HoCo in the Know: Tourism Ambassador Program

Supriya Sharma, Turf Valley Resort

I really enjoyed learning about the farms. As a reservations manager at Turf Valley we frequently have guests inquiring about recommendations for things to do around the hotel with their kids and I feel this program has given me a lot of good ideas to recommend to our guests. The Merriweather Lakefront and Columbia Color Burst Park would definitely be my top recommendations.

Rhusette Ricafort, DoubleTree By Hilton Columbia

As someone that is into science, I am grateful to be given the opportunity to visit the Robinson Nature Center. It was like a hidden gem at the center of the hustle and bustle of the city. It was a great experience for me so I made sure I took a lot of photos. It was something that my son, River, a 5yo smart kid, and I talked about for days. 

Lori Schwartz, Toby’s Dinner Theatre

I learned so much at every learning session but the most eye opening was the Farms, Food and Brews tour.  We visited Turf Valley, Shrine of St. Anthony, Mary’s Land Farm, Clarksville Commons, Clarks Elioak Farm, Centennial Park, and Manor Hill Brewing. The Common Kitchen was amazing- (such a wide variety of food options,) baby goats at Clark's Elioak Farm plus the learning the history of The Enchanted Forest and Manor Hill Brewing was gorgeous.  Every place we visited was wonderful and all the owners and guides were so welcoming and informative.  It was truly a pleasure to have the opportunity to learn about everything Howard County has to offer.
 

Oladipupo Olojo-Kosoko, Residence Inn by Marriott Fulton at Maple Lawn

During my recent exploration, I identified several noteworthy destinations within Howard County: The Common Kitchen at Clarksville Commons and The Collective: Offshore & Encore in Columbia to name a few.

For visitors, I highly recommend Maple Lawn in Fulton. This location offers a diverse selection of establishments, including Lib's Grill, Banditos, Maiwand Kabob, and The Residence Inn, among others, creating a vibrant and attractive destination.

Nicole Atayi, Holiday Inn Columbia East Jessup

I have lived in Maryland for the majority of my life, specifically Montgomery County. Participating in the Howard County Tourism Ambassador Program helped open my eyes to the hidden gems located right in my backyard. A few destinations that I have added to my favorite places to visit include Savage Mill, Clark's Elioak Farm, Shrine of St. Anthony’s, and Backwater Books. My top 2 destinations  to recommend for visitors would be Backwater Books for an evening of live blues and wine tastings and Centennial Park where visitors can wander through the picturesque Blossom of Hope trees.

Rebecca Haid, Columbia Association

I live in Howard County and was familiar with many of the locations and businesses that we visited. However, many of those places I had never visited. Thanks for making me stop. The one business that I have never heard of is Manor Hill Brewery. On a beautiful day, that would be a great place to meet with family and friends. I definitely would recommend it. My top recommendation would be Clark's Elioak Farm. I was so surprised at the variety of animals and the activities. What a fun and educational family outing.

Julie Via, Howard County Community College

I have always been a fan of Clark's Elioak Farm, but visiting during baby goat season gave me joy, and a mental health boost I wasn’t expecting. Baby Goats!!!! Also, honorable mention to Bra La La and the Maple Lawn shops. I didn’t know they were there. Thanks for the wonderful experiences.

Chris Johnston, Columbia Association

The vast destinations that we explored I discovered Mary’s Land Farm, the Shrine of St. Anthony and Manor Hill Brewing. My top recommendation for visitors would depend on their interest. The destinations that we explored covered history, fun outings for children, nightlife for adults in downtown Columbia and Merriweather. Popular Culture; something for everyone.

Kiera Charlemagne, Residence Inn Fulton at Maple Lawn

The new Howard County destinations that I have discovered would be Manor Hill Brewery and Clark's Elioak Farm. These two are also the destinations that I would recommend to visitors. The Brewery provides a beautiful intimate scenery with a very diverse choice of drinks. On the other hand, Elioak's Farm is perfect for families as they have very enticing activities such as their Enchanted Forest and petting zones that are truly the best attraction for kids (or adults that are kids at heart) - especially their cute baby goats! They also offer the most precious gift shop!

Shantol Nembhard, Turf Valley Resort

I am thrilled to have gained such vast knowledge on tourism in the Howard County area. While I have been working in Ellicott City for roughly 2 years now, I had no idea many of these locations existed. It is so hard to choose when all locations play a virtual role to different crowds of travelers. However, my top two recommendations to visitors would be the Clark's Elioak Farm, as this is a fun filled adventure for families with children, so many activities for the kids, such as feeding the baby goats and riding the pony, etc. and the Manor Hill Brewery, which is an exquisite site to behold, beautiful, elegant decor and a scenic atmosphere. It is the perfect spot for adults to relax and wind down with friends after a long journey or hard day's work. They offer a wide variety of beers and wines, along with the most fascinating souvenirs.

Ginny Morsberger, Turf Valley Resort

It's hard to pick a favorite from all of the places we were taken to.  Although I have worked in Howard County for many years, I do not live in Howard County.  This was my first time visiting the Robinson Nature Center, which will be a great recommendation to families as well as Clark's Elioak Farm.  The baby goats at the farm are adorable and hard to let go of once you hold them. The Clarksville Commons area with all of the different ethnic foods (The Common Kitchen) was also a wonderful treat with so many options to choose from. I enjoyed the shopping at the Mary's Land Farm.