Wheelock And Monterey - Lubbock, TX

The founder of this neighborhood was Frank Emerson Wheelock, one of the most influential early citizens of the South Plains of Texas whose family came to America during the Great Migration of the 17th century. He moved to Texas at the age of 24 and began to play a role in the development of the region, founding the city and becoming its first mayor, then introducing the first cotton gin in Lubbock County and the first self-binding harvest machine.

Texas Tech features several great locations, including the Museum of Texas Tech University and the National Ranching Heritage Center. You can also visit the Buddy Holly Center and the Science Spectrum Omni-Theater, both a few minutes south of the neighborhood. Also, be sure to attend the annual Lubbock Lions Club pancake festival. The Lubbock Lions Club is the largest Lions Club in the country. The pancake festival is held at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center on Mac Davis Lane.

Lubbock is filled with restaurants and nightclubs, many with the distinctive Western flair so common in West Texas.

Enjoy live music at the Caprock Cafe while you wait for your meal, with an ice cold beer served in a frosty schooner. Start your experience with double-cheese nachos or a combination platter of mozzarella sticks, Texas toothpicks, hot wings, and tortilla chips, then try a "Down & Dirty" fried chicken sandwich, a tortilla wrap with twisted taters, or a flat iron or chicken-fried steak. This establishment also serves buffalo burgers, lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, with toppings such as bacon and cheese or queso.

At the Crafthouse Gastropub, you can visit on certain dates to partake of a chef's tasting dinner, with a pre-arranged menu selected by the chef. Pop in at brunch to enjoy a donut stack, deep dish quiche, or a harvest oatmeal plate, or visit during lunch or dinner to enjoy a wide range of dishes such as calzones, meatloaf sausage dogs, Texas burgers, and steak fries. Locals recommend the pot au feu, meatballs served with short ribs, brisket, fingerling potatoes, and vegetables.

As evening falls, catch a live performance at the Lubbock Community Theatre. A little to the north, you can also find live music and entertainment as well as a late night dance floor at Lubbock Night Out.

The Lubbock Citibus operates several bus routes through Wheelock and Monterey, including the 34 from Downtown Transfer Plaza to South Plains Mall, the 5 from Downtown Transfer Plaza along Broadway to the same destination, and the 19 from Wayland Plaza, crossing to the north of the neighborhood. If you prefer to use your own two feet, it won't take too long to cross this small part of the city.

Most locals rely on their cars to get around, taking advantage of the plentiful public parking and easy access to a number of major highways, such as Interstate 27, linking to Amarillo and the transcontinental Interstate 40, I-27, and U.S. routes 62 and 82.

On the eastern border of Wheelock and Monterey, you'll find the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum within Clapp Park, one of many parks within Lubbock that hosts regular events. The park contains an interpretive center and offers guided tours of the 93-acre arboretum.

To the south, visit Leftwich Park to find the Burgess Rushing Tennis Center and family-friendly amenities such as a picnic area, playground, and fishing. Exercise enthusiasts take advantage of the walking track at Tech Terrace Park to the north, while Davis Park to the west features basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts as well as a multi-use court, picnic area, and playground.

While Lubbock's cost of living comes in over six percent below the rest of the state and 16 percent below the national average, Wheelock and Monterey offers an even less expensive place to live. The median rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Wheelock and Monterey sits at around $770 per month. Travel to the city center costs a couple of dollars on the Citibus. You can expect to pay more than $8.50 for a glass of beer, while the price of gasoline hovers around 10 percent below the national average.

The major thoroughfares bordering this neighborhood provide plenty of opportunities to snag a bargain, ranging from national brands such as AutoZone, Walgreens, and Office Depot to smaller, family-owned boutiques and specialty stores. Visit Lubbock Computers to fix or upgrade your laptop or desktop computer, or Sleep Shop to try out a new mattress. Barb's Leather & Gifts sells handmade crafts and gifts. Purchase a stringed instrument at McLuthier's Guitar or formal wear for a special event at First Class Tuxedos.

For groceries, you'll find United Supermarkets, Market Street, and the small country grocer by the name of Stripes in the southwest corner, as well as the Far East Supermarket. The Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market operates from June to October, selling locally grown produce as well as meats, cheeses, yarn, and herbs.