Having been ranked in the top 10 places to live in America by CNN Money, visiting and staying in Columbia is a must when you’re in Maryland. The hotels in, and surrounding, Columbia are steeped in history. Here’s our pick of the best.
Courtesy of Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbia / Expedia
This all-suite, pet-friendly hotel is perfect for extended stays. The living room comes equipped with a flat-screen TV, the kitchen is fully furnished for home cooking with a microwave, full-size refrigerator and coffee maker and the bathroom comes stocked with complimentary products. Choose between the outdoor swimming pool or the whirlpool, or try out the fitness or business centers. Enjoy a full hot breakfast every morning, join the evening socials that run from Monday through Thursday or take advantage of the 24/7 convenience store and complimentary grocery shopping service.
Just a 20-minute drive from Columbia, you’ll find the plush Turf Valley Resort. Set in 1,000 acres (405ha) of forest, this hotel is known for its two championship golf courses, plus a luxury spa, complete with saunas and two pools. Choose from one of the many rooms, including a two-bedroom suite, suited for families. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served at Alexandra’s American Fusion restaurant – you won’t go hungry here.
Courtesy of Aloft Arundel Mills BWI Airport / Expedia
Modern and fresh, Aloft Arundel Mills is located just outside the Baltimore Beltway and is just a short drive from the Arundel Mills Mall, the BWI Airport (with free shuttle service), Fort Meade and the Maryland Live! Casino, as well as a reasonable distance from both Baltimore and Washington, DC. The loft-inspired rooms feature a signature bed, enormous spa shower and spa amenities. For the socially inclined, it offers a Re:mix lounge with a pool table as well as a W XYZ Bar with delicious cocktails. An indoor pool and fitness center provide exercise options for the fitness-conscious, while the pet-friendly program accommodates animal lovers.
Rated as the number one hotel in Columbia on TripAdvisor, Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia offers 124 guest rooms with free wifi, ergonomic work desks, 37in (94cm) LCD high definition TVs and a complimentary hot breakfast. With a 24/7 gym and business center, as well as laundry facilities and a heated indoor pool, this hotel offers modern, up-to-date comfort for a reasonable price. In terms of location, it’s just 15mi (24km) from the nearest airport and is situated just off of Highway 32 for easy access. It is also close to the Mall in Columbia, Johns Hopkins University Physics Lab and Fort Meade.
Courtesy of SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbia Downtown /The Vista / Expedia
The SpringHill Suites Columbia is an all-suite hotel located just off Patuxent Freeway. With free wifi, HD televisions, a hot breakfast buffet, ergonomic work desks, pull-out sleeper sofas, wet bars and pantries, these suites, which feature separate sleeping areas and living rooms, offer every imaginable amenity. With easy access to both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, this hotel is ideally situated, just 15mi (24km) from the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport and less than 4mi (6km) from the Mall and the Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Located in the historically significant Ellicott City, which is home to the oldest railway station in the United States, the Wayside Inn possesses a legacy of over two centuries (it was originally built around 1780). Nestled away on two beautifully landscaped acres (1ha), the inn offers a beautiful pond, idyllic gardens and even a white oak tree certified to have been standing at the time of the signing of the Constitution. Inside, fireplaces, plush robes and silk sheets ensure cozy hospitality, aided by available private jacuzzi baths and luxury suites on the second floor.
Just a 27-minute drive from Columbia, this 22-story French-Renaissance-style hotel, designed by William Lee Stoddart in 1928, is made of brick and steel. With a copper-roofed tower and magnificent glass windows, the building is 289ft (88m) of sheer elegance. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and visited by historical personages such as Martin Luther King, Jr, the Lord Baltimore Hotel is steeped in tradition. The juxtaposition of original artwork and vintage prints hanging on the walls continues the theme of modernized antiquity.
Courtesy of Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor / Expedia
Kimpton’s Monaco Baltimore is a one-of-a-kind upscale boutique hotel located in downtown Baltimore. Housed in the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad headquarters, the 1906 Beaux Arts building is the city’s first hotel to artfully combine upscale contemporary style and design with original historic architecture to create a totally unique experience for guests. The high-ceilinged rooms and suites blend period details with modern luxuries such as yoga mats and flat-screen TVs.
Nestled among trees and overlooking the rolling hills of Clark’s Elioak Farm, this charming bed and breakfast is set in a house made of white clapboards. From the turrets and bay windows gracing the exterior, to the barrel ceilings and fireplaces decorating the interior, the Columbia Inn at Peralynna perfectly pairs antique charm with its many modern amenities. These include granite wet bars, whirlpool soaking tubs, microwaves and flat-screen TVs. The B&B has won many awards, including a spot on Forbes Magazine’s list of the Top 25 Places to Live Well and the Diamond Award for eight years running.
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