Buena Vista-UTEP El Paso, TX

Buena Vista-UTEP sits in the westside area of El Paso, a city on the U.S. border with Mexico. Founded by Spanish explorers, the city saw an increase in American settlers after the Mexican-American War. Mexican refugees followed around the time of the Mexican Revolution, and El Paso now features a blend of America and Mexico, both in population and culture. The area around the University of Texas at El Paso holds several museums, including the Centennial Museum and Gardens and the El Paso Museum of History. Annual events around the university include the Sun Bowl at the end of each year.

Dining options around the Buena Vista neighborhood range from moderately-priced to upscale restaurants along Mesa Street, with a focus on American cuisine. For an intimate, classy atmosphere ideal for a romantic evening, visit Mesa Street Grill. This family-owned restaurant prepares dishes with only the freshest ingredients, even flying in fresh seafood daily. Menu highlights include the Delmonico ribeye and Mandy's salmon. Save room for a fresh pastry for dessert, and come by on weekends for live jazz music that adds to the ambiance. Pizza lovers should stop by Tosca Stone Oven Pizzeria. A casual, friendly vibe makes you feel welcome the moment you walk in the door. With subtle, understated decor, Tosca keeps the focus on the food, which comes from only high quality ingredients. This restaurant pays special attention to the crust, so expect excellent flavor with every bite. Which pizza to choose varies based on your tastes, but the border BBQ chicken pizza perfectly captures the flavor of the area. Sabertooth Food Co. may sound caveman-esque, but this restaurant lets you watch the meticulous preparation that goes into each meal. The modern American dishes here all have their own special twists to make them unique and keep you coming back to try more menu options. Save room for dessert, in particular the Sabertooth Elvis. Based on a recipe Elvis himself enjoyed, this flavor-packed peanut butter and jelly sandwich adds bacon, a fruit sauce, and ice cream. The area includes plenty of bar and night club options, so your nightlife can be as relaxed or as wild as you want it. Come to Hope and Anchor for inexpensive drinks, an outdoor patio and enough music to add to the experience without overpowering it. The bar keeps it interesting with different drink specials and games every day, and you can even bring your dog.

A car tends to be the most convenient travel option around the Buena Vista-UTEP neighborhood, but the area also has access to several bus routes. Interstate 10 cuts through the neighborhood, giving residents quick highway access. Take that highway east for commutes to downtown or for trips through El Paso. I-10 also connects with several other highways along the way. Some streets around the neighborhood allow street parking; just check the signs first. The University of Texas at El Paso has parking garages and metered parking available for students and visitors. Sun Metro buses service El Paso, with routes 10, 11, 14, 15 and 18 among those that travel around the area. Taxis and ride-share companies such as Uber also service the neighborhood. Pickup times after summoning a car vary. Residents enjoy recreational walks around the neighborhood, but most commutes and errands require another form of transportation. Hilly terrain and a lack of bike lanes make the area difficult to travel by bike.

Residents who like to get outdoors have a couple of free park options conveniently located around the neighborhood. For spectacular views day and night, head over to Tom Lea Park. The lower level has places for the kids to play and the adults to have a picnic. When you want to have a tough run or you just want to check out El Paso, go to the upper level. At the high point, you can see for miles and even spot some of Mexico across the border. Bring your dog, too, as long as you keep him on a leash. Madeline Park gives residents a quiet park to come relax and get away from it all. Well-maintained grass and beautiful trees create a peaceful setting, perfect for a jog around the paved path or a couple hours of reading. The park also has playgrounds for the kids to enjoy, and it welcomes on-leash dogs. It also holds annual picnics to bring the community together.

The neighborhood carries a higher cost of living than the city average, with housing costs in particular much higher than the El Paso average. A one-bedroom apartment typically rents for about $950, although you may find cheaper arrangements. A Metro ride to the city center costs $1.50 for a one-way ticket, and gas prices come in around 14 percent lower than the national average. A pint of beer at the local pub usually costs about $3.

The shopping scene in the El Paso-UTEP neighborhood mixes trusted national retailers with one-of-a-kind, independent boutiques. Men and women who enjoy reasonably-priced boutique shopping should check out V&X Boutique. The store features an extensive, well-organized collection of men's and women's clothing. Despite all the merchandise, V&X has a layout that presents plenty of space for shoppers to browse and not feel bunched together. Check the accessory chairs in the middle of the store to find the finishing touch for an outfit. For an upscale boutique with a Los Angeles vibe, check out J. Luxe Boutique. The store brings in merchandise made by up-and-coming designers, so pieces have a unique, stylish flair. To speed up the process, order online and pick your item up in the store. J. Luxe keeps your convenience in mind at all times, and the helpful staff can even gift wrap your item free of charge. For grocery shopping, residents head to Albertsons located on Mesa Street. The surrounding areas have two organic food options, depending on which side of town you call home. North of the neighborhood, Sprouts Farmers Market can be found on Sunland Park Drive. Just south of Interstate 10, the Downtown Arts & Farmers Market takes place Saturday mornings.