Cooper Mountain-Aloha North - Beaverton, OR

The census-designated community of Aloha received its current name in 1912, with the construction of a local post office named Aloha. Some accounts claim the last two letters of the name was switched, and locals continue to pronounce the neighborhood A-LO-wah instead of A-LO-ha.

Aloha has attempted to officially incorporate various times, most recently in 1984, but this last petition was denied on the grounds that the community could not provide the municipal services of a city. Today, the district is simply separated into two neighborhoods.

Nearby museums include the Portland Children's Museum, about 20 minutes away via U.S. Highway 26. Bring your little ones for a fun, creative day of interactive learning. Additionally, the Portland Art Museum showcases a variety of collections, including those of Asian, American and Native American art.

The Beaverton Arts Mix also takes place annually, 10 minutes away from in the streets of downtown Beaverton.

With bountiful dining options at your disposal, start with the restaurants in the middle of the neighborhood located along the Tualatin Valley Highway (also known as Highway 8).

Savor tamales wrapped in moist banana leaves at Sabor Salvadoreno, and order your choice of perfectly crafted pupusas. Finish your meal with authentic plantains, prepared with smooth and finely-seasoned refried beans.

Nearby, grab a homemade burger at Annie's Restaurant, a locally owned diner with great sandwiches, hot dogs, fries and millk shakes. No matter what you choose, add the house Coney sauce for the perfect complement to your order.

For a meal on the classier side, try Sushi Zen. Choose your fresh or baked food from the circulating conveyor belt, or order off the menu if you want something custom-made. When choosing your fish, note that Sushi Zen consistently delivers particularly fine cuts of salmon. Check out the Monster roll, or taste the Crazy Mexican roll for an innovative combination of heat, cool ingredients and pico de gallo.

When the sun sets, sing some karaoke with the regulars, and shake your tail feather at Pyzano's Lounge and Grill, an area favorite perhaps because of the good, cheap drinks. Stick around the same street to shoot some pool at Aloha Station, where the bartenders soon learn your name and your favorite drink.

Portland's acclaimed transportation system, TriMet, services Aloha and connects the district to Beaverton, Portland and the surrounding areas via several regular routes. The Metro Area Express light rail also runs along the northern border of the neighborhood.

For a more personal ride, use the membership-based taxi company Uber. Skip waiting to hail a cab, and at anytime of night or day, order the nearest free taxi, paying for the ride from the convenience of your smartphone app.

When you don't have far to go, put on your walking shoes or get out your bike in this walkable area. Major roads with dedicated biking lanes include the Tualatin Highway and 184th Avenue.

Highway 8 and Highway 10 both cross through the neighborhood, while U.S. Highway 26 runs almost parallel to the northern border and connects the area to Portland.

In addition to its many other attractions, Cooper Mountain-Aloha North draws visitors and new residents with its abundance of refreshing outdoor spaces.

Bring the kids in your life to Arnold Park near the center of the neighborhood. Walk the wooded paths surrounding the park while the kids explore and enjoy the unique playground, or play a game of basketball, baseball or soccer. In the summer, Arnold Park also hosts free outdoor concerts.

Make your dog's day when you take it to the open spaces and paths at Melilah Park, or take your picnic and your bare feet to Arleda Park in the north. Enjoy the bubbling Willow Creek that runs through the park while having a snack. In the south of the neighborhood, escape the city and do some bird-watching at Twin Cedars Park, a wetland preserve home to a great variety of wildlife and local plant life.

This is an economically accessible neighborhood with a cost of living 3 percent lower than Aloha's average and 15 percent lower than the average cost of living in the Portland metro area.

It costs $2.50 and an hour of your time to get to Portland's city center via public transportation, while a one-bedroom residence rents for an average of $908.44. A local beer sets you back about $4. In keeping with Oregon's trend, neighborhood gas prices hover about 13 percent higher than the national average.

In addition to finding your favorite restaurant, discover your favorite new shop along the highway that cuts through the middle of the neighborhood.

From puzzles to disc golf, find endless new entertainment at Rainy Day Games. Come back at night for regular in-house game nights.

Down the road, stock up and prepare for your camping trip or other outdoor adventure at Aloha Surplus. Although the item prices run a little high, entertain yourself browsing through the huge selection, with everything from wool peacoats to portable toilets.

To save pennies, check out Back on the Rack, a cozy vintage and consignment shop located a little farther north along the highway.

Safeway, Cash and Carry and La Montana Market service the grocery needs of the area. Those of Tualatin Valley are serviced by Albertsons, located in the northwest corner of the neighborhood. The acclaimed Beaverton Farmer's Market sets up shop 10 minutes away in downtown Beaverton, with winter and summer markets.