS - THE KIDS' FAVORITE DAY TRIPS

PARAMOUNT KINGS DOMINION, "Virginia's premier themed amusement park", is exactly two hours south of Crofton, near Richmond.  That's another favorite of ours, even though Six Flags is located about a half hour from Crofton.  I guess Six Flags is just too close to home to feel like an adventure.

Paramount Kings Dominion offers family rides like a carousel, thrill rides including a fabulous collection of roller coasters, and kids rides for toddlers.  This year, their 14th roller coaster will open - DOMINATOR, a 4,210 coaster that will be the longest floorless coaster in the world, and have the largest roller coaster loop.  Yikes!

Live shows are offered several times a day - from a 60's song and dance extravaganza to Dora the Explorer(TM) Sing-along Adventure, Backyard Circus, and Hot Island Rhythms.  Guest artists appear, too, but Kings Dominion has not yet announced their 2008 appearance calendar.

You can Download a High Resolution Park Map to see for yourself what's available for you to enjoy at Kings Dominion.

 

HERSHEY PARK, a little over 2 hours from Crofton, is another major amusement park you'll want to check out, when you're living in Anne Arundel County. They, too, will have a new roller coaster this year, the FAHRENHEIT.  Roller Coaster lovers will have to try out both (the FAHRENHEIT and Kings Dominion's DOMINATOR) and let me know what you think. 

Hershey Park has other rides, too - kiddie rides, family rides, and the Boardwalk, with water rides.  Hershey, Pennsylvania has other things to offer, as well, including a free tour of the Hershey Chocolate Factory, ZooAmerica, the Hershey Museum with its exhibits about the origins of chocolate and the candy empire founded by Milton S. Hershey, Hershey Trolley Rides, Hershey Theater and even Hershey Park Golf.

There are strolling bands in the park, Hershey's Characters, and big-name entertainment, too.  One factor could sway us toward Hershey Park over Kings Dominion, and that is the weather - 2 hours south at Kings Dominion is probably warmer than home in Anne Arundel County, whereas 2 hours north at Hershey Park is probably cooler on a warm day than it is at home. 

Whatever your choice, you'll have a great time - I can almost guarantee it.  And there's enough to do in this area, that you could easily choose to make this a weekender instead of a day trip.   (You can download a Printer Friendly Map, if you'd like to see an overview of Hershey Park.) 

 

 

Even though Colonial Williamsburg is just three hours from Crofton, it always feels like that is pushing the limit for a day trip.  For that reason, our visits to "The World's Largest Living History Museum" usually involve an overnight stay.  Besides, there is so much to see and do that it's hard to fit in everything - especially if you plan to include a stop at the nearby Williamsburg Pottery Factory.  (That's not something the kids will enjoy, but any shoppers or decorators in the family certainly will!)

You will enjoy walking around Colonial Williamsburg's 300-acre Historic Area at your own pace, exploring the hundreds of restored, reconstructed and historically-furnished buildings.  Your imagination will be helped along by costumed hosts and hostesses, as well as re-enactors of colonial craftsmen at work, military parades, and even servers at the restaurants. 

Of course, none of the buildings are air-conditioned, so I wouldn't make this trip in the midst of a heat-wave.  But it's a great spring or fall outing, if your kids are old enough to appreciate these wonderful history lessons - especially if you've never lived on the East Coast, and your family may be a little rusty on this era of our nation's history.

This is a MUST-DO trip, when you're living in this part of the country, even if you only do it one time. 

The Wiliamsburg Pottery Factory is a side-trip that has nothing to do with Historic Williamsburg, but it is something I always enjoyed (since I was in the neighborhood).  One idea that worked for me is to bribe your kids to behave while there, by offering a day or a few hours at nearby Busch Gardens.  

 

Relocating to Anne Arundel County will expose you to opportunities you can't imagine.  From the Ocean to the mountains, from the farmland to the cities and suburbia, Maryland truly is "America in Miniature".  Yet there is no one holding a club over your head saying "You gotta do this" - You may choose to focus on activities closer to home.  And that's fine.  I just want you to know what's here waiting for you, when you relocate to Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

RELATED LINK:

Around the Maryland Beltway - Places to visit, closer to home.

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Find a Home online and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Did you miss me on Saturday?  You couldn't find me on Active Rain because I was helping my mother move across the hall from a studio unit to a one-bedroom apartment in the Assisted Living facility where she resides now.  Actually, one of my brothers did all the heavy lifting on Firday - I just helped the next day with getting her settled in. 

This drama actually began 3 years ago when we had a birthday party for Mom at my house to celebrate her 83rd.  It was a beautiful September day, about a year after she lost my dad - her soulmate since high school.  The entire family gathered from far and wide, but the confusion and noise created a series of events that lead to her fall and broken hip.  After that day, she never went home again.  From the hospital she went to rehab, from there to assisted living, then another assisted living place, and finally the facility where she lives now.  Maybe this move across the hall will be her last.

It's kinda scary just to think about it - leaving home for the afternoon to attend a party in your honor, and never going home again. 

Well, back to the move.  In many ways, this was a typical relocation, even though it was just across the hall.  Call the phone company, check; call the cable company, check; sign paperwork for the new place, check; pack your things, check...  As a retired REALTOR, she knows that checklist by heart.  She remembers things from those years, but not always what happened yesterday.

Who knew it could take five people eight hours to set up such a small apartment!  My brothers, their wives and I didn't really have a plan, but we all worked together like the teeny parts of a fine clock or the instruments in an orchestra.  While I got busy in the bedroom - arranging the furniture and the contents of her closet, hanging the shower curtain and setting out grooming necessities on the bathroom counter - my brothers started hooking up the cable TV and phone lines, then measuring for hanging the draperies, mirrors, and pictures; my sisters-in-law started unpacking boxes and deciding where to put her books, family photos and "treasures".  Other than a lunch break, we all literally worked eight hours - except Mom, with whom we frequently consulted out of respect for the fact this is, after all, HER new home.   Most of the time, though, she retreated to her favorite chair to stay out of our way.

At times we sort of ganged up on her, with all of us agreeing that a mirror should be vertical, in this case, not horizontal; or hanging the floral drapes in her bedroom, not the living room.  But it was a tremendous challenge to walk the fine line - arranging furniture in a way that makes HER comfortable - not necessarily the way you'd see it on HGTV;  labeling the electric switches so she knows which to use for the light and which operates the fan; speculating about which photos MUST be displayed and which can go in a drawer; helping her part with clothes that are worn out after 25 years as her "favorite" blouse or scarf or whatever. 

Will Mom find the kleenex tissues where I put them, on the shelf of her bedside table, or will she wander around looking for them because she expects them to be in her bathroom?  Where should I put the flashlight so she can find it?  After all, this is someone who doesn't remember anything without consulting her daily journal.  Will she even recall we were there to help her?

Maybe tomorrow, before I get too busy, I'll make an information page for Mom listing where we put things she might need.  I've seen her when she's been confused and disoriented - she's too proud to admit it, but she's frightened and she still can't get used to not having my dad to rely on any more.

Moving Mom was a special challenge for us, as it is for anyone whose parents have crossed over from being in charge to being confused.  For the elderly, "fear of the unknown" takes on a whole new meaning when everyday tasks can fall into that category. The frustration is sometimes evident in her face and body language, but she's proud and doesn't admit even to herself that she's in the right place now with someone available to assist her 24-7. 

As a daughter, I've done all I can to help this relocation go smoothly. 

And I know there's a parallel here with what I do, as a REALTOR - helping people find the right place for them to call home at any given time in their lives.  This experience provides a reminder to me of my serious responsibilities in that role, whether my clients are singles, young families, empty nesters, or elderly.   Thanks, Mom - I'm still learning from you.

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Relocating to the Baltimore-Washington area?  Check out Your Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Find a Home and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Odenton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900 

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

First a little golf trivia... 

As a golfer, I'm sure you're familiar with the customary RED TEES for women, WHITE TEES for men, and BLUE TEES for Championship play.  This system was actually the brainchild of Frank Emmet, Director of the District of Columbia Golf Association's junior activities in the 1920's and a member of the USGA Junior Championship Committee.  But Frank Emmet's legacy reached beyond this to many generations of golfers in this area with his mantra On the links, and off the streets*.  My entire family still benefits today from this philosophy and his passion for encouraging children to learn the game of golf.

My brothers and I participated in the Emmet-founded Junior Golfers of Washington when we were adolescents and teens.  My own children did, too, competing against other kids from the greater Washington area at some of Maryland's top golf courses such as Congressional, Columbia, Manor, Argyle, Kenwood, Bethesda and Woodmont Country Clubs, as well as courses in Northern Virginia.  What great opportunities we enjoyed, thanks to the legacy of this one man.  (And, when my husband and I watch golf on TV, we can honestly claim our boys held their own, competing as teenagers against some of today's greats - Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson, Lee Jansen, Rocco Mediate and others.)

While Frank Emmet pioneered organized junior golf in this area (and the nation), thousands of other volunteers have insured the continued popularity of junior golf since then.  Today's kids are still On the links, and off the streets* at neighborhood golf courses in Anne Arundel County, literally walking out the back doors of their homes to play at Bay Hills in Arnold, Crofton Country Club and Walden Golf Course, both in Crofton, and Chartwell Golf & Country Club in Severna Park. 

If you're a golfer or golfer wanna be, relocating to Anne Arundel County to work at Fort Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, or the U.S. Naval Academy, you will have many options.  Whether you play for recreation or competition, you will want to check out the courses on this list.  I recommend you call or visit the clubs for more information and make arrangements to play a round at each before choosing one to join.  

• Annapolis Golf Club
  2638 Carrollton Rd
  Annapolis, MD 21401
• Applewood Course at Courses at Fort Meade, The
  6800 Taylor Ave
  Fort Meade, MD 20755
• Bay Hills Golf Club
  545 Bay Hills Dr
  Arnold, MD 21012
• Chartwell Golf & Country Club
  1 Chartwell Dr
  Severna Park, MD 21146
• Compass Pointe Golf Courses
  9010 Ft Smallwood Rd
  Pasadena, MD 21122
• Crofton Country Club
  1691 Crofton Pkwy
  Crofton, MD 21114
• Eisenhower Golf Course
  1576 Generals Highway
  Crownsville, MD 21032
• Heritage Harbour Golf Club
  875 Harry S Truman Pkwy
  Annapolis, MD 21401
• Old South Country Club
  699 Marlboro Rd
  Lothian, MD 20711
• Parks Course at Fort Meade
  6800 Taylor Ave
  Fort Meade, MD 20755
• Renditions Golf Grand Slam Experience
  1380 W Central Ave
  Davidsonville, MD 21035
• Sherwood Forest Golf Course
  134 Sherwood Forest Rd
  Sherwood Forest, MD 21405
• South River Golf Links
  3451 Soloman\'s Island Rd
  Edgewater, MD 21037
• United States Naval Academy Golf Club
  64 Greenbury Point Rd
  Annapolis, MD 21402
• Walden Golf Club
  1500 Riedel Rd
  Crofton, MD 21114

Of course, this list doesn't include the many other courses within a half hour of Anne Arundel County - in Howard, Baltimore, Prince George's and Queen Anne Counties.  For an aerial view of Maryland golf course, check out www.GolfFlyover.com.  To check out homes in golf course communties, contact me at your convenience.

If golf is important in your life, I recommend you start your home search in Crofton, where my children learned to play and where there are two fine courses.  It's a great place to live - and living in a golf course community will encourage your own kids to be On the links, and off the streets*.  Who knows, if they get an early start with the game, I might be watching the Masters on TV someday and saying about one of the players, "I helped his parents find a home when they relocated to Anne Arundel County."

If you enjoyed reading this, you might like Crofton Real Estate - Tee it Up and another article about Golf at Andrews Air Force Base, in nearby Prince George's County.

(Note: Golf is the Woda family sport. L to R: my husband Larry, daughter Susan, and son Steve at the University of Maryland driving range.  I took a break to shoot this photo.)

*  I've been unable to find verification that those are Frank Emmet's exact words, but this is something I heard credited to him when I was growing up and again at various awards banquets we attended when our children competed in local junior tournaments.  If those were not Frank's "exact" words, it was his general philosophy.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

What does Charles Dickens' classic tale about the French Revolution, England and spying have to do with working at Northrop Grumman, USNA, Fort Meade, BWI or anywhere else in Anne Arundel County, Maryland?  Well, absolutely nothing - except the title of the book is so perfect for anyone living near the two great cities of Baltimore and Washington - I just had to borrow it!

The ambiance, history, and things to do in a city like either of these are enough to fill years of weekends with places to visit and things to do.  So how do you decide?  Focus on Baltimore first and then Washington next year?  Do something in Washington one weekend and Baltimore the next?  

IN WASHINGTON, D.C. you will probably never run out of national monuments and museums to visit.  I was born there, and lived most of my life within an hour of D.C. - Yet I can't keep up with the constantly changing exhibits and activities that are available to residents and tourists alike! 

You can easily participate, in your own way, as history comes to life every day in the Nation's Capitol - During December, for example, you and your family might become Santa's Helpers, Laying wreathes at Arlington Cemetery; this Spring, you could be there for the first ever opening day of baseball at the new Washington Nationals' Park on the Anacostia River, with a view of the Capitol, where our nation's laws are created, debated and passed (or not); or you may be in the crowd at that same stadium on April,15, when Pope Benedict XVI visits the United States for the first time. 

This summer, perhaps we will cross paths at the weekly parades at the Marine Barracks, D.C., or at the National Fireworks display, with the Washington Monument in the background in real life, instead of on T.V.  Next January, you can hop on board the MetroRail with neighbors to head downtown for the Inaugural Parade of the next President of the United States. 

Whereas other people travel hundreds or thousands of miles to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival to see the blooming cherry blossoms surrounding the Tidal Basin, you'll drive right past them en route to visit friends in D.C. or Northern Virginia; or you could be seated next to someone familiar-looking at a diner, during breakfast, only to realize it's someone you saw on T.V. last week - maybe a Congressman, Senator, or the interviewer himself. ('Truth is, you could find yourself in a fender-bender with one of them on your way to a business meeting at the Pentagon!) 

You may attend Sunday Mass with your family at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception alongside locals, Catholic University students, and tourists alike; and your children will probably have field trips to visit the various Smithsonian Museums or special exhibits at the National Geographic Museum, such as the current Frogs, a Chorus of Color,  The Holocaust Museum is a must-see exhibit, and it's possible you will find a family member or friend's name engraved on the wall at the Vietnam Memorial.

World-renowned entertainment is available in D.C., as well - including the New York City Ballet on February 27, Dolly Parton on April 28, Van Halen on March 9, Kenny Chesney and LeeAnn Rhimes on May 9,  and Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus March 27-30.  I'm guessing there are probably about ten or more events to choose from each week.  

I can't begin to even touch on the many thing to do and see in Washington, D.C., but let me promise you that living in Anne Arundel County guarantees you easy access to it all , at your own pace and convenience.

(Note: I love this photo, used on my website with authorization of photographer Mike Lynaugh, taken after 9/11 when the Washington Monument was dark for security reasons.  In most photos of July 4 fireworks in D.C., you'll see the monument lighted.)

 

 

BALTIMORE, known as Charm City, is less than an hour from D.C., but worlds away when it comes to personality.  Chances are, Baltimore will be a pleasant surprise for you, with its own long list of things to do and see!

Of course, there are the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles to attract you downtown, and your children's school singing group might just be performing the National Anthem before a game, as mine did.    

During your first visit to the Inner Harbor, it would be fun to explore the city from a "duck's eye view",  traveling on land and water in one vehicle to see the city by land and sea (you actually splash into the famous Inner Harbor!).  Ride the Ducks is a fun tour that gives you an opportunity to scope out all there is to do and see here, including The National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Center.  

At the Aquarium,"Weird Wonders" and "Chills & Thrills" are just two of the aquariums you'll visit, and you'll want to see one of the fifteen 90-minute shows in the Pier 3 Pavillion, as well as visit the 4-D Immersion Theater.  At the Maryland Science Center,you will experience a "please touch" environment and real time connections to real time science at exhibits on Dinosaurs. Planet Earth. The Human body. Outer space. Chesapeake Bay life. and Science that Sir Isaac Newton never imagined.  There are live demonstrations all day every day, and an IMAX theater.  As local residents, these are places you can visit again and again with your family.

There are dozens of shops to explore and restaurants to try at the Baltimore Inner Harbour, and you can take a break for a ride on the Carousel, located between Rash Field and the Maryland Science Center.

You will experience a sense of history in Baltimore, too, with a visit to Fort McHenry (think Star Spangled Banner), Port Discovery, the National Museum of Dentistry, the Civil War Museum, and America's first museum to celebrate Black History in life-size wax figures.  And remember that Baltimore's Pimlico Race Track is home of the Preakness, the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown in horse racing, complete with a parade in downtown Baltimore.

Lots of entertainers visit Baltimore, too - often the same that you'll see in D.C., such as the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus next month, but not always.  In the next few weeks, you can hear Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood on February 29 or see The Color Purple on May 1; you can watch the Monster Jam on March 3, WWE Backlash on April 27, or High School Musical tonight, at the Hippodrome Theater.

Again, so many more things to do and see that I can't begin to list them all - and again, you will enjoy an amazing experience, living so close to it all in Anne Arundel County, MD.

(Note:  Photo taken by my daughter Susan at the Preakness Parade when our friend, Kelly George, was Miss Preakness 2004.)

 

 

When you found out you'll be relocating to this area, I'm sure your first thoughts were "Where will we live?" or "How do I tell the kids?", just like anyone faced with relocation.  As you learn about all there is to do and see in this area, I hope you're starting to get excited about making your home in Anne Arundel County.  Even after living in this area most of my life, I'm still discovering (and re-discovering) all that life has to offer in Maryland.  I consider myself so privileged to grow up here, as your children will have the opportunity to do.

Again, Welcome to Anne Arundel County - neighbor to two of the greatest cities in the world, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

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Find a Home online and learn about Real Estate Market Conditions in Crofton and Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  Check out Today's Rates, use the free Mortgage Calculator, and watch a brief video about the Power of RE/MAX.  These consumer-friendly real estate tools are provided by Margaret Woda for you to use at your own pace. 

When you're ready to go from "just browsing" to "let's get serious", contact Margaret online or call her at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton Maryland. 410-451-1900