Food, Shopping, & Services Near the Farm
If you come to Good Contrivance Farm for a residency that lasts longer than a day, we recommend that you bring your favorite foods, including condiments like mayonnaise. Our kitchen has a stove, microwave, coffee maker, and a toaster oven. The refrigerator is full-sized. And there is dishwasher.
We are just 4 miles from historic Reisterstown (south) and 7 miles from historic Westminster (north). The latter is larger than the former, but both offer a reasonable array of supermarkets, stores, and restaurants, including an Aldi’s, Safeway, Walmart, Marshalls, DSW shoes, Big Lots, Office Depot, Staples, Sears, and so on. The nearest Trader Joe’s is 15 miles away (a 17-minute drive). Both Reisterstown and Westminster have a Planet Fitness gym.
There are 4 highly-rated dental practices within a few miles of the farm. And the Carroll Hospital, just seven miles from the farm, is well-regarded: we’ve had very good experiences there.
Shopping & Services
Just 2 miles from the farm you will find
- two national bank branches,
- two barbers/stylists,
- an auto repair shop,
- two gas stations,
- a U.S. post office,
- a major supermarket (it carries some organics), and
- a major pharmacy.
Eating Out:
Within a 7-10 mile radius, you can find a huge number of franchise restaurants, some very good, such as Chipotle, Ruth Chris Steak House, and 5 Guys Burgers. Below, we list independent restaurants.
Reisterstown Restaurants (4 miles south):
Pig in the Poke BBQ: if you need your pork BBQ fix, this will do; also has pit-cooked beef: $$
Restaurant Firenze: Italian $$
Harryman House Grill: American $$$
The Cow: fabulous custard ice cream: $
El Paraiso: Latino $$
Kekko’s Woodfired Kitchen: Italian: $$
Westminster Restaurants (7 miles north):
Papa Joe’s: Mexican: $$
The Cow: fabulous custard ice cream: $
Baugher’s Restaurant and Fruit Orchard: all-American classic, a local landmark (pronounced Bogger’s): $$
Jeannie Bird: outstanding bakery $$
Forbidden City: Chinese: $$
Cinco de Mayo: Mexican: $$
Liberatore’s: Italian: $$$
Owings Mills (12 miles south):
Linwoods: American $$$$ (nationally rated)
Crystal Thai Restaurant: $$
Pikesville (15 miles south):
First Watch: excellent breakfasts with a healthy flare: $$
Maria Luna: Authentic Mexican Grill: $$
Goldberg’s Bagels: a real-deal deli: $$
All Pacino Cafe: wood fired pizza and middle eastern food: $$
Silk Road: Uzbeki: $$
Crab Houses:
Here’s a guide to local crab houses. Steamed Blue Crabs are a Maryland specialty. Off-season, you’ll get Dungeness, which hail from the West coast. Maryland’s crab season runs from April through December.
Baltimore(24 miles south):
Our list of Baltimore eateries is too long to offer here. If you want a special treat, we can direct you to any number of fabulous restaurants in Baltimore.
Sights to See!
We’re in the heart of Maryland’s farm country, offering fabulous drives through rolling fields. There are orchards, dairies (ice cream), and farm-stands galore.
Just 24 miles north, you’ll find Gettysburg and not far beyond that Antietam–and many other historic sites.
If you like antiquing, we have plenty of antique malls and flea markets nearby.
If you want an urban excursion, Baltimore has it all. Since we lived in downtown Baltimore for 15 years, we can give you the insider’s view and create a tour that takes you to Baltimore’s many hidden treasures.