Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail has returned for its 14th year, running from now  through September 7 with creamery stops across the state and a new digital pass system allowing visitors to check in, earn points, and qualify for prizes.

Organized by the Maryland Department of Agriculture through its Maryland’s Best program, the trail highlights Maryland’s dairy industry and locally made ice cream. This year’s trail includes 13 on-farm creameries, including Deere Valley Farm in Dickerson.

New for 2026, the trail has expanded to include select non-farm ice cream shops that serve locally sourced ice cream supporting Maryland dairy farms. Montgomery County additions include Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream and Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream locations.

The program is also partnering again with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to encourage visitors to explore nearby Maryland State Parks while participating in the trail.

Columbia has been ranked the 5th best place to raise a family in the United States for 2026, according to a new report from personal finance website WalletHub.

The rankings compared more than 180 cities across 45 different metrics tied to family life, including housing affordability, school quality, health and safety, recreation opportunities, and socioeconomic factors. Columbia earned an overall score of 66.74, placing behind only Fremont, California; Overland Park, Kansas; Irvine, California; and Plano, Texas.

According to the report, Columbia stood out particularly for affordability and income levels. WalletHub found that Columbia had the highest median family annual income adjusted for cost of living in the nation, coming in 3.1 times higher than Detroit, the city ranked lowest in that category.

The breakdown of Columbia’s rankings included:

• Family Fun Rank: 84
• Health & Safety Rank: 56
• Education & Child Care Rank: 29
• Affordability Rank: 1
• Socioeconomics Rank: 35

WalletHub also highlighted national trends shaping where families are choosing to move in 2025 and 2026, citing affordability, opportunity, and overall quality of life as major factors.

The report’s top 10 cities for families were:

1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Irvine, CA
4. Plano, TX
5. Columbia, MD
6. Bismarck, ND
7. South Burlington, VT
8. Charleston, SC
9. Seattle, WA
10. Boise, ID

Meanwhile, Baltimore ranked near the bottom of the list at No. 178 overall. WalletHub noted that cities were evaluated using metrics ranging from unemployment rates and school-system quality to playground access and crime rates.

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-cities-for-families/4435

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