Cheyenne Hills - Colorado Springs, CO

In 1871, with the beauty of Pikes Peak and purported healing powers of the Manitou Springs, the area now known as Colorado Springs became the Victorian resort and spa town of Palmer. The discovery of gold at Pikes Peak in the 1890s resulted in an almost overnight growth of the area from a cattle pasture to a town of more than 50,000. As the area boomed, the Cheyenne Hills neighborhood grew up south of Colorado Springs throughout the 1900s.

For more history of the area, head downtown to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. If art interests you, view a variety of media at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, also located downtown. A large number of annual events occur throughout the area, including the Carolina Balloon Classic, a hot-air balloon festival, held in August.

For a night out in Cheyenne Hills, locals head over to the neighborhood Bristol Brewing Company, which brews over 20 beers using only natural ingredients. The brewery serves a full menu and hosts regular events such as brewery dinners and dock sales, selling cases of its beer at reduced prices. Housed in a 1916 elementary school, locals gravitate to this taproom for the simple pleasure of drinking a beer at school.

For an evening of entertainment, locals can make their way to the Broadmoor World Arena to catch a concert or hockey game. To enjoy a play or improv theater, residents only need to make the short drive into Colorado Springs to the Millibo Theater.

A number of chain restaurants scatter throughout the neighborhood, while a few local establishments cluster adjacent to Highway 115 on the north side. Locals say the standouts among them include the German restaurant Edelweiss, the American eatery the Blue Star, and the Sushi Ring. For creamy, rich comfort food, head straight to Edelweiss, where the rahmschnitzel gets rave reviews. The dish consists of a breaded boneless pork cutlet sauteed and served with a mushroom cream sauce, house spatzle and fresh vegetables. A 1901 schoolhouse houses the restaurant and treats patrons to beautiful stone and wood features.

For something more American, head over to the Blue Star, where locals suggest the lamb - shank or burger - you choose. Tenderly cooked, the Colorado lamb shank comes with acorn squash polenta, roasted green chilies, carrots, spinach, butternut relish and green harissa - a North African hot chili paste. For lamb at half the price, try the Colorado lamb burger, served on OSB ciabatta topped with feta, pickled red onion, cucumber ranch and harissa aioli alongside tasty sumac fries.

If you're in the mood for sushi instead, just around the corner, you can find Sushi Ring, where, oddly enough, locals say you must try a fried dish, the calamari. Served simply and as an appetizer, Sushi Ring's secret lies in less batter and more squid, resulting in a much bolder calamari taste.

Locals take to their cars when heading out and appreciate the free parking lots at local retailers. Parking downtown remains convenient, with over 2,400 street parking-meter spots, many where you can use your credit card.

Pedestrians enjoy walking neighborhood streets or the trail at local Quail Lake Park. For cyclists, a few bike lanes exist, including one on East Cheyenne Mountain Boulevard that takes you into the trails at Quail Lake.

Uber and Yellow Cab serve the area, and you need to call ahead to arrange a pickup. The City of Colorado Springs operates Mountain Metro, the public bus system throughout the city, and the World Arena route serves the Cheyenne Hills area. A one-way fare stands at only $1.75. For interstate travel, locals can be on Interstate 25, located less than a mile away, in under three minutes.

Locals gravitate to nature in Cheyenne Hills because it is so accessible. The 113-acre neighborhood park, Quail Lake, features nonmotorized boating, fishing, picnic areas, a playground, basketball court, two volleyball courts, sledding areas and a fitness trail for hiking and biking. Operated by the city, the park remains free of charge and open year round.

The park does not host any events, but less than 10 minutes to the north, Memorial Park hosts a July Fourth celebration, with fireworks, and performances by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra. You can bring the dog to the parks, but be sure to grab the leash to comply with the city’s leash law.

The cost of living in the neighborhood runs about 8 percent less than it does in the City of Colorado Springs, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging $767 a month. Getting around town remains affordable, with gas prices running 20 percent lower than the national average and a one-way bus ticket costing only $1.75. A domestic draft beer runs about $4.60 throughout the Colorado Springs area, including Cheyenne Hills.

For shopping, neighborhood residents have a few local retailers to choose from, as well as chain stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears, and PetSmart, located in the Broadmoor Towne Center.

Two local shopping favorites include Weekend Cache at the center of the neighborhood and the Bicycle Xperience located on the north side. Weekend Cache sells consignment home goods, from furniture to appliances and electronics, out of its 3,600-square-foot showroom. Locals say to skip the chain stores and buy some cool, cheap goods for the home at Weekend Cache.

The Bicycle Xperience, locals’ favorite bike shop, stocks used and new road, mountain and BMX bikes by brands such as Fate and Ruby. With a knowledgeable staff and a repair service, this bike shop stands as the neighborhood’s go-to place for all things cycling.

For fresh veggies, head over to the far north side of the neighborhood for the Broadmoor Farmers Market. Held on Mondays from May through October, the market has live music for Memorial Day and its own Facebook page.