Western Howard County at a Glance 

Western Howard County is distinguished by its beautiful, open areas and rich agricultural heritage. By combining rural charm with easy access to many nearby urban resources, Western Howard County offers the best of both worlds. You can pick your own fruits and vegetables or buy them from the market at Larriland Farm in Woodbine—open from the ripening of the strawberry crops in May until the apple harvest in early November. Brookeville’s Sharp’s at Waterford Farm has been family-owned and operated since 1903 and has been luring visitors with corn mazes, hayrides, a country store, and much more for nearly forty years. Heron’s Meadow Farm in Woodbine is Maryland’s first tea farm. Visitors can sample teas, shop for mugs, walk through gardens, or simply relax on the patio and appreciate the beautiful scenery. Western Howard County's favorite spot for BBQ is Town Grill at Foster’s Country Store. It may look humble on the outside, but people come for miles to enjoy a big country breakfast or a sumptuous lunch at this local institution. A public “star party” at Alpha Ridge Park’s Howard Astronomical League Observatory (HALO) is just one of the ways the League helps people enjoy and appreciate life’s heavenly nights. The indoor and outdoor facilities at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship—home of the annual Howard County Fair---are available for rent throughout the year. Red Shedman Farm Brewery & Hop Yard in Mt. Airy serves up seasonal hand-crafted ales, a variety of ciders, and bourbon-barrel-aged beer. West Friendship’s Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum helps preserve Howard County’s agricultural way of life through a variety of hands-on programs, demonstrations, and displays. Bold flavors combined with a relaxing atmosphere helps explain the success of Mt. Airy’s popular restaurant, Bolder. Clarksville Commons is a beautiful, unique community center that houses a wide variety of businesses and restaurants. Included among them is Food Plenty, a farm-focused restaurant that uses local ingredients to create modern and traditional comfort food from scratch.