So what IS there in Mechanicsville?

[BOP]

I've never seen zip codes anywhere else like St. Mary's County. There are huge geographic areas within a given zip code with random little post offices that only have PO Boxes with no delivery, so that even the post office isn't in it's own zip code... or rather, the zip only covers the actual building. The result is that "Mechanicsville" as a zip code covers part of Charlotte Hall, New Market, Huntersville, Golden Beach, Oakville, Morganza, Chaptico, Loveville, and a dozen other "towns." But the addresses, and therefore real estate listings, all say, "Mechanicsville." The atmosphere is different in each area.... if you give us a street name, you will get better info. There are a few parks, some of which have been mentioned here, including Gilbert Run (actually in Charles County on the road to LaPlata), 5th District Park, Laurel Grove Park and a few other small places.

I took my kids to a park the other day, about 15 minutes away from home. When we headed back, it was lunch time and the kids asked to stop somewhere to eat. I said, "sorry, there's no food between here and home." No fast food, no sit-down restaurants, just a single mom and pop convienence store.... but 5 minutes passed the house, there is a McDonalds, a Burger King and an Arby's.

There's no good way to explain to someone who's never been here. There's no "city." Clearly, you get that, but there's no quaint small town either. There's a tiny strip mall, then some trees, then another small strip mall, a few mom & pop places, more trees, open fields, some farms some more little shops, some more trees, a bar, a gas station, more trees... some of it is random. Once you get off the main road you get into places with little neighborhoods with 20 or 50 or 100 houses bordered by farms that still manage to grow crops instead of housing developments.

We think nothing of driving 20 miles to go shopping because it only takes 20 minutes (or 15 ) It's 45 min. or an hour to Washington DC, so if you want your city-fix, it's easy enough to get. There's no Starbucks. If we have kids we make friends by joining the PTA or putting the kids in soccer or Sunday school or scouts or go to story time at the library. If we don't have kids... there's a bar or... heck, I don't know, I've got too many kids to know what other people do. Some folks join the volunteer fire department or one of several civic groups.

All in all, it's a great place. But it's going to be a different experience coming from San Diego. You'll just have to see it to understand fully.... and keep an open mind.

We have a Starbucks in Lusby!

But that's an hour and a half away from Mechanicsville (20 minutes if you're a crow).

I never go to Starbucks, but it's there.

 

[ZARA]

NurseSherri,

Everyone has given excellent insight into this area. But no matter what your trepidation may be, when you move here, it will be what you make of it.

There is good and bad, clean and dirty, just like any other city. It is different. You will suffer a culture shock. But being a nurse, you have dealt with so many different types of people on a daily basis that you will be fine.

I like Leonardtown, which is where I bought my home. It is far enough off the beaten path that I have my much needed privacy and serenity but close enough to the basic (and I do stress "BASIC") stores for shopping.

We lived here for a little over two years before we found a house we wanted to buy. It gave us time to get to know the area and a feel for the people, good & bad neighborhoods, etc.

My best advice is move here knowing that you are going to start out renting and it is not a permanent home, just a lay over until you find what you want.

Even with all the sound information every one has provided you, in the end it is your own personal tastes that will dictate what you do and do not like, which really cannot be expressed in words, it is a feeling.

I wish you luck and I hope you find what meets your family's needs.

 

[bresamil]

One poster stated that they only knew about the library in Charlotte Hall. Just wanted to state there is also a library in Leonardtown and in Lexington Park. Also the Charlotte Hall library has two parts - the public library and the regional research library.

 

[Dye Tied]

looking at the maps, everything just looks very spread apart and there looks like there are a ton of farms! I'm looking forward to a slower pace of life, but I feel nervous too... it's such a huge change for us. I'm hoping to meet new friends, but it seems like that will be hard to do since there isn't a lot of places to go like coffee houses and such...

Do you want a mall in your neighborhood? I don't mind driving to get to one and have been online shopping for a long time, as an alternative. I'd rather NOT have a mall in my backyard.
LaPLata is not far from Mechanicsville. There are plenty of stores there. I'd rather see farms and fields in my backyard than concrete and stores.

It is a cuture shock but it's good to slow down. You'll live longer

 

[Beta]

There is an abundance of liquor stores, nail salons, thrift stores (2nd hand & Dollar Stores), bingo places, and fastfood. I'll name them for you.

Liquor Stores: Light House, Vino's 2, McKay's, Fred's, Big Dog's Paradise, A&B, and DJ's One Stop, so if you're thirsty...you're in the right spot.

Thrift/Dollar Stores: Hooks & Hangars, a huge flea market, Looks, Just Between Us, Dollar General, Vintage Value, and Family Dollar (I may have missed a few).

Fastfood: McDonald's, Arby's Wendy's Burger King, Subway, Popeyes, Dunkin Donuts, Pizza Hut, Pizza Hotline, Dominos, 2 or 3 really bad Chinese places (I'm sure there's more but I don't eat that garbage). One Mexican restaurant that is surprisingly good.

Grocery Stores: Food Lion & McKay's (neither are particularly clean or have well rotated stock...you've been warned)

Good synopsis. 2 clarifications:

1) you included Charlotte Hall as part of "Mechanicsville". Shame on you. You might as well have included Seabreeze/Sandgates.

2) Food Lion seems relatively clean, but it's not amazing by any means.

carry on

People shy away from Mechanicsville because they want to cluster in Lex Park to be close to base, but those that live there will tell you the commute isn't that bad.

They clutter in the ghetto.

The drive from Mechanicsville to California is really simple. It's getting from Route 4 to base that gets busy. So even people in Wildewood deal with basically the same issues.

looking at the maps, everything just looks very spread apart and there looks like there are a ton of farms! I'm looking forward to a slower pace of life, but I feel nervous too... it's such a huge change for us. I'm hoping to meet new friends, but it seems like that will be hard to do since there isn't a lot of places to go like coffee houses and such...

There's no much within Mechanicsville itself...it's mostly driving. If you're looking to meet people, other than neighbors, you can always try posting on here and keeping an eye out for the Friday Meet & Greets that are posted.

But keep in mind -- you said you're renting. Come on down, check out Mechanicsville or Leonardtown. If you don't like it, try the other one. Find the one you like. Be sure to map Leonardtown, I think you'll see that it's also in between the base & La Plata, especially if you live toward the northern end.

We have a Starbucks in Lusby!

But that's an hour and a half away from Mechanicsville (20 minutes if you're a crow).

I never go to Starbucks, but it's there.

There's also a Starbucks in California, 2 in PF, and a bunch in Waldorf and La Plata.

Lusby takes ~30 minutes to drive to (by car) from Mechanicsville if you take the TJ bridge (assuming a central point in Mechanicsville, it's less for the people around Sandgates). Even if someone were to go north and take the bridge on 231, it's ~45 minutes. What kind of transportation are you thinking for 1.5 hours? Buggy? Brisk Jog?

 

[Dye Tied]

Good synopsis. 2 clarifications:
1) you included Charlotte Hall as part of "Mechanicsville". Shame on you. You might as well have included Seabreeze/Sandgates.

2) Food Lion seems relatively clean, but it's not amazing by any means.

carry on


They clutter in the ghetto.

The drive from Mechanicsville to California is really simple. It's getting from Route 4 to base that gets busy. So even people in Wildewood deal with basically the same issues.


There's no much within Mechanicsville itself...it's mostly driving. If you're looking to meet people, other than neighbors, you can always try posting on here and keeping an eye out for the Friday Meet & Greets that are posted.

But keep in mind -- you said you're renting. Come on down, check out Mechanicsville or Leonardtown. If you don't like it, try the other one. Find the one you like. Be sure to map Leonardtown, I think you'll see that it's also in between the base & La Plata, especially if you live toward the northern end.



There's also a Starbucks in California, 2 in PF, and a bunch in Waldorf and La Plata.

Thre is a coffee shop in Mechanicsville. 66 Beans. IMO, the Mexican restaurant is barely passable food. You have Thompson's Seafood, Captain Leonards and Chaptico Market, yium!
I drive to Solomons Island for work and the commute is an easy, breezy 30 minutes.

 

[Beta]

Thre is a coffee shop in Mechanicsville. 66 Beans. IMO, the Mexican restaurant is barely passable food. You have Thompson's Seafood, Captain Leonards and Chaptico Market, yium!
I drive to Solomons Island for work and the commute is an easy, breezy 30 minutes.

I didn't know about 66 beans!

I've seen a few mentions of the Chaptico Market. What's there, exactly?

Oh and an easy, breezy commute? If you start north of Loveville, you hit AT LEAST 7 traffic lights! To think, not long ago it was 5.

 

[Dye Tied]

I didn't know about 66 beans!

I've seen a few mentions of the Chaptico Market. What's there, exactly?

Oh and an easy, breezy commute? If you start north of Loveville, you hit AT LEAST 7 traffic lights! To think, not long ago it was 5.

Chaptico Market is around the rotary on 234, across from the gas station. Their fried chicken is world famous. And they have wine and beer, of course

Ever since I started going across the TJ Bridge to this base instead of the other, my commute and stress level is way down. :shrug:

 

[mudpuddle]

I didn't know about 66 beans!

I've seen a few mentions of the Chaptico Market. What's there, exactly?

Oh and an easy, breezy commute? If you start north of Loveville, you hit AT LEAST 7 traffic lights! To think, not long ago it was 5.

66beans is no longer there, however another "coffee shop" opened in its place. (Sorry the name escapes me at the moment. There are only about 5 tables in their, so I really don't consider it a "real" coffee shop.

 

[Dye Tied]

66beans is no longer there, however another "coffee shop" opened in its place. (Sorry the name escapes me at the moment. There are only about 5 tables in their, so I really don't consider it a "real" coffee shop.

Do they serve real coffee????

 

[warneckutz]

ME!!

Eeeesh.

You made me laugh! That is a hard thing to do! I don't want to say it was cute because that is not manly; how about confident? Anyway, I liked it!

That's special.

 

[dave1959]

Contrary to what most people have said, there is a town of Mechanicsville.
Check Google maps and go to street view and look around...
There is also comerce in the town...
Hardware store
Gas stations
Food, Mexican, Subway, Carry out
Liquior store
7-11
Doctors, Dentists and specialists
antique stores
bank
auto repair
pool store
furniture store
carpet store
auto sales.
Dollar store
Church's

No its not the big city but we are still a town...

 

[mudpuddle]

Contrary to what most people have said, there is a town of Mechanicsville.
Check Google maps and go to street view and look around...
There is also comerce in the town...
Hardware store
Gas stations
Food, Mexican, Subway, Carry out
Liquior store
7-11
Doctors, Dentists and specialists
antique stores
bank
auto repair
pool store
furniture store
carpet store
auto sales.
Dollar store
Church's

No its not the big city but we are still a town...

It's a town, if you are comparing it to living in the desert! lol
A "real" town has much, much more to offer. And usually there is a town "square"...

 

[Dye Tied]

It's a town, if you are comparing it to living in the desert! lol
A "real" town has much, much more to offer. And usually there is a town "square"...

A town square makes it real? Yeah, in New England.

So there's no 'real' coffee shop or 'real' town. You're funny.

 

[mudpuddle]

Do they serve real coffee????

yes, they do. Actually the coffee is very good, although I only had it one time... 66 beans worked really hard to try and attract people. they would have "events" and such...it's a shame they didn't last.
I don't know how this new coffee shop is going to do, I have a feeling-not very well. I don't think it helps that they are closed on Sundays, just like 66 beans did. I like Sundays to be a peaceful, relaxing time to go out and get some coffee. So, have to go to WaWa or Dunkin' Donuts. :/

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

Contrary to what most people have said, there is a town of Mechanicsville.Check Google maps and go to street view and look around...................
QUOTE]

Actually, no. To be considered a "Town" legally in the State of Maryland an area has to be incorporated as such.

Leonardtown?
Yes.
Lexington Park?
No.
Mechanicsville?
No.
Solomon's?
No.
Chesapeake Beach and North Beach?
Yes.

 

[vraiblonde]

looking at the maps, everything just looks very spread apart and there looks like there are a ton of farms! I'm looking forward to a slower pace of life, but I feel nervous too... it's such a huge change for us. I'm hoping to meet new friends, but it seems like that will be hard to do since there isn't a lot of places to go like coffee houses and such...

It's very different from San Diego. Very.

You find different things to do than what you did in your old city and make new friends if you want to. If you look at our community calendar (Southern Maryland Community Calendar: 9/10/113 9:17 AM) there is a TON of stuff going on. You can take classes at the community college; take a dance class; have a drink at a waterfront restaurant while you watch the sunset; get fresh veggies, flowers, baked goods, and homemade butter at the outstanding Charlotte Hall farmer's market; go kayaking; take up golf; enjoy a concert; hit a minor league baseball game; there is a TON of stuff to do for entertainment around here and don't let any of these malcontents tell you different.

A day trip to Annapolis (which I recommend), Baltimore, or DC. A two hour drive to Kings Dominion and slightly further to Busch Gardens theme parks. A half hour to Colonial Beach; an hour to Fredericksburg. If you want to find things to do, you will find them. If you want to sit at home and complain, you can do that as well.

It'll be fine, Sherri, you'll see.

 

[tipsymcgee]

. A half hour to Colonial Beach;

Do you drive a super speed monorail?

 

[Tomcat]

You said in your original post that you were from Pittsburgh, so am I. Think of down here as leaving Pittsburgh and driving to Washington, PA or Somerset, PA. Once you get out of the city and suburbs, lots of farms with small towns here and there. Same down here, leave DC, go through all the suburbs and cities until you get to Southern Maryland. In both cases you're far enough from the city that you won't have city problems but close enough to enjoy going to concerts or sports events. Someone else comment but you might compare Annapolis to Coronado, such as the shops etc.

 

[dilligaf.]

( You will find that the counties in Southern Maryland are huge!!!

Calvert County is the smallest county in the entire state.