I lived in Columbia MD for about 3 years.  This is a very attractive Maryland city.  According to legend it was a completely planned city, and it shows.  Everything you could want or need is within a short drive from any point in the city and everything is accessible, e.g. driving is easy, traffic flow is usually light.

I lived right across from the big mall, Columbia Town Center, and across from the local public library and an apartment of the same name as the mall.  The rent was quite pricey but apartments were very clean, up to date, and the building was very safe.  The management was very responsive to requests from tenants.  So, if I had to live in Columbia again I would probably go to the same apartment complex.

You are pretty close to Baltimore and DC.  Distance wise they might be about the same but time wise Baltimore is definitely closer.  Outside of rush hour traffic you can get from Columbia to Baltimore in less than 30 minutes.  Columbia itself is pretty low key, a family city.  If you want excitement or night life you’re taking a trip to either Baltimore or DC.

Right near the area I lived there was, as I said, the mall, an outdoor concert venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion, many small lakes and forest preserves with hiking trails, many good restaurants (a lot of ethnic variety), Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc.  It is a very peaceful place for the most part.