A suburban community north of downtown Baltimore
Garrison is a suburb with a wide variety of bustling retail, a historic country club and coveted private schools. This convenient suburb, about 16 miles outside of Baltimore, is great for commuters. Reisterstown Road is the main thoroughfare in the neighborhood and hosts dozens of big box stores, familiar chains and locally owned shops and restaurants. “Garrison is an established neighborhood, and it’s a little off the beaten path,” says Tabitha Richardson, a broker at NextHome Leaders who has been selling homes in the area for about 19 years. “But it’s also easy to access everything as well, such as shopping and major highways. That means you can be in the mix if you want to, or you can enjoy the more secluded, established neighborhoods.” The Green Spring Valley Hunt Club caters to a high-end private member base, and Garrison Forest School is a private all-girl's academy and boarding school. Apart from townhouses, large family homes on secluded lots give homeowners a sense of privacy out in nature.
Garrison’s compact subdivisions and spacious private lots
Modest family houses, sprawling estates on wooded lots and compact townhouse communities create a wide variety of possible lifestyles in Garrison. “Owings Mills has a lot more of the townhouse communities, so when people say Garrison, they’re usually referring to those eastern areas near the golf course,” Richardson says. “People like those older, bigger homes in established neighborhoods because they hold their value well. But it’s harder to find homes here for sale. They’re usually kept in families for a long time, so when they do sell, they may need some updates.” Cozy ranch-style homes, bungalows with wide front porches, or family builds with two stories, garages and spacious backyards can cost between $300,000 and $500,000. Larger constructions with large bay windows and immaculate lawns can be found in traditional styles. Often sitting on generous acreage in secluded subdivisions, homes may cost between $500,000 and over $1.5 million. Townhouses in communities near Reisterstown Road vary from two- to four-bedroom floorplans and can cost between $200,000 and $600,000.
Baltimore County Public Schools and private options
Students may start at Woodholme Elementary and then attend Pikesville Middle School. Both are graded a B-minus on Niche. Owings Mills High School is graded a C and has a diverse student community and a focus on academic excellence. The Garrison Forest School, rated an A-plus, is a large private girls’ academy and boarding school for kindergarten through twelfth-grade students. The campus includes horse riding facilities, a theater, a variety of sports fields and dorms. Stevenson University has two campuses nearby, one in Owings Mills and one in Greenspring. It is known for its business and health majors, is ranked the No. 10 best college in Maryland and is graded a B on Niche.
Getting outside to golf, hike and play in Garrison
Green Spring Valley Hunt Club has an award-winning 18-hole golf course. Established in 1892, the private club offers its members additional sports amenities such as tennis or pickleball courts and a pool. To the north, the Irvine Nature Center has several nature trails and outdoor amenities, as well as live animal exhibits and educational programs for children and families. West of the expressway, Northwest Regional Park’s walking trails, baseball fields, and picnic pavilions make for an active day outside. Ravens Playground on the property is a large playscape for locals to enjoy. Nearby, Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area has miles of walking trails to explore.
Shopping and dining on Reisterstown Road
Reisterstown Road is a major hub for shopping and dining northwest of Baltimore. It includes several big box stores like The Home Depot, Michaels and Aldi, and the shops at Foundry Row, which is a small outdoor shopping center. Restaurants vary from familiar chains like Panera and Starbucks to locally owned spots like Sushi Ya, which offers traditional Japanese cuisine in a sushi bar setting. Linwoods serves upscale American meals with a variety of cocktails and a selection of wine. For a taste of vegan food, Hue Cafe & Apothecary is known for their famous banana pudding and vegan cheesesteak subs. For a casual corned beef or Reuben sandwich, Lenny’s Delicatessen is a cafeteria-style eatery on Reisterstown Road.
A short drive away from downtown Baltimore
Though there are dozens of Metro bus stops on Reisterstown Road, locals may still choose to drive out of town. Downtown Baltimore is about 16 miles south via Interstate 83. Visitors can access the Johns Hopkins Hospital or check out attractions like the Walters Art Museum or the National Aquarium. For longer trips, the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is about 20 miles south via Interstate 695. For emergencies or checkups, the Greater Baltimore Medical Center is in town on Reisterstown Road. However, because of Garrison’s proximity to Reisterstown Road and the Northwest Expressway, homes near those roads may experience louder traffic noise.
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