Brookside - Stockton, CA

The city of Stockton began as settlers from the east came to the Sierra foothills to mine for gold. Once the area began settlement, the San Joaquin River and other major bodies of water became central to its economic growth. As more residents came to the area, they built farms and vineyards. Brookside was formed after residents moved close to the San Joaquin River in the 1900s to take advantage of new jobs in the area. Much of Stockton's recent growth has been driven by tech workers from the Bay Area looking for affordable housing within driving range of Silicon Valley.

You don't find any museums in Brookside, since the area remains filled with suburban homes and natural bodies of water. The arts scene thrives along its eastern border, with the Artist's Co-Op showcasing work from dozens of local artists.

Annual festivals stick to downtown Stockton, but residents travel to see the Bob McMillen Memorial Fishing Tournament every year.

You don't find a nightlife to speak of on the west end of Brookside, but as you travel east, you come across some of the finest restaurants and clubs in town. Although the neighborhood does not have a designated central restaurant location, many restaurants gather around the West Side Freeway,

For Caribbean cuisine that will make you feel as though you embarked on a cruise, visit Breadfruit Tree Restaurant on Rio Blanco Road. Order the Jamaican-style curry goat featuring fresh goat meat smothered in Blue Mountain curry sauce and served over rice. Finish your dinner off with a slice of rum cake, a pound cake drenched in cooked rum and sugar, served with ice cream and caramel sauce on top.

Tandoori Nites has some of the finest Indian cuisine in the region with a speciality chicken tikka masala loyal customers travel miles to eat. The restaurant's lunch buffet features Indian staples such as three types of curry, chutney, naan bread and vegetable pakora. Ask the chef about creating a vegan or vegetarian version of any dish, as the cooks take pride in their ability to accommodate every dietary need.

No trip to the Stockton area would be complete without visiting a traditional Mexican restaurant. Find the Tacos Guadalajara food truck for quality food to-go. Grab a few al pastor tacos for a taste of classic Mexican street food, or dig in to one of their enormous supreme burritos with chicken and rice. Don't let the casual appearance of this food truck fool you; it serves some of the best Mexican food in the city.

Choose from a wide selection of wine at Mezzo on Brookside Road. Enjoy a glass of the latest fine wine at this restaurant's famous wine bar. For entertainment and cocktails, visit Masa Contemporary Japanese Lounge, with unlimited house sake during their happy hour special.

While you don't find any bars or music venues in the neighborhood itself, musicians showcase their work at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music just outside of Brookside.

Most people get around in Brookside by car, since the neighborhood's houses sprawl across the area and can be quite far apart. When you take your car, you have access to Interstate 5 going south on the east side of the neighborhood, though traffic can be thick during rush hour. Freeway onramps can be hard to locate in the less densely populated parts of Stockton, so study a map before hitting the road. This expressway connects to Highway 4, which gets drivers into downtown Stockton and gives them a shortcut into Contra Costa County to the north. Park anywhere in the neighborhood for free on residential streets.

Hail a cab for a personal ride in to the city, or request a ride from Uber to take you anywhere in Stockton or Modesto.

When you walk, you take in the scenery of the neighborhood along its safe sidewalks. Ash and poplar trees were planted along these byways decades ago. Today, they've grown to full maturity, which makes for pleasant, shady lanes. Bikers use the biking lanes to travel along the bodies of water in Brookside, and to get safely to stores on the east side.

Parks are Brookside's crowning jewels. Buckley Cove Park holds the title of Brookside's most scenic park, and it's easy to see why. Nestled beside the San Joaquin River, this park has a boat dock, trails for hikers and areas for camping. Take your children on a picnic at one of the park's covered areas, or take them kayaking along the river.

For a more typical park experience, head over to Nelson Community Park. This enormous free neighborhood park has tennis courts, paved trails for joggers and people walking pets on leashes and playground equipment for children. Local schools often use the park for choir practice, and during the school year visitors can enjoy a song or two that get pretty close to being on-key.

Become a member at Brookside Golf and Country Club for a fee, and get access to this club's 260-acre golf course, with an indoor athletic center for members.

Major festivals in Stockton are held at the city center, but you find plenty of community activities when you visit Brookside's parks.

The cost of living in Brookside sits at about 1 percent less than the equivalent costs in Modesto. Residents pay slightly more to live in this sought-after neighborhood than other neighborhoods in Stockto. A one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $958 a month.

Getting around in this neighborhood by bus costs you about $1.50 for a single trip, but riders get a free transfer with every far. Drivers can expect to pay about 14 percent more for gas than the national average.

Pay about $4 for a bottle of beer at local restaurants, since the neighborhood doesn't house a huge bar scene.

Shopping in Brookside centers around the small gallerias near the east end of the neighborhood, especially near Interstate 5. While you don't find any major centers of commerce or high-end shops there, you find local shops that cater to every resident's needs.

When you have a party to throw, but no table centerpiece to wow your guests, visit Anneliesa's Table. This specialty shop has vintage china, silver and crystal glassware designed to make any event stand out. What makes this shop popular is its focus on rentals. You don't have to invest in a set of expensive dishware that winds up getting broken. Instead, rent from this shop to enjoy fine pieces without the risk.

Boutique shoppers looking for a taste of India visit Rani Sahiba Indian Boutique on Harding Way. This little shop has an excellent selection of clothing and jewelry, from bangles and earrings to neck candy and more. Expect to be greeted by a warm and helpful staff and to be pleasantly surprised by Rani's prices, which are more than reasonable for the exceptional beauty and quality found here.

When you shop for food in Brookside, you have a variety of choices, including S-Mart Foods, Safeway, Lakeside Market and Country Club Market to the east. When you want fresh produce from local farmers, visit the Stockton Certified Farmers' Market every harvest season, or just pull over near any of the dozens of unlicensed street vendors who are mostly farm workers selling their employers' surplus at steep discounts.