What are the likable parts of Glen Burnie? I only ever end up there for shopping or MVA stuff and it's yet to wow me. Is there an old town or cute parts that aren't congested and filled with chain stores?

Arbutus!

Ideally one of the detached homes in between east drive and Shelbourne because it'll put you in walking distance to the restaurants, shops, movie theatre in town and the events center on UMBC. There are sidewalks everywhere (if you have a stroller down the road), it's right off of many major roads, the elementary and middle school are good enough, they just starting building a new high school, patapsco state park is near by, and it's relatively affordable compared to other towns nearby. There's live music fairly often on campus or in town so there's some semblance of a night life but it's still a fairly sleepy blue collar town. There are also yearly events like the arts festival, 10K, and 4th of July parade.

Just outside the city is Arbutus. You've got bars, restaurants, a good coffee shop, movie theatre, and MD's oldest comic book store all on the little main street surrounded by single family homes. Cheaper than Catonsville and depending where you live, less than a mile walk from the MARC train to Baltimore, DC, and the BWI. It's not too crowded and the UMBC campus is nearby so there are occasionally major concerts or events you can walk to (if Limp Bizkit and AEW wrestling is "major", lol).