Cedar Hills Estates - Jacksonville, FL

A part of the west side section of Jacksonville, Florida, development in Cedar Hills Estates took off with the construction of State Road 21. Settled in large part by returning servicemen following World War II, the Cedar Hills Estates neighborhood made the perfect place for workers to settle in, as it was an easy commute from there to nearby central Jacksonville. Built primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, the area is a unique mix of urban and suburban development.

If you want more information on the southern heritage of the area, make sure to visit the Museum of Southern History in Avondale. This independent organization keeps an accurate historical record of the Old South.

Visit the Riverside Arts Market every Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge. The market has free entertainment, art on display and fresh produce from area farmers.

You can find a large selection of Cedar Hills Estates area restaurants along San Juan Avenue and Blanding Boulevard at the Cedar Hills Shopping Center. Food options include seafood, barbecue, Asian and other cuisine types.

Enjoy succulent Cuban food at El Mofongo. Some of the meals available include roasted pork, served with black beans, empanadas and yellow rice. You can also order the chicken mofongo served on a bed of lettuce.

Travel outside of the area and across the river into Lakeshore for even more restaurant choices. Once there, stop off at the Country Cabin Restaurant and try out the biscuits and gravy in addition to its other country specials. The restaurant also features daily specials, such as the chicken and dumplings on Fridays.

Puerto Plata Restaurant, another eatery in Lakeshore, has a wide menu selection of Dominican dishes. Try out the chicharrones de pollo, a Dominican-style fried chicken covered with white rice. You should also consider the flan de queso, more commonly known as cheese custard, for dessert.

Often a central launching point from which to bar hop, The Garage is where locals go to enjoy cold beer on tap and play ring toss or a life-size game of Jenga. Two bars and spacious outdoor seating provide plenty of cocktails and comfort to get an evening started.

To find musical entertainment, head into downtown Jacksonville and to Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena to take in a concert or another event. Whether you prefer musicals, sports or other entertainment types, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena has a wide variety of shows lined up.

While the Cedar Hills Estates neighborhood does have sidewalks for walking and biking, most errands outside the boundaries of the area do require the use of a car or other conveyance. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority runs various bus routes through the area, giving residents easy access to other parts of the city.

If you prefer a taxi, then call up one of the local taxi companies. This does not include Uber, as the company does not operate in the Jacksonville area.

There are no public parking lots in the Cedar Hills Estates neighborhood, though you can park your vehicle on the street. Access to area highways and expressways is convenient, with Interstate 295 to the west and Roosevelt Boulevard to the east giving easy access to Interstates 10 and 95, both which lie further to the north.

The Cedar Hills Estates neighborhood has no public parks within its boundaries, but you can take a trip to nearby area parks in the Lakeshore and Hyde Park neighborhoods. You can also take your pets to Jacksonville area parks as long as they remain on a leash.

Cardinal Park, in Lakeshore, has a playground for the kids and picnic tables to enjoy a meal at the park. The Sweetwater Playground in adjacent Hyde Park provides a few amenities for use by park visitors, including a basketball court, a playground and picnic tables with a shelter to protect you from the elements.

Another Lakeshore area park, Criswell Park, provides 11 acres of green space for the use of area residents. At this park you can find baseball fields, picnic tables and basketball courts.

If you are looking for an annual festival to attend, check out the World of Nations Celebration held in Metropolitan Park located in downtown Jacksonville. This celebration of world culture lets you try out and enjoy the different cuisines, music and traditions from around the globe.

The cost of living in Cedar Hills Estates sits below the average for the rest of Jacksonville. A one-bedroom rental should cost around $517 each month, while a bus ride to downtown Jacksonville costs about $1.50. A beer averages around $5 at area bars, and a gallon of gas sits at around one percent below the national average.

When looking for a place to shop in the Cedar Hills Estates neighborhood, you can choose from many retailers, especially in the Cedar Hills Estates area at the Cedar Hills Shopping Center. To find a popular area boutique, travel to the other side of Hyde Park northwest of the Cedar Hills Estates area where you will find Fran's Boutique & Salon. The shop features a large inventory of women's tops, bottoms and accessories. You can also check out its selection of children's clothing.

Additionally, travel to the Avondale neighborhood to the northeast of Cedar Hills Estates and visit J Ashley Boutique. Selling hip, upscale fashions for the casual business woman, this high-end boutique brings clothing to the Jacksonville area from all over the fashion world.

Shop for the groceries you need at the local Winn-Dixie in Cedar Hills Estates. Here you can find food items such as produce, meat and baked goods. If you seek locally grown fresh produce and other items, visit the Riverside Arts Market beneath the Fuller Warren Bridge each Saturday.