Town field notes
Bel Air “The Heart of Harford”
Bel Air is the county seat and the commercial and civic heart of Harford County, nicknamed "The Heart of Harford." It is where the area's red-brick Main Street, courthouse-square energy, and small-town festivals meet the everyday convenience of a full-service town about 23 miles northeast of Baltimore.
The vibe
“Bel Air is the town where Harford County comes together: an independent Main Street with coffee shops, pubs and boutiques, a state-designated Arts and Entertainment District, and parks and rail-trails a short walk from the courthouse. Weekends fill the Bond Street lot for the farmers market, the Reckord Armory hosts art openings, and everyone seems to know the same favorite corner table.”
What Bel Air is known for
- Maryland state-designated Arts and Entertainment District since 2011
- Red-brick Main Street lined with independent shops and restaurants
- Hays House, built around 1788 and now the town's museum
- Bel Air Farmers Market, Saturdays from April through November
- The Ma and Pa Trail, a rail-trail along the old Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Things to do in and near Bel Air
Local favorites worth a visit, with links straight to their own websites.
Liriodendron Mansion
The 1898 Georgian Revival estate of a Johns Hopkins Hospital founder, now a gallery and garden open to the public.
Visit the siteMa and Pa Heritage Trail
A multi-use rail-trail through town on the old rail corridor, with the Jericho Covered Bridge nearby.
Visit the siteRockfield Park and Rockfield Manor
About 53 acres of trails, gardens, playground, and the 1921 manor house, a favorite wedding venue.
Visit the siteGunpowder Falls State Park
A short drive away, with hiking, fishing, and the restored Jerusalem Mill Village.
Visit the siteWhere to eat
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