Hillwood - Montgomery, AL

Hillwood started as farmland belonging to the wife of Luther Leonidas Hill in the 1850s, and each of his seven children inherited parcels of land. Most of the houses were built in the 1950s and 1960s, and retail development followed in the 1970s to complete the neighborhood.

Downtown hosts many museums in Montgomery. The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum marks the closest such facility to Hillwood. See preserved mementos of the vaunted American author's life around 1931 and 1932 in Montgomery.

The Montgomery Performing Arts Centre provides a venue for theatrical performances, traveling Broadway shows and intimate concerts. Whether you want to hear an acoustic set by a country legend or see a lavish, circus-type production, find it here.

Temple Beth Or hosts the annual Jewish Food Festival and Treasure Market every March. Sample traditional Jewish food, tour the sanctuary and buy unique gifts at the market.

Most of the restaurants and nightlife options in Hillwood exist along Zelda Road to the southwest, including fast food chains, casual eateries, ethnic joints and local restaurants. A couple of bars provide nightlife, while 1048 Jazz and Blues has live music every night three miles west of the neighborhood.

La Zona Rosa on Zelda Road specializes in fine Mexican cuisine with a casual atmosphere. Create your own queso dip for an appetizer with add-ins such as spinach, mushrooms, chicken, chorizo and black beans. Shrimp nachos comes to your table as a meal unto itself with shrimp, pico de gallo and cheese sauce over a bed of tortilla chips. A stuffed chile pablano gets deep fried and filled with ground beef and cheese underneath salsa. The specialty of the house focuses on chimichangas, including a variety with steak or chicken alongside onions, bell peppers and tomatoes stuffed in a deep-fried tortilla. The chimichanga gets topped with cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. Several vegetarian dishes appear on the menu, including guacamole tacos. Choose from eight styles of seafood dishes and enjoy a full line of margaritas from the bar.

Midtown Pizza Kitchen features a full bar and Italian favorites from chef Christophe Zagaglia. For starters, dive into the focaccia alle erbe, which takes a piece of baguette topped with olive oil and served alongside goat cheese, olive tapenade, arugula and Italian dressing. The Zelda pizza has fennel sausage, gorgonzola, mozzarella and white sauce. Nerone pizza contains tons of meatballs with roasted peppers, caramelized onions, mozzarella and basil over red sauce. Order five meat or five cheese pizza if you love one or the other. Build your own pizza with tons of meats, cheeses and fresh vegetables.

Every residential street has sidewalks for daylight strolls with your family or your spouse. Bicycles work on side streets because homes have driveways for cars to park. Main north-south thoroughfares such as Zelda, Vaughn and Perry Hill are not wide enough to accommodate cyclists. No dedicated biking lanes exist in or near Hillwood.

On the east side of Hillwood, take Perry Hill Road north to reach I-85 easily. Zelda Road, on the west side, runs into Ann Street for another access point to I-85. Lancaster Lane and Silver Lane represent east-west routes in the neighborhood. If your car breaks down, call one of several taxis that serve the state capital. Uber rides are also an option throughout the Montgomery region.

Buses from Montgomery Transit route 5 stop at Zelda Road and Carter Hill Road. Catch the bus starting at 6:10 a.m. until 8:55 p.m. on weekdays.

A huge playground welcomes kids at Vaughn Road Park in the southeast part of Hillwood. Walk along the half-mile paved trail or hit some volleys on the tennis court for some exercise. A wide-open field lets you kick a soccer ball or toss a flying disc around. Bring your leashed pooch for some outdoor puppy play time.

Blount Cultural Park has plenty to do, including the renowned Alabama Shakespeare Festival. During the first Saturday in May, enjoy the Flimp Festival with arts, live music and children's activities.

Living in Hillwood costs the same as it does in downtown Montgomery. A one-bedroom apartment goes for approximately $639 per month.

A pint of beer is $3 at a local pub. Gas prices typically run eight percent lower than the national average. A one-way ride to downtown Montgomery costs $2 on transit buses, and a one-week unlimited pass goes for $18.

Most of the retail shopping occurs on Zelda Road on the west side of the neighborhood. A few high-value stores offer low-cost goods to local residents. Most high-end shopping occurs at Eastdale Mall to the northeast.

Publix supermarket, on the west side, contains your basic grocery needs. The Fresh Market just east of Hillwood carries fresh and organic groceries. Capitol Farmers Market sits 3 miles south of the neighborhood.

Chantilly Boutique features women's fashion for any occasion and formal dresses. Find bright, spring shawls to match lightweight blouses for outdoor walks. Pick out a purse or handbag for everyday use that looks great. Whether you need an Aidan Mattox party dress or formal wear from Karishma Creations, Chantilly can help you pick out the perfect piece for a special occasion.

Born Children's Boutique has designer shoes for toddlers, regular fashion shows that display the newest threads and decor for nurseries and kid's rooms. Clothing sizes start at newborn and go up to size 14 for girls and size 8 for boys. Each season sees new and fresh designs found nowhere else in the capital city.