Summer must be knocking at the door given that this Saturday, June 6th, is opening weekend of the Hampstead Farmers Market. Running from 8:30 AM to noon, the market is located at the former North Carroll High School, now the Coppermine Pantherplex.

Admission is free and our kids love to explore the vendor setups, study the berry baskets, and maybe even score a sample or two. Check out the 2026 vendor list, though it’s never guaranteed who will set up shop on any given weekend.

To celebrate opening weekend, there is planned live music and a free face painter. Not to mention the first 100 entrants will receive a free tote bag.

If you’re busy this weekend don’t fret. The market will be open every Saturday, June through September.

The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks is hosting folk and bluegrass bands for your listening pleasure. Families are encouraged to arrive with blankets and lawn chairs in tow, and local food trucks and vendors will also be in attendance. For the kids, there will be nature themed crafts and animal encounters.

Our family has logged many miles hiking the Loggers (red) trail and we can confirm that Oregon Ridge is worth exploring, even without the bluegrass. Feel free to pack some snacks for the kids, show up early, enjoy the playground and hike one of the trails before enjoying a late lunch to the sound of a fiddle amongst the trees.

Event attendees are asked to park at the Oregon Ridge Lodge and utilize a free shuttle to the Nature Center.

My oldest daughter and I found ourselves sitting in traffic along the top of the Beltway following a BWI drop-off this past week. We decided to hop off and take 795 up to Glyndon and enjoy the scenic backroads on our trip home. While heading through Glyndon, we passed Sunset Slush and thought it best to stop in!

This was our first visit, and we’re glad we stopped in. It was around lunchtime and we had the place to ourselves. The staff was extremely friendly and patient as we thoroughly looked over the menu, ranging from single Taharka Brothers ice cream scoops to some pretty wild italian ice combo flavors (Almond Joy, anyone??).

We ordered the Kids Special, which was a single scoop in a cake cone for under $4. I didn’t see the Kids Special listed on the menu, but I appreciate the staff mentioning it as an option. My daughter was kind enough to give me ample “tastes” of her chocolate ice cream scoop topped with Oreo’s. Both of us agreed that it hit the spot. Confession: This was a pre-lunch scoop.

We opted to enjoy the perfect afternoon weather and sat at a picnic table out past the parking lot. Limited indoor seating and additional outdoor seating on the covered porch is also available.

We will surely back to try the italian ice! Sunset Slush is located at 4825 Butler Rd in historic Glyndon. Hours are Monday - Thursday 11 AM - 8 PM, Friday - Sunday 11 AM - 9 PM.

We’ve all experienced one of those mornings. Things are moving slow. The kids are bickering, patience is thin. The family unit is getting under each other’s skin and the walls of the house are starting to feel small.

For us, we’ve noticed that one of the simplest ways to reset the day is to get outside. No grand plan. Not even a destination.

A quick neighborhood walk, a trip out to the backyard, or some driveway scootering. Simple activities can completely reset the day. Suddenly the kids are collecting sticks, pointing out funny looking bugs, or racing each other in a friendly competition.

Sure, this isn’t foolproof. The solution isn’t always outside, but we’ve found it’s a pretty good place to start.