Severn, MD

The area has its foot in early American history, such as the Battle of Severn. On May 22, 1830, the first regular railroad passenger service in the United States travelled 13 miles on the newly completed B & O Railroad from Mount Clare Station in Baltimore City to Ellicott Mills in Anne Arundel County.

Located adjacent to NSA Headquarters in nearby Fort Meade sits The National Cryptologic Museum. The National Security Agency's principal gateway to the public, it shares the nation's cryptologic legacy and place in world history. The museum houses a collection of thousands of artifacts that serve to sustain the history of the cryptologic profession. Here, visitors can catch a glimpse of some of the most dramatic moments in the history of American cryptology.

Severn serves as a home to annual events, such as the Maryland Twisters 5k run and a Christmas Cabaret that supports breast cancer awareness.

Severn lacks a central restaurant location as well as diversity in cuisine, however, Gianni's on Annapolis Road serves up the best New York style-pizza in the area. Some locals know to order the Warrior Roll, which can't be found on the menu. A hybrid of a stromboli and calzone, it comes loaded with cheese, pepperoni and sausage. Like the name implies, it takes a warrior to finish it. The cheesesteaks also taste authentic, and save room for cannolis. Service prices to be friendly and very prompt.

The neighboring town of Glen Burnie offers a broader selection of cuisine, such as Mexican, Indian, barbecue and more. Little India Cafe has a wide variety of both vegetarian and meat dishes, and all of the reviews speak volumes about the food being the best Indian in the neighborhood. In addition to fantastic food, the service and prices remain equally as satisfying. Be sure to try the lunch buffet during the week to sample as many dishes as you can eat, from samosas to lamb vindaloo.

Tijuana Tacos VI remains Glen Burnie's best-kept secret for authentic Mexican food. Everything is homemade, right down to the tortilla chips, but keep in mind that the food acts as the star of the show, not the atmosphere. For the more daring set, try the tripe soup. Even if you prefer to stick to basics, such as tacos, wash your meal down with a Mexican soda, aqua frescas, or a horchata.

Nightlife has to be sought elsewhere also. Nearby Hanover has the Cancun Cantina, with seven bars, a restaurant, pool tables, sand and palm trees, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, two stages, and large dance floors. Bands perform on the beach-themed deck, DJs spin inside, and country music kicks next door at the Main Bar. Don't worry if you can't dance, free country line dancing lessons are taught here on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Also in Hanover, at Arundel Mills, sits Maryland Live Casino. The world-class gaming and entertainment destination, features nationally acclaimed restaurants and Rams Head Center Stage, a 500-seat, state-of-the-art live entertainment venue. DuClaw Brewing Company, Dave & Buster’s, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, and Cinemark Egyptian 24 Theatres offer entertainment here as well.

For a wide variety of city nightlife, clubs and bars, head 16 miles north to Baltimore.

Driving remains the most common way of getting around the area, but Ann Arundel county has a variety of public and specialized transportation, providing both local service and regional connections.

An Amtrak stations sits just under 4 miles from the center of the neighborhood, the 202 bus services Severn, and the MARC train can be caught at Dorsey and Ridge Roads.

Uber services the area, but a cab service needs to be called aheads of time.

Free public parking can be found in commercial and retail parking lots, and since Severn process to be a car-dependent area, walking and biking are not recommended.

The Severn Danza Park serves as one of the area's premiere locations for all things athletic. The park has several lighted baseball and softball diamonds in addition to multi-purpose fields, tennis and basketball courts, and two hiking trails, one paved and one natural. The park provides a great place to spend a weekend afternoon or weeknight and even has a concession stand selling food and drinks. Also located in the park is the only Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) race track in Central Maryland sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association (ABA). Chesapeake BMX (CBMX), a not-for-profit association, runs the track. The association has the goal of educating bicycle riders in the sport of BMX racing and running ABA-sanctioned race events on a regular basis. The USA BMX East Coast Nationals are held at the park, and an annual Spring Break sporting event is also held here.

The park, as well as parking, remain free to the public, and dogs should remain leashed, and owners should pick up after them.

The cost of living in Severn sits at 20.8 percent higher than the average for Baltimore, and a one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,284. Gas prices only sit 0.5 percent higher than the national average, which comes as good news, since most residents here drive.

Getting to Baltimore costs between $24 and $32 with Uber, and the MARC train can cost anywhere from $4 to $16.

Despite the high cost of housing in the area, grabbing a beer at a nearby bar only costs about $5.

Severn has no major shopping areas, but the Arundel Mills Mall can be found nearby in Hanover. Arundel Mills, Maryland's largest outlet and value retail shopping, dining and entertainment destination, boasts more than 200 indoor stores.

Be sure to check out Willow Oak Flower & Herb Farm any time of year on Telegraph Road in Severn. A small family farm dedicated to helping everyone find the beauty in nature, this place offers a wide selection of herbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, old-fashioned roses and trees. Don't worry if you don't have a green thumb, Willow Oak has classes covering all plant-related topics, including how to garden in harmony with nature. A wide variety of hand-crafted herbal teas can be purchased, or you can join one of the scheduled tea party events. All year long, events are held for children, including the North Pole Walk and Easter Egg Hunts, and adults can book their own tea parties or join any of the seasonal events and workshops.

Games and Stuff in Glen Burnie prides itself on providing game enthusiasts in central Maryland with a place to immerse themselves in their hobby. It has become central Maryland’s premiere tabletop gaming destination, with a more than 3,000 square foot showroom and more than 3,000 square feet of space dedicated to free, in-store game play. With a friendly, knowledgeable staff devoted to gaming, over 100 gaming events every month, and thousands of different games and game accessories in stock, G&S remains the place for gamers (and the game-curious) across the state to flock for their tabletop gaming needs.

Shoppers Food and Pharmacy and the Walmart Super Center provide the residents of Severn with their grocery needs. Travel 11 miles to Laurel to Dutch Country Farmer's Market. The best fresh foods from Dutch Country can be found here, including baked goods, dairy products, BBQ, candies, organic meats and more.