MacDonald Ranch - Henderson, NV

As one of the neighborhoods of Henderson, MacDonald Ranch was part of the local housing boom of the 1990s, prompted when a rocket-fuel factory in the formerly industrial area exploded in 1988, causing damage miles away. As Henderson expanded, many affluent subdivisions were developed in the city's southern hills, including MacDonald Ranch.

Although MacDonald Ranch doesn't house any museums, the Lion Habitat Ranch sits just to the west of the neighborhood. Home to almost 50 lions, mostly retired from the former MGM Grand Lion Habitat, this attraction lets you get up close and personal with the king of beasts.

For arts and entertainment, locals head north to Vegas, but they stay in town for recreation, including the Las Vegas Super Spartan Race, which covers about 10 miles over dirt trails with pre-set obstacles.

A wide variety of restaurants serve the residents of MacDonald Ranch, mostly clustered along Horizon Ridge Parkway or Eastern Avenue.

Rice bowls, lamb gyros, and chicken and filet mignon kabobs make customers very happy at Stephano's Greek & Mediterranean Grill on Eastern Avenue. This quick-serve restaurant serves wheat pita that some guests love to eat on its own, dipping it in the creamy tzatziki sauce. Don't forget to check in online to pick up some free baklava.

When you need a quick lunch or want to pick up dinner to save yourself the hassle of cooking, stop by the Great Harvest Bread Co. to grab a chicken berry pecan sandwich, a bowl of sausage soup, or a classic grilled cheese. Don't be surprised when you're given a free sample of amazing bread. Pick up a loaf of cinnamon raisin, challah, or pumpkin chocolate chip for breakfast the next morning.

For another quick stop, swing by Pho MaiLan for a perfect banh mi sandwich and a bowl of flavorful pho.

Buon Gusto Ristorante feels like a classic restaurant from New York's Little Italy has been transplanted in the desert. This family owned place specializes in sausage and mushroom rigatoni, chicken Francese and penne alla vodka. Before your meal even starts, enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth bread.

With the amazing nightlife of Vegas just up the road, MacDonald Ranch can focus on intimate bars and pubs that give the community casual places to hang out and enjoy life. Just to the west of the neighborhood, you'll find Shakespeare's Grille and Pub, an old-school British pub that has something fun going on every night of the week. Come show of your trivia expertise, grab a mic for karaoke, or just sit back on weekends to enjoy live music and the more than 120 beers available.

You'll want a car if you live in MacDonald Ranch, since public transportation options are somewhat limited, and the vast distances of the desert tend to be difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to cope with in the summer heat. You'll find free public and residential parking readily available through all of Henderson, and proximity to Interstates 15 and 215 make it easy to get out of town or jaunt up to Vegas.

Public transportation is limited to RTC Transit bus lines, which connect Henderson to Las Vegas and other points in the Las Vegas Valley. Although cabs don't roam the streets of Henderson as they do the Las Vegas Strip, you can always call a taxi or boot up your phone's Uber app when you want door-to-door transportation.

MacDonald Ranch encompasses and backs up to many parks and recreational areas, making this neighborhood a haven for nature lovers.

Head to Anthem Ranch Park for some roller hockey, basketball, soccer, football, baseball or volleyball. The park turns on its lights at night to allow teams to practice and play in the cool of the evening. Get a great workout climbing the hill, bring your dog for a walk, or drop off your teenager and his skateboard to practice in the skate park.

Sunridge Park features a shade-covered kids' playground carpeted with Astroturf so it's always green and soft. Horizon Crest Park includes three separate dog parks, as well as tube slides and swings for the kids.

Henderson's impressive parks system sponsors a wide range of free, family-friendly events throughout the year. Enjoy the fireworks on the Fourth of July, team up with other moms at the yearly Stroll 'n' Roll, and turn out with the whole family to participate in WinterFest.

Life in the affluent suburb of MacDonald Ranch runs about 9 percent higher than the cost of living in Henderson overall. When you gas up your car, expect to pay 11 percent more than the national average. However, if you choose to use public transportation, the trip in to the Las Vegas Strip runs you only $2.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in MacDonald Ranch is $937. When you stop for a pint of beer with neighbors at a local pub, expect to pay about $6.

World-class shopping, including shops by some of the top designers in the world, awaits MacDonald Ranch residents just up the road on the Las Vegas Strip. In addition, convenient big-box stores like Target, Marshalls, and HomeGoods lies right in the neighborhood, as do many smaller specialty shops and boutiques.

In the absence of an Ikea store, ModernLV provides those wanting to inexpensively set up their new homes with a great service. Just order what you want from the online Ikea catalog, and Modern LV not only delivers your purchases, they also assemble them.

MacDonald Ranch residents typically head to Smith's, Trader Joe's or Sprouts Farmers Market for their basic grocery shopping. Branded Meats, just to the east of the neighborhood, gives you the convenience and luxury of an old-fashioned butcher shop that cuts your high-quality meats to order. The Country Fresh Farmers Market on Green Valley Parkway sells farm-fresh produce, kettle corn, fresh-baked bread and loose-leaf tea every Friday afternoon.