Bowie - Lubbock, TX

The area now known as Lubbock was originally inhabited by the Kiowa, Cheyenne and Comanche peoples. Though Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the Spanish explorer, crossed through the area in 1540 as he explored the Southwest, the region was not permanently settled by Europeans until the late 1800s when General MacKenzie arrived to execute a plan of ridding the plains of the buffalo that sustained the native population.

In 1909, the Santa Fe railroad came to Lubbock, providing a sustained developmental boom that carried the city to 1922 when Texas Technological College, now known as Texas Tech, was founded.

The Museum of Texas Tech University serves the area with information and exhibits that cover local, Texas and world history, science, biology and astronomy. The National Ranching Heritage Center hosts the annual Candlelight at the Ranch event, where visitors get a taste of a pioneer Christmas each December.

For a bite to eat, locals head to the many restaurants, pubs and diners that line Interstate 62 and 50th Street just to the south.

The 50th Street Caboose, on 50th Street, provides food and fun for the whole family, including kids and the young at heart. Combining Mexican and American food favorites with state-of-the-art video games and midway-style games in the game room, a visit to the Caboose is a full evening all on its own. The Mexican Flag, one of the signature dishes, features a sour cream enchilada with chicken, beef ranchero enchilada and green cheese enchilada on one plate. The pecan cobbler, a Texas favorite, comes with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

Tokyo Seafood and Steakhouse, three miles southwest of Bowie, serves traditional hibachi along with tempura seafood, steaks and veggie dishes. The Imperial Special, a sample platter that comes with scallops, shrimp, lobster and a variety of vegetable tempura, is excellent for diners who just can't make up their mind.

For a late night snack, cold beer or handmade cocktail, the Lantern Tavern sits just across Interstate 62. Open late all week, The Lantern serves drinks and food such as black bean dip, pizza rolls and chicken and waffles in a casual pub setting.

Citibus, the local public transportation provider, has fixed-line bus routes that cover many major portions of the town, including the Texas Tech University area. While coverage is fairly comprehensive, traveling long distances within this large town can take quite some time. A trip of only about 5 miles from Bowie to a local grocery store, for example, can take over an hour.

Due to the sprawling size of Lubbock and the amount of time it can take to travel the city by bus, 82 percent of Bowie residents use their personal vehicles to get to work. Around 10 percent carpool, while a combined 4 percent walk or use Citibus.

Bowie residents find it easy to travel around within Lubbock by accessing Loop 289 just east. Highway 82 provides a direct route to Texas Tech University and Interstate 27, which runs north and south.

Cyclists will find a fairly extensive system of bike lanes throughout Lubbock, though bike lanes do not exist in Bowie. Most neighborhoods in the city, including Bowie, feature sidewalks for safe pedestrian travel.

Uber provides good coverage of Lubbock and Bowie residents can expect a driver to arrive in just a few minutes. Cab services also operate in the city, but hailing one from the street can be difficult and it's best to call ahead when you need a ride.

Most residents park in private lots while at home, and businesses typically have their own lots for customers and guests. Pay garages and meters provide parking spots downtown.

Several area parks serve Bowie residents with outdoor attractions, playgrounds, opportunities for exercise and sports facilities.

Legacy Play Village, four miles from Bowie, features an extensive wooden playground. Admission is provided free by the people of Lubbock as a gift to the children of the town. While parents watch from nearby picnic tables, kids can explore the numerous playhouses, terraces and slides of the village including the signature attraction, a three-story wooden castle.

McKenzie Park, just off of 4th Street, houses Lubbock's unique Prairie Dog Town. Filled with dozens of prairie dogs and burrowing owls, Prairie Dog Town delights visitors of all ages as they view adorable prairie dogs in their native habitat. There's no cost to attend McKenzie Park and Prairie Dog Town.

While many Lubbock residents would love to have a dog park where they could let their pooches run wild and free, and a local grassroots effort has even sprung up to help make this happen, Lubbock currently does not have any parks that allow off-leash dogs. Nevertheless, most city parks welcome leashed pets.

Lubbock residents enjoy a cost of living that sits at around nine percent lower when compared to the rest of Texas and about 16 percent lower when compared to the rest of the country. You can expect to pay about 12 percent less than the national average for gas.

At Cujo's Sports Bar, you can get a domestic beer for about $2. Nearby CapRock Café has imported beers for $4. Taking a Citibus costs $1.75 while rent for a one-bedroom apartment sits at around $595 per month.

Lowe's Marketplace, about two miles from Bowie, serves the area with grocery and household staple items. Membership wholesale store Costco on 37th Street sits only about a mile away.

South Plains Mall, three miles away, hosts dozens of stores under one roof. Shoppers can explore large department stores including JC Penney and Dillards as well as footwear stores such as Footlocker and Foot Action and specialty retailers such as GNC, Gordon's Jewelers, and Party City.

For men's, women's and children's fashion with a Texas flair, head to the Swanky Nomad Boutique. This locally-owned shop features Southwest inspired jewelry, colorful, custom-made boots, designer denim, handbags, and cozy wraps.

Culture Clothing, a locally owned and operated boutique on Broadway, has the trendiest clothes from today and yesterday. Run by a husband-and-wife team, this quirky shop features currently trending name-brand dresses and handbags, funky vintage boots, costume jewelry from several different decades and other hand-picked vintage finds.