Friedrich Wilderness Park - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio was founded in 1718 as a Spanish colonial city before the forming of the Republic of Texas in 1836. The city was incorporated in 1837, and the arrival of the railroad in 1877 fueled rapid growth. The late 20th century saw brisk expansion through land annexations and an influx of newcomers attracted by the area's climate, scenic beauty and economic opportunities.

The Friedrich Wilderness neighborhood lies in a recently developed area of San Antonio and doesn’t host an arts scene, annual festivals or museums. Residents need only venture a short distance to take in all the culture the city has to offer. Downtown highlights include the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Briscoe Western Art Museum. A favorite annual festival has become the San Antonio Summer Art & Jazz Festival. Live theater enthusiasts frequent the ornate Majestic Theatre in the heart of downtown.

No restaurants exist within the borders of the neighborhood, but several chain restaurants can be found within a short drive, with most located along the I-10 corridor to the east of Friedrich Wilderness.

For an alternative to the cluster of I-10 corridor chains located at the Rim and other shopping centers, residents drive to the historic Grey Moss Inn Restaurant located on Scenic Loop Road about six miles southwest of the neighborhood. Locals love the romantic setting under gigantic Texas oaks and savor house favorites such as the Grey Moss oysters and chorizo-stuffed Texas quail. Wine aficionados appreciate the extensive wine list which consistently earns the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Neighborhood residents head southeast on I-10 toward the city center for additional locally owned eateries, and for a unique dining experience take the UTSA exit to Picnikins Patio Cafe. For over 20 years, this gem has offered a casual lunch ambiance by day and an upscale bistro vibe by night. Gourmet sandwiches and homemade soups highlight the lunch menu, while dinner entrées include beef, pork, chicken, lamb and salmon dishes. For something different, adventurous locals try the Cape Malay Beef Curry.

No clubs or bars exist in the Friedrich Wilderness neighborhood, but locals can sample a good choice of chain restaurant bars and some locally owned pubs and dive bars just a few miles away along the I-10 corridor.

Residents looking for a good time drive north about two miles on the I-10 Frontage Road to the Silver Fox, which offers dive bar staples like a jukebox, pool tables, shuffleboard, karaoke on Tuesday nights, and the occasional live band. A bit farther south off the North Texas 1604 Loop lies another favorite local dive nightspot, Hills & Dales Ice House. This establishment features a super casual atmosphere with picnic tables both outside and inside where locals play pool or darts while sampling some of the over 50 beers on tap. For a wider choice of upscale bars and dance clubs, residents take I-10 for a quick trip to the downtown area. Favorites include the Kremlin, Bonham Exchange, The Brooklynite and Club Sirius, and for Latin music lovers, the Azuca Nuevo Latino has become the place to be.

Most neighborhood residents drive to their destinations, all of which offer free parking in the immediate area. With I-10 just to the east, locals find getting downtown or anywhere else in the city or points beyond very convenient. Residents and visitors can expect to pay for on-street and off-street parking in the downtown area, with free parking on most Tuesday nights in city-owned lots. Meter rates can be as high as $3 per hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and off-street parking averages $5.50 per hour and $16.00 for a 24 hour period. The average cost of a monthly permit costs about $80.00. With San Antonio being a popular tourist destination, you'll find lots to be very expensive to park in neare the River Walk and Alamo areas.

San Antonio has developed an extensive bus system, but it doesn’t extend to the Friedrich Wilderness neighborhood. Locals call ahead of time for a cab, or they can request a ride with Uber. Residents don’t walk or cycle much outside of the neighborhood. The city does offer bike lanes in some areas, and the downtown area has become bike-friendly and hosts bike sharing stations in several locations.

No parks lie within the neighborhood, nearby parks don't offer regular exercise programs and no outdoor park festivals take place nearby, but neighborhood residents enjoy their location between two San Antonio natural parks — Crownridge Canyon Park to the south and Friedrich Wilderness Park to the north. Both parks are free and offer walking trails in a natural preserve setting, but neither allows dogs. The city does offer a few off-leash dog park options, the closest being the Phil Hardberger Dog Park on Blanco Road.

Raymond Russell Park lies just across I-10 from the neighborhood. This free county-run park offers playgrounds for the little ones and pavilions can be rented through an online system. The park welcomes dogs on leash and because it’s a county park, alcoholic beverages can be responsibly consumed.

The cost of living in the Friedrich Wilderness neighborhood is about 3 percent higher than the San Antonio average. Residents pay an average of $932 a month for a one-bedroom apartment and around $3 for a beer at nearby bars, and they enjoy area gas prices which rate about 25 percent lower than the national average.

No shopping options exist within the neighborhood, but residents can find an abundance of nearby chain stores by heading north or south along the I-10 corridor. For the nearest indoor mall, locals visit the North Star Mall off Loop 410 and San Pedro Avenue. For an upscale outdoor mall experience, drivers head south to The Shops at La Cantera, located adjacent to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This shopping complex contains a good mix of nationally known high-end department stores and boutiques. Across the Interstate 10 from Six Flags Fiesta Texas is The Rim shopping center, which contains brand name stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Hobby Lobby, Bass Pro Shops and TJ Maxx. For locally owned specialty shops and boutiques, you'll want to drive to the downtown area. Don't forget to spend some time in the beautiful River Center Mall, overlooking the River Walk.

Pinky’s Boutique rates as a local favorite, and sits about 16 miles from the Friedrich Wilderness neighborhood on McCullough Avenue. Known for carrying new and innovative styles and its fun, hip decor, the shop specializes in a wide selection of designer jewelry. Savvy customers check for updates on Pinky’s Facebook page for recent arrivals to the boutique.

The original factory and store, Scentchips, a San Antonio landmark that has become a national sensation, sits in the downtown area in the historic LaVallita Arts Village. The fragrance shop offers an abundance of wax chips that patrons can mix and match to create a custom scent to use in a warmer or as potpourri. Warmers, sachets and accessories round out the inventory and informative factory tours take place daily to show how it’s all done.

For everyday necessities and large grocery trips, residents visit the H-E-B store on the I-10 frontage road and Boerne Stage Road or the Target store off of I-10 and La Cantera Parkway. No farmers markets exist in the neighborhood or immediate area, but locals enjoy the large numbers of vendors and the appealing setting at the Saturday morning Pearl Farmers Market in the downtown district.