The coolest small town in Maryland
Named America’s coolest small town in 2016 by Budget Travel, Sykesville offers prospective residents a Main Street lifestyle in a secluded natural environment. “It’s a quaint town, and very family-oriented,” says Kimberly Fitzgerald, lifelong Sykesville resident and Realtor with Long & Foster. “I’ve lived here since 1999, and it’s a great area. You’re close to the outdoors; schools are within walking distance and there’s always something fun to do.” From the historic 19th century Main Street full of local businesses to the winding suburban streets lined with green lawns and large houses, there is always something to be “syked” about in Sykesville.
Historic Main Street Sykesville
Sykesville’s Historic District is at the heart of the town. This area consists of a mile-long Main Street lined with 19th-century buildings, their colorful storefronts enticing visitor s and locals alike. In addition to independent bookstore A Likely Story and plant nursery BotaniGal, Main Street is lined with boutiques and restaurants with inventive menus and lively atmospheres. Neighbors can enjoy the art of afternoon tea at The Kate Pearl Tea Room before hopping next door to The Local Motive to sample draft beer, creative cocktails and an extensive list of sandwiches. From May to October, residents can purchase fresh produce from the Downtown Sykesville Farmer’s Market. Year-round, they can head north on Sykesville Road to Safeway, Aldi and Walmart Supercenter for other shopping needs.
Liberty Reservoir and Piney Run Park
Sykesville is a short 7-mile drive from one of the county’s favorite outdoor recreation spots. “Liberty Reservoir is close by, and it’s huge,” Fitzgerald says. “Everyone loves to take their kayaks out there in the summer.” On the other side of the neighborhood, Piney Run Park offers another opportunity to escape to the great outdoors. Residents paddle canoes on Piney Run Lake, wander the miles of trails around the reservoir or learn about the local ecosystem in the lodge-like nature center, which also features a menagerie of reptiles and birds of prey. The community also borders the wide-open spaces of Freedom Park. “I used to coach my daughter’s soccer team at Freedom Park,” Fitzgerald says. There are so many athletic fields there, and the community is so active. You name the sport, and you can play it here.”
Golf tournaments and the Art and Wine Festival
Downtown Sykesville offers a wide range of events that take place all throughout the year, so locals will never run short on ways to engage with their community. “It starts with the Art and Wine Festival,” Fitzgerald says. “Local wineries and craft breweries set up tastings, and there’s live music and cool activities. One year they had a glass blowing demonstration.” As the year goes on, residents can participate in summer’s Coolest Golf Tournament, the Sykesville Fun Fall Festival in the autumn and the Craft Beer Festival as the winter blows in. All these events bring vendor fairs, live music and local businesses to Main Street, along with thousands of visitors eager to enjoy the atmosphere of this small town.
Historic town, suburban lifestyle
Sykesville’s housing market is mostly comprised of detached single-family homes, allowing prospective owners to choose from options such as bungalows, rambling ranch-styles, split-levels, Colonial Revivals and Modern Traditional builds. Spacious yards are a common feature, as are multi-car garages and paved driveways. There are also townhouses available on the north side of the neighborhood for those who prefer a more compact living space. Prices begin around $325,000 for smaller units, soaring as high as $825,000 for larger, more secluded choices. Most of the housing stock here was constructed in the 1980s and 1990s, as nearly all the historic buildings now play host to restaurants and retail spaces.
Education in Carroll County
Children in Sykesville are zoned to begin their education at Piney Ridge Elementary School, where they can explore a state-of-the-art media center with over 14,000 items available for checkout. They then move to Sykesville Middle School, where both general and instrumental music programs have led to Carroll County Public Schools being recognized among the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants. Students finish at Century High School, Niche’s No. 1 best public high school in the county. All three of these educational institutions score an A from Niche.
All streets leading to Sykesville
Sykesville lies directly along Route 32, a major highway in Maryland that winds north 17 miles to Westminster and south 52 miles to Annapolis. Route 32 is the community’s connection to Interstate 70, which provides direct access to Baltimore 17 miles away. I-70 also links Sykesville with Route 100, the most direct way for residents to get to Baltimore Washington International Airport 30 miles southeast.
Photography Contributed By
Tyler Priola
