What’s in walking distance?

McDaniel College is a beautiful, self-contained campus, but that doesn’t mean it’s cut off from civilization!

While lots of McDaniel students have cars on campus, I would imagine that even more students on campus do not have cars with them. With a well-stocked dining hall, our Pub, Vocelli’s Pizza, and the Green and Go convenience store, food is never in short supply on the Hill, but sometimes, it’s necessary or fun for students to venture off campus to get even more food, pick up items they can’t find at the Green and Go or the bookstore, or even fill a prescription.

Different students have different ideas of what’s in walking distance from campus; some feel comfortable crossing 140, which opens up the opportunity to go to stores and restaurants such as Marshall’s, Old Navy, Michael’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Denny’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Panera. While these things are relatively close by, the idea of crossing that many lanes of traffic freaks me out, so if I go to these places, I go by car. However, here are some places I do feel comfortable walking to.

1. Rite Aid

I find Rite Aid the easiest drug store in town to get to. It’s barely any time on Pennsylvania Avenue followed by a somewhat quick trip down Monroe Street, finished off with a walk across the shopping center. Like any typical drugstore, you can find food, office supplies, and beauty and hygiene products, and you can fill prescriptions.

If you prefer Walgreens, that’s also in walking distance, though I’ve always felt that it’s a little more of a hike.

2. Baugher’s Restaurant

Baugher’s Restaurant is an offshoot of Baugher’s Orchards. When most students on campus talk about Baugher’s they mean the restaurant, and it is at this Westminster staple that you can get home-style meals, delicious homemade ice cream, and–wait for it–pie! They also have a farm market with baked goods, produce, and flowers for sale. I love buying apple cider here, and my mom loves it when I surprise her with the gift of Baugher’s apple butter (something I do about once a semester).

Baugher’s is always more fun with friends! I have more lovely Baugher’s memories than I could possibly describe here without losing focus of what this post is trying to be about.

3. Safeway

Still feel like walking? Further down the street from Baugher’s is Safeway, the grocery store in Westminster I feel most comfortable walking to. It’s open 24 hours, which is convenient, but if you’re going to be walking here, use good judgement; avoid going late at night (don’t forget that the Green and Go on campus is open extra late on weekends), and if you must go here during odd hours, don’t go alone.

Classico’s Pizzeria is also in this shopping center. It’s a great place to grab a slice or savor some Italian Wedding Soup.

4. IHOP

When I’m in Westminster, IHOP is my breakfast food restaurant of choice. The service is friendly and usually fast and the food is usually good. When I’ve walked here, I’ve usually gone with gobs of friends and later at night. However, now that I have a car on campus, I sometimes come here by myself right before embarking on my three-hour drive home for major breaks.

In the same vicinity, you’ll also find a Walgreens and a Cold Stone Creamery. Both the IHOP and the Cold Stone in Westminster are among off-campus locations that accept the McDaniel 1Card.

5. Downtown Westminster

Main Street borders campus and it’s home to all sorts of businesses, including small retail shops, bank branches, restaurants (try the Main Street Grille), and the Carroll Arts Center. The Carroll Arts Center screens foreign and independent films all the time, and every Easter season, they host the Westminster PEEPshow, an exhibit displays amazing Marshmallow Peep sculptures created by local families, classrooms, and organizations.