From the romantic, rich soil and Bel Air’s bountiful historic old-growth forests to its burgeoning art scene and new luxury villa, this divine community is truly a remarkable place worth visiting.
Bel Air is one of the most beautiful and sought-after towns in Harford County and is the county seat of Harford County, Maryland, United States.
Originally named Scott’s Improvement Enlarged, and later Scott’s Old Fields, the town got a more appealing name when it came to be called “Belle Aire.”
It went through another change of identity years later when court records dropped two letters, becoming Bell Aire, and then in 1798, they shortened the name to Bel Air.
The array of activities available in Bel Air is incredibly diverse, making it one of the most desirable communities in the region.
Whether you want to hear live music, play golf on one of the top courses in the state, or see a fun film in the town’s independent theater, Bel Air offers it all.
If you need help deciding what to do on your visit to Bel Air, here are 20 of the best things to do in Bel Air, MD:
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tudor Hall is a spectacular, historic home.
It’s a one-and-a-half-story Gothic Revival cottage located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, United States.
Built entirely in brick, the historic home has been renovated and updated to include all the necessary features of a modern home while keeping true to the original architecture of the Gothic Revival style.
Preservation Maryland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It was architect William H. Ranlett who designed the house from Plates 44 and 45 of his design book “The Architect,” published in 1847.
In 1973, the National Register of Historic Places finally listed Tudor Hall.
These days, Tudor Hall is under the management of the Junius B. Booth Society, a group dedicated to preserving its architectural character and ensuring that every last bit of its historical significance stays alive.
Tudor Hall is open for tours most Sundays from April until November and hosts events during special occasions.
If you’re in the mood for some cool, funky, and thought-provoking art, then a trip to Harford Artists Gallery is what you need.
Located in downtown Bel Air, Maryland, the Harford Artist Gallery is not a public gallery like other well-known and visited galleries.
This one is home to more than 280 artists who express their passion through pottery, painting, jewelry, photography, and a whole lot more.
The gallery is located at the east end of Main Street, where members of the Harford Artists’ Association display their work.
Membership meetings and watching lectures, critiques, and demonstrations are some big parts of being in the Association.
If you have time, by all means, stop by on their rotating exhibitions, which change bi-monthly at their gallery space.
This is also free for anyone who’d like to come to check out/contribute in any artistic ways to their gallery space — so stop by if you’re able!
The Bel Air Farmers’ Market started with a humble beginning as just a small parking lot lined with fresh, sustainable produce, and later grew to include over 50 local vendors who provide organic goods and products to consumers within the market’s vicinity.
Besides being a place that brings together local artisan food providers, the farmers market also offers live music at critical periods throughout the year, such as during Art Month in April and during December, where they are typically held each year.
The Pairings Bistro is a featured food truck at the Bel Air Farmers’ Market.
They will be there all season long, and you can try their breakfast burritos using locally grown produce from local producers.
The market also has rotating spaces for wineries, breweries, and distilleries that have products that meet an exceptional quality standard.
If you bring your dog with you to the market, please keep them on a short leash or leave them at home because they are not permitted (this goes for all farmers’ markets, by the way).
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
As one of the oldest houses in Bel Air, the Hays House Museum is truly an amazing ancient site.
Located at 324 Kenmore Avenue, Hays House Museum is a small, family Georgian-style home.
John Bull built the home and owned it for many years before selling it to Thomas Hays, who became its second owner in 1811.
The home remained in the Hays family for 146 years and was known as the Hays House because of this fact!
The Historical Society of Harford County now operates the small museum after they’ve acquired and restored it.
As a living history museum, the Hays House Museum offers popular events that allow people to see and experience social, domestic, and cultural aspects of life from early American culture.
You can enjoy special events here, such as the Learning Bee series, an exhibit of vintage and antique clothes and textiles from their collections, and hearth cooking.
There are guides who will take you on a tour of Mr. Hays’s beautifully restored townhouse home here at the Hays House Museum.
Harford Mall is a wonderful shopping mall and the only one in Harford County owned by CBL & Associates Properties in Belair Road, Bel Air, Maryland.
Originally founded by Mid Atlantic Realty in 1973, Harford Mall was a staple when it first opened.
This original owner provided small-town shoppers with Montgomery Ward and E.J. Korvette for their shopping needs as the anchors of this mall.
If you’re around the Bel Air area, you might want to make a visit to Harford Mall.
It’s clean, bright, tall, and full of stores that make shopping fun.
The concierge is also helpful if you are looking for any information on or around the mall premises.
Abingdon Community Theater is a performing arts theater.
Past performances have included everything from Frozen, Hairspray, Mary Poppins Jr., Alice in Wonderland to Beauty and the Beast and more!
And each performance benefits local charities and ACT itself.
Donations are welcome at every show, and theater members get discounted tickets.
Check their website to find out which play they will be performing next.
Looney’s Pub is a spacious branch of an exceptional Irish bar and grill serving sumptuous pub food and delicious amusement.
The pub has high security (something everyone here can appreciate) no concerns about ever losing your valuables or getting waylaid at the bar.
It’s refreshing to know there are sorts of establishments in Bel Air like Looney’s that go out of the way to make sure their clientele feels welcome and appreciated.
There’s no doubt that Looney’s provides a good spot for hanging out with friends and family.
Yes, the restaurant can get a little loud, but that is because most people love to watch the game here while they eat.
The food is “mostly” good, and you’ll personally enjoy the Tuna Bites!
Preservation Maryland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Liriodendron Mansion in the Bel Air North, Maryland, is a one-of-a-kind venue for everything, from weddings, business conferences, corporate events to family reunions and other social gatherings.
The mansion’s 2nd floor is home to a lively art gallery showcasing local artists in a wide array of exhibits and archival collections throughout the year.
The mansion houses a lively art gallery on the second floor filled with works by local artists who want to share their talent and artistry with other people.
Preservation Maryland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There are archival collections and educational exhibits as well.
The Liriodendron Mansion holds one of the best history museums in the region and is a tribute to Dr. Howard A. Kelly’s commitment to learning about the country’s past.
The non-profit Liriodendron Foundation takes care of all maintenance work for the mansion and its gardens to keep it looking as amazing as it does.
Jurassic Golf and Arcade is a fantastic miniature golf course in Baltimore Pike suite 8, Bel Air, Maryland.
Harford County’s Jurassic Golf and Arcade boast 4,500 square feet of dinosaur-themed mini-golf and animated dinosaurs, and the entire course comes to life with CGI effects, fossils, and much more!
It offers Blacklight Mini Golf, where you can go on an adventure as you play your way through 18 holes of black-light indoor mini-golf, with dinosaur-themed obstacles, including a Stegosaurus feeding ground, a dino research lab, T-Rex stomping grounds, and a prehistoric underwater aquarium.
Jurassic Arcade and Golf presents a state-of-the-art arcade featuring more than 20 new and old games.
Their extensive arcade features several engaging games that dispense tickets to be redeemed in the large redemption center packed with exciting prizes.
They also feature two party rooms for rent if you need somewhere to host a birthday or special event for the kids.
The MA & PA Heritage Trail is found on parts of what used to be the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad corridor in Forest Hill and Bel Air, Maryland.
Because the best way to discover Harford County is through the MA&PA Trail!
The MA & PA Heritage Trail, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works diligently to make the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Trail a place you can enjoy.
Whether it’s walking, running, or biking, you’ll find that it provides an enjoyable outdoor experience for people of all ages.
The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad has had a historical presence in Bel Air and Forest Hill for years, both having been named after connecting cities in Pennsylvania.
At the moment, it comprises a 3.3-mile section of land in eastern Bel Air and a 1.7-mile trail segment in historic Old Forest Hill (both of which are town centers).
While technically not yet complete, the trail will eventually link its two parts for an overall distance of nearly 8 miles through scenic downtown Bel Air, where there’s plenty to do and see!
Chris Burkins Photography / Shutterstock.com
Bynum Run Park is an amazing park in Churchville Road, Bel Air South, Maryland.
This unique park comes with an incredible walking loop that surrounds the whole area and has benches right next to it.
The pond itself is very peaceful, packed with geese, ducks, and other wildlife you can watch while you’re taking a walk.
For those who like to grill out and hang out with friends, there’s also room for that, too, as this place boasts both a grilling pavilion and ample parking.
zachmaclellan4 / Shutterstock.com
Located next to Bynum Run Park is Rockfield Playground.
If you decide to visit the park, you’ll walk past an assortment of waterfowl, reptiles, and fish, all living in the pond together.
Bel Air’s Independent Brewing Company is a new addition to the Harford County community, serving as a unique production brewery in 2015.
It features brewery tours and ‘liquid alchemy’ classes in its large taproom and patio at the heart of historic downtown Bel Air.
Independent Brewing Company serves up delicious craft brews and has plenty of space to mingle with friends.
They’re open late, too, making them perfect for a night out on the town or after enjoying the nearby Ma and Pa Trail.
The Independent Brewing Company is a bit of a traveling establishment that brings the feel of brewery hops to neighborhoods across the nation.
Beer enthusiasts are welcome to come in, relax and enjoy the incredible beer brewed onsite as well as local food truck offerings prepared by master chefs.
The community atmosphere found here tends to lure patrons who appreciate beer culture, and their respectful employees will ensure everyone has a great time.
Barbes’ Bakery & Cafe is the brainchild of Nichol Barbes.
The cafe is home to some New Jersey favorites, such as The Jersey eggs and cheese sandwiches and pastries/donuts freshly made daily.
Coming to Barbes’, you can expect delicious meals for breakfast and lunch, excellent Lavazza coffees, and a colorful selection of cakes, wedding cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and pies.
The place also boasts of its indoor lounge area, which has comfortable seating for weary travelers.
Next time you’re visiting Harford County or just passing through the town of Bel Air, be sure to stop by Newberry Cafe & Bakery for a sweet treat you won’t soon forget!
Located at Wheel Road, Bel Air, Maryland, Harford Glen Park is a walker’s paradise situated at an elevation of 59m.
The park is rich with well-maintained flowers that adorn the park’s tranquil atmosphere.
As you walk across any one of the park’s footpaths, you can opt to sit on benches located along the route where you can enjoy looking out into the scenery.
You may also visit the facilities set up in this area to engage in group activities such as lectures and business conferences.
Fishing spots are easy to access via trails in which there are plenty of activities to partake.
Harford Glen Park’s trees and open spaces have helped create a permanent home for owls and hawks.
These trails will take you out to Atkins Dam, which is a sight sure to inspire awe into even the most distasteful soul at heart!
One Eleven Main is situated in a vintage 1860s structure on Main Street in the heart of Bel Air.
It is a fine dining venue with a seasonal menu crafted using regional ingredients.
They want to provide their visitors with a true sense of hospitality by expressing their love of modern traditional dishes and serving food made with the finest ingredients from nearby farmers, artisans, and fishermen.
One Eleven Main has listed several of its top wines to show off its passion for unique, varied, and hand-crafted beverages.
The featured wines may be perfectly combined with your chosen meal and come from various grape varietals and geographical places.
For romantic evenings, weekly specials, or perhaps one of their wine-tasting evenings, stop by One Eleven Main.
Bel Air Gun Range is a full indoor range and neighborhood firearms supplier in the Bel Air, Maryland region that values its customers and welcomes families.
There is no need for membership since they are accessible to the public and offer educational activities, rentals, and shopping.
In their sales section, Bel Air Gun Range provides a complete assortment of new and used rifles, bulk ammo, and equipment.
Bel Air Gun Range offers personalized training from an NRA-certified instructor, whatever your preferences may be.
A parent or guardian must accompany anybody under 18 at all times.
The Amoss center is dedicated to the memory of Senator William Amoss, a graduate of Harford Community College and a devoted supporter of the institution.
It caters to the diverse cultural needs of the area’s constantly expanding population.
The Harford Community College and Harford Technical High School utilize the performing arts complex.
It offers a location for high school public assemblies and various college-sponsored programs.
Children’s theater, ballet, symphonic concerts, recitals, and other forms of artistic expression are a few samples of the presentations held in the Amoss Center.
The facility’s 10,000-square-foot sitting space is also a hub for reasonably priced community, cultural, recreational, and educational events.
Visage Salon & Day Spa, a local business in the center of Bel Air, is pleased to give back to the neighborhood.
Visage offers a full range of salon and spa treatments to revitalize your thoughts, body, and spirituality since they believe that beauty comes from within.
They offer a classy, tranquil setting that both energizes and cools down.
Working together to develop a care program with your Visage skin care specialist will help you immediately see balanced, vibrant, healthy, and younger-looking skin.
Their Spa Packages, which come in a range of time durations to suit any schedule, are the ideal therapies for everyday chaos.
Select from one of their spa packages or create your own by adding more hair, cosmetic, nail, or wellness services.
MaGerk’s Pub & Grill has become your favorite local establishment with its wonderful ambiance and first-rate service.
They are situated in Bel Air’s famed central business district.
Drop on and indulge in a Jumbo Lump Crab Cake or one of their famous Philly Cheese Steaks!
With four bars and an outside terrace, MaGerk’s has plenty going on for everyone!
They have developed into one of the greatest venues in the neighborhood for holding a range of parties and events.
MaGerk’s offers the room for you whether you’re planning a business luncheon, birthday celebration, wedding, rehearsal dinner, or Christmas party!
From historical locations to countless activities and attractions that you can check off your bucket list, Bel Air is one of the most charming towns in Maryland!
The town will live up to its slogan: “The Heart of Harford” – proof that there’s never a dull moment here because the place has so much going on.
There are lots of interesting sites in this historic town waiting for you to explore and fall in love with.
Don’t keep them waiting!
Discover the world.
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