Clairborne Hill - Covington, LA

Covington was settled by Europeans as early as the 1800s and grew throughout the following century due to its proximity to New Orleans, which made it a prime spot for trade in the area. However, the advent of transportation in the 20th century led to Covington's growth as a commuter city. The quiet atmosphere and comfortable, middle-class neighborhoods such as Claiborne Hill, along with easy access to the Big Easy, make it an ideal location.

Small museums such as the one located next to the hardware store on Columbia will take you back in time to the early days of Covington as you browse the relics of a bygone age. As for modern-day culture, Claiborne Hill and Covington are part of the St. Tammany Art Association, which hosts exhibitions and programs. Festivals liven up the town throughout the year, such as the Three Rivers Arts Festival and the Christmas Extravaganza.

From down-home cooking to Greek, Italian and even Caribbean fare, Claiborne Hill grants you easy access to a number of restaurants featuring various styles of cuisine. However, given its location, it is no surprise that Cajun cooking tops the list when it comes to the best restaurants the neighborhood has to offer. For a night out, there are plenty of options throughout the Covington area, from smoky bars to blues cafe's.

Most restaurants are not in Claiborne Hill proper, but many options await in other areas of Covington. A quick trip to the city center will land you in the middle of a host of dining options. At Bear's Restaurant you'll find po-boy sandwiches that are famous throughout the region. Tender and robust roast beef on New Orleans style French bread make for a great treat. Try the shrimp or oyster sandwich, which is big enough to share. The sandwiches here are so good that residents from New Orleans often take the drive to frequent Bears.

Gallagher's Grill provides the atmosphere of a steakhouse and serves its steak with a side of seafood straight from the gulf, seasoning everything with Cajun flavor. The spicy seafood gumbo packs a punch with rich, smoky Andouille sausage.

For breakfast, try Mattina Bella Restaurant and its signature Blue Crab Benedict, a dish served with rich Hollandaise sauce and tender lump crab.

If you are in the mood for live music, head to spots like The Green Room, where you'll hear everything from amateurs belting out tunes on karaoke night to hot regional acts playing the blues. Other favorite local hangouts include Columbia Street Tap Room and Grill, which serves up plenty of great food in addition to 30 varieties of draft beer. In fact, some of the best bars are located on Columbia Street, including the Daiquiri Depot and the Columbia Street Rock-N-Blues Café, so be sure to have a daiquiri and check out the rocking bar scene in Covington.

Those who live in Claiborne Hill will need a car to take care of the majority of their daily tasks. However, there are some transportation options. GoSTAT operates on demand and can help transport residents to and from essential services and destinations within the area of St. Tammany Parish for a fare, depending on miles driven. You cannot hail a cab, but taxi services are available in the area when needed. Unfortunately, Uber is not an option for those living in the Claiborne Hill area.

Public parking outside of area businesses is available, and park-and-ride lots are available as needed for commuters and carpoolers. There is a bit of distance to the nearest major interstates like I-10 and I-12, but a lack of heavy traffic means access to these roadways is still relatively easy.

While certain areas within Covington are fairly walkable, residents of Claiborne Hill will find that a car is still required to get to most locations within the area. There is a lack of bike lanes in the area, though the streets are still relatively quiet and safe for cyclists.

Several parks serve Covington with easy access from Claiborne Hill. Bogue Falaya Park, Covington Trailhead and 1st Avenue Park are open throughout the year (with some holidays being the exception), and all are free of charge. The incredible scenery and tons of available equipment for play draw in patrons. Kids especially love the playground equipment, and people of all ages can enjoy the public pool during the summer months. Your furry friends can also get out and have some fun at Pretty Acres Dog Park. Special events occur at the parks throughout the year. Residents looking to stay fit frequent the Covington Trailhead. Here you can access the Tammany Trace, a hiking and biking trail that stretches for 28 miles.

The cost of living in Claiborne Hill sits right alongside the national average, and it ranks slightly higher than the average for other similar areas around New Orleans. On average, one can expect to pay about $800 to $900 rent per month for a one-bedroom apartment. For an evening out with your pals, you can expect to pay about $3.50 a pint for a domestic draft. As for gas prices, those come in at approximately 7 percent lower than the national average in this neighborhood.

Claiborne Hill residents have plenty of great shopping opportunities available to them. For mainstream shopping, the Nord du Lac and River Chase shopping centers provide access to some of the biggest names in retail. For an upscale buying experience, shoppers will need to head to the big city, though a number of area stores and boutiques such as Mode stock designer items.

Historic Downtown Covington also contains plenty of shopping opportunities, including galleries and eclectic shops with specialty items. Shouffle is a women's boutique housing shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories galore. For kids, Blue Juniper Children's Clothing stocks fun and whimsical designs and accessories to outfit the smallest members of your family.

When it comes time to shop for groceries, you can find a Spell's Supermarket or Rouse's Grocery, or you can simply head to the nearest Walmart Supercenter. If it is farm fresh produce you are searching for, the Covington Farmers Market is available every Saturday and Wednesday. Local vendors provide the best in produce and handcrafted goods for your enjoyment.