Cross Creek - Atlanta, GA

Built in the 1970s, Cross Creek maintains much of its original decor today. While some would say that the atmosphere in the community is dated, many residents enjoy the somewhat old-fashioned feel.

With the neighborhood association funds, many parties are held for residents throughout the year at the clubhouse, including the end of summer bash for children. There are even monthly special dinner events where all residents can join together and visit over lobster or themed meals. Although many of these meals cost a bit extra, residents are happy to pay to enjoy the time together.

Without a doubt, the most important restaurant and nightspot for the Cross Creek neighborhood is the Cross Creek Cafe. Whether you are looking for a simple burger and onion rings for lunch after a late morning round of golf or a family dinner out, you can count on the restaurant section to deliver consistently good food with friendly service. As the only restaurant within the walls of the gated community, Cross Creek Cafe has become a go-to location for locals, and the staff remembers regulars' names and preferences. Many patrons describe eating out here to be much like eating at home without the mess.

For drinks or dancing, you can always head to the lounge section of the Cross Creek Cafe at night. Some nights the kitschy clubhouse hosts entertainers, including a local one-man band. Catering to a slightly older crowd than most Buckhead nightspots, the Cross Creek Cafe lounge tends to be a relaxed atmosphere, with many locals enjoying the unpretentious bar. Although their prices compare to slightly more upscale bars in Buckhead, cocktails never disappoint, because the bartender serves them strong. Luckily, residents can simply walk home after a few stiff drinks.

If you want a simpler meal at night, many takeout Chinese restaurants sit just outside the Cross Creek gates. Most residents agree that New Dragon Chinese and Thai Restaurant is your best bet for a tasty meal. With an almost dizzying number of options, New Dragon surely serves what you crave. If you can't decide, the Mongolian chicken and Panang curry dishes top residents' favorites lists. As an added bonus, New Dragon delivers quickly to the neighborhood for nights when you prefer not to go out.

Because of the limited traffic passing through the gated Cross Creek community, the neighborhood remains very pedestrian-friendly even at night. Residents enjoy leisurely strolls to the Cafe, golf course and other amenities. Residents commonly bike on the roads with little fear about safety issues, both as a form of exercise and a means of transportation. For those who take advantage of the golf course, golf carts are permitted and commonly driven within the neighborhood.

To come and go from the rest of the city, residents usually drive. You can park for free along the street or at the clubhouse, and most residents have designated parking. With easy access to I-75, which runs right beside the neighborhood, residents have little difficulty commuting.

Unfortunately, public transportation does not run through Cross Creek, but MARTA buses do stop at several convenient locations just outside the gate for those who prefer not to drive. Taxis and Uber can be called to the area quickly and easily as well.

With a huge green space devoted to the golf course, the country club facilities in Cross Creek stand in for a park in this community. Whether you prefer to golf a few holes, swim laps in the pools or simply jog along the sidewalks, Cross Creek offers many exercise options. While the amenities do cost a small yearly membership to use, residents are required to pay as a member of the neighborhood association regardless.

Many families with children make their homes in Cross Creek, so almost all areas are kid-friendly, although there are times when the pool is adults-only. You can even teach your children to golf on the course as a member or sign them up for lessons. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on course grounds or in the clubhouse, so residents must find another place to walk the pooch.

While residents of Cross Creek enjoy many amenities of more expensive country club neighborhoods, the lifestyle here costs just about the same as the Atlanta average. A one-bedroom place can cost between $1,200 and $1,500 per month to rent, depending on its proximity to the clubhouse. Most residents live in multi-bedroom condominiums with a median rent of $1,800.

A beer at the clubhouse sets you back about $5, which is slightly lower than the city as a whole. Gas prices are also typical of Atlanta pricing, sitting about 10 percent lower than the national average.

Conveniently located just minutes from the high-end shopping district of Buckhead, Cross Creek boasts few boutiques and specialty stores of its own. Although residents sometimes set up bake sales or farmers market fundraisers on the weekends, most run everyday errands on nearby Collier Road or head to one of the many malls for more choices.

However, cigar aficionados can happily note that the Cross Creek community gate sits just blocks from J's Cigars. With one of the best selections of high-quality cigars in Atlanta, J's offers any kind of smoke you want. More importantly, the knowledgeable and attentive staff is ready to search for the cigar that best suits your tastes or the special occasion. Just answer a few of J's questions, and quickly get several suggestions at different price points.

Just beyond the neighborhood on Collier Road, locals browse furniture and home goods at the massive Hill Street Warehouse. Great for weekend wandering, the shop offers 40,000 square feet of high-end tables, lamps, rugs and more, from carved wooden furniture imported from Thailand to decorative pillows, vases and garden pottery. New merchandise arrives regularly, and though prices aren't low, the steeply discounted wares represent a real bargain.

Residents of Cross Creek do the weekly shop at the Publix or the Kroger in the Howell Mill Square Shopping Center. Though the area doesn't have a farmers market, the large East Atlanta Village Farmers Market lies about 20 minutes away. Open on Thursdays, the market hawks fresh produce, local cheeses, baked goods, honey and more, and it stays open from April through December.