8 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with a visit to Old Ellicott City, Maryland
Cue The Small Town Holiday Magic
Old Ellicott City is located just 11 miles west of Downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington DC. This 5 block historic district is brimming with old world charm and offers an array of unique shopping and dining for visitors to enjoy. Whether you come for the Holiday shopping, the Gordon Ramsey approved dining experiences, or just to see Main Street decked out in tinsel and bows you are sure to have a terrific time. Here are some of my favorite things to do and see in Old Ellicott City this Holiday Season!
1. Soak in the Holiday Cheer on Main Street
Old Ellicott City is known for its dazzling holiday décor each year on Main Street. A succession of small shops with festive window displays light up this charming historical town, making it an especially memorable time to visit. Tune in to Old Ellicott City’s official tree lighting ceremony, explore this year’s outdoor holiday markets, or check out the Holiday Train Wonderland Walk display! To learn more about these festivities visit the official event site here.
2. Uncover the Fascinating History of Ellicott City
A destination reminiscent of an era bygone, Old Ellicott City marvels with its historical buildings standing resilient after all this time. There are three museums located across Main Street for visitors who wish to indulge in some of Ellicott City’s unique history. All three are free to enter and only require around 10-20 minutes each to check out! I highly recommend stopping in each one of these as you make your way through town.
- B&O Ellicott City Museum – the oldest remaining passenger train station in the US, and one of the oldest in the world.
Thomas Issac Log Cabin– built around 1780 by one of the first Ellicott Mills settlers, the cabin is believed to be the first structures built in Old Ellicott City. A fascinating peek into the history of the city’s settlement and the general development of the region.
The Ellicott City Firehouse Museum – Perched atop main street this museum explores the unique challenges of fighting fire in late 19th and early 20th century in Old Ellicott City.
3. Shop Local for the Holidays
Old Ellicott City makes Holiday shopping a fun and festive experience with its collection of small shops and boutiques on Main Street. Shopping small for the Holidays is more important this year than ever and Main Street is teaming with locally owned businesses and unique goods. Spread the Holiday cheer this year to the small businesses who need it most & up your holiday gifting game with personal, one of a kind goods.
Here is a short-list guide of a few of my favorite shops in Old Ellicott City:
Sweet Elizabeth Jane– a Vintage-inspired lifestyle store with tons of fun Holiday finds!
Poppy & Stella– Clothes, jewelry, handbags, gifts and more from your favorite brands.
E.C. Pops – Famous for their gourmet popcorn, also a great eclectic gift shop.
A Journey from Junk– Funky and hip boutique full of home decor, furniture, art, candles, vintage finds,
Su Casa – Unique furnishings, home goods & decors! Beautiful show room with a little something for everyone.
4. Stop & Smell the Roses
There are three wonderfully unique floral shops spread across Main Street- Shop for fresh cut flowers, Terrarium gardens, succulents and so much more. Each with its own look & feel, be sure to give all three a visit while exploring Main Street- Gotte Effni, The Flower Barn, and Blush Republic.
5. Go Antiquing & Discover Local Treasures
Old Ellicott City has some of the top-rated Antique shops in Maryland. Whether you plan on taking home some treasures or are just browsing for fun, these shops are absolutely fascinating to wander through. Two shops that we especially love are Wagon Wheel Antiques, and Antique Depot, both have a ton of vintage treasures you cannot find anywhere else. Antiquing is definitely a must do while exploring Main Street!
6. Dine at the Restaurants Featured on Gordon Ramsey’s 'Hell & Back' Series
Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back” series visited Ellicott City this past February on a mission to revive and revamp 3 Ellicott City businesses who were hit by the catastrophic floods in 2016-2018. I highly recommend streaming this episode before visiting to get some background on the incredible challenges this community has overcome. We met many of the locals featured on the episode during our visit and having some background on their stories made it that much more special! The collective heart and perseverance of this tight knit community is inspiring
We dined at both of the featured restaurants, The Little Market Café and Phoenix Upper Main during our trip & both were phenomenal. I recommend trying The Little Market Café for breakfast or lunch and heading over to Phoenix Upper Main for dinner so that you too can experience these two local legends during your visit!
7. Experience the 'Symphony of Lights' Holiday Display
Take part in a Howard County Holiday tradition and experience the Merriweather Symphony of Lights from the safety of your vehicle or out on foot during a scheduled socially distant time interval. Known for its larger-than-life animated and stationary holiday light creations that feature over 300,000 bulbs, this Iconic holiday attraction is a must-see while visiting. It’s hard to imagine a more appealing remedy to the 2020 quarantine blues than this dazzling display of holiday magic. Located just 10 minutes from Old Ellicott City- Check out the official website here for pricing and tickets.
8. Make It a Weekend With a Stay at Turf Valley Resort
Centrally located just 10 minutes from Old Ellicott City, Turf Valley Resort offers affordable accommodations perfect for a little getaway R&R. This family owned and operated resort is packed with amenities and full of local charm and personality. The property features a golf course, indoor/outdoor pools, a fitness center, volleyball/tennis courts, a spa, on-site dining & more! Not to mention they are also pet friendly! Turf Valley delivers in spades when it comes to value, location, and the simple joy of a warm welcome. Check out more about Turf Valley Resort here & book your Ellicott City getaway!
A big thank you to Visit Howard County and Turf Valley Resort for generously hosting us and covering the costs of our visit. All recommendations and reviews remain genuine, these opinions are my own. Check out the official Visit Howard County website here for more Ellicott City getaway inspiration and start planning your visit!
