Bay Colony - Dickinson, TX

In 1824, John Dickinson received a land grant from the Mexican government, and around 1850, a settlement was established along the shores of Dickinson Bayou. During the late 1800 to early 1900s, the Dickinson's Picnic Grounds, Oleander Country Club, gambling and railways brought in several, prominent Galvestonians to holiday and settle in the area. Eventually, the industrialization of oil and the establishment of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center just north of Dickinson by NASA in 1962 lead to further growth of the area.

The art in this area cannot be found in a gallery but in the historic architecture found on the streets. Open from Monday through Saturday, the Dickinson Railroad Museum acts as a landmark to commemorate the rich history of this area and demonstrate how fundamental the Dickenson Depot was to its flourishing development.

Bay Colony has only two major areas that act as central restaurant locations. The first, FM 519 cuts through Dickinson, and you can find all kinds of restaurants here, from Dickinson's Seafood Restaurant to the Sesame House Chinese and Vietnamese Restaurant. Go for a slice at Gio's Flying Pizza and Pasta. This casual, open-style kitchen lets you watch the pizzas fly through the air as the cooks prepare the special Kitchen Sink Pizza, topped with pepperoni, bacon, hamburger, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and black olives. Just don't forget to save room for some decadent, tiramisu.

The second main location for dining options is at the intersection of FM 646 and I-45. Here you find great options such as Jimmy Changas TexMex and Spring Creek Barbeque. At Little Daddy's Gumbo Bar, sip on a nice cold beer as you chow down on some Mumbo Gumbo, a dish filled with classic Cajun spices along with shrimp, crab, oyster, chicken, sausage and prime rib. Be sure to taste the homemade sweet bread pudding.

In small-town areas such as Bay Colony, public transportation can be harder to come by compared to the big city of Houston. The Bay Area Park and Ride above League City is the closest metro station available, so most residents depend on their own vehicles to get around town or make the 30-mile commute to the city. Commuters have easy access to I-45 and Highway, as they run right through Dickinson. The closest cab service, the Polarbear Taxi resides in League City, so you might have better luck using the available online service Uber. Many locals take advantage of the area's small-town charm by parking their cars, no fee required, and walking or biking around the neighborhood. The area does not have bike lanes, so caution must be exercised.

Dickinson Bayou, which flows through the city of Dickinson, acts as a huge recreational draw to locals and visitors for all that it offers in the way of fishing, swimming and boating activities. There also exist numerous parks around the city which can be enjoyed, and many also host annual community events, such as the Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park, the host of the city's youth baseball leagues.

You can enjoy the Festival of Lights, open nightly throughout December at Paul Hopkins Park. Organized by a non-profit organization, it remains free to enter and enjoy the lights. Only small fees exist to participate in activities, such as decorating a cookie hut or having a professional picture taken with Santa. The Nassau Bay Dog Park actsacts as the closest actual dog park, however, the parks within the community prove pet-friendly as long as dogs are leashed.

Cost of living with the Bay Colony area is over 11 percent less than the national average. Renting a one-bedroom apartment costs you less than $700, amazing considering that in Houston you could pay well over a $1,000. Gas in this area rates more than 5 percent lower than the national average. With all those savings, you might not even mind picking up the tab at the bar, even though a fresh, draft beer can run a little steep at just under $9.

Dickinson Plaza, at the intersection of FM 517 and I-45, is the closest shopping center to Bay Colony. However, the Mainland shopping center is only a short drive further on I-45. A little further still, the Gulfway Plaza is an extensive outdoor mall, sitting near a strip mall, Tradewinds Shopping Center. Ella Zane Chic-Unique Boutique is a great little store in the area that specialize in eclectic, fun and sassy women's fashion wear as well as some cute choices for the young ones.

The big brand grocers remain conveniently available throughout the area to supply your dietary staples. There exist, however, a few local treasures that have earned the locals' loyal and repeat business. The local favorite, AJ's Meat Market and Smokehouse, is an old-school meat market that not only offers great-priced, quality meats, but the staff cooks it for you too. Locals rave that whether you get the steak, burger or fall-off-the-bone ribs, it proves to be the best you have ever had. Also, it makes a great place for hunters to get meat cleaned and processed.

If you enjoy Saturday farmers markets, take a short drive north to either Nassau Farmers Market or Clear Lake Shores Farmers Market.