Glynlea/Grove Park - Jacksonville, FL

Glynlea-Grove Park and the surrounding neighborhoods were the first to be inhabited by European settlers in the U.S. After the Civil War, much of the area was left for residential development and remains that way today.

No museums are housed in the neighborhood so residents travel just outside of it to places such as The Hands On Children's Museum on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. Children and families enjoy activities including a puppet stage and KIDS Space Center. Admission costs between $4 and $5.50 for children and adults. The museum opens Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The nearest art gallery would be Jami's Art Studio on Atlantic Boulevard. Here, patrons enjoy oil painting classes as well as other unique features including a barber shop. Three galleries feature local and student artwork as well as the owner's paintings.

The neighborhood remains mostly residential with restaurants positioned on the outside edge or just a few blocks outside the neighborhood boundaries. The area features many chain and franchise restaurants as well. The Balkan Cafe on Beach Boulevard provides authentic Mediterranean fare. Patrons come here to enjoy traditional dishes like cevapi, with perfectly seasoned meat and homemade rolls, and grilled veal with vegetables.

The surrounding waterways provide fresh seafood for local restaurants in the area. Motoga Japanese Steakhouse on Atlantic Boulevard features a menu of fresh sushi and sashimi along with hot dishes. Patrons enjoy dishes such as filet mignon with fresh scallops and fried rice and chicken teriyaki with fried vegetables. Diners also delight in watching their dinner prepared in front of them at the hibachi tables. The prices remain reasonable in spite of the freshness of the food and the portion sizes served.

The menu at European Street Cafe includes over 150 original and traditional sandwiches, salads and soups, and this establishment also boasts the most comprehensive beer selection in northern Florida. Try the German Bavarian bratwurst, a fantastic mild white sausage made with premium pork served hot on a bun with sauerkraut and chips. Maybe a Middle Eastern wrap is more your style: kibbe, tabbouleh and hummus wrapped up in a honey-wheat flour tortilla. The restaurant has a kids menu too.

'57 Heaven on Atlantic Boulevard provides the perfect hangout since it remains the only nightclub near the neighborhood. Open only on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., this establishment draws in patrons with dancing and drink specials. DJs and live music provide the bulk of the entertainment, with games and contests held occasionally.

Transportation in and around Glynlea-Grove Park can be quite easy with several major highways surrounding The area. The Hart Bridge Expressway runs along the south and west side of the neighborhood, providing quick access to downtown Jacksonville. The Arlington Expressway located just outside the north end of the neighborhood also provides access to the downtown area.

No public parking lots or garages exist in the small neighborhood and parking meters can be hard to come by. Instead, residents park freely on the streets without any issues. Walking and bike riding in the neighborhood remains very safe as the small community and roads prevent fast-moving traffic. No designated bike lanes exist on the roads, but plenty of bikers take advantage of the great Florida weather and ride through the streets. Drivers should be on the look out for bikers as well as pedestrians.

Due to its residential nature, a cab would be difficult to hail for curb-side pickup. Residents can call and schedule pickups from local taxi companies, and Uber car services can be used in the neighborhood with rides from the center of the community to the downtown Jacksonville area starting at $11.

Only two parks can be found inside the neighborhood, including Glynlea Park in the center of the community off of Nightingale Road. The park features several baseball fields and tennis and basketball courts. Playground equipment with picnic tables nearby can be found in the center of the park. The park costs nothing, and dogs must remain on leashes.

Holiday Hill Park sits up against the Holiday Hill Elementary School, and features modern, clean playground equipment. Basketball courts and baseball fields can also be found here. The park does not cost anything, and leashed dogs can enter certain areas.

No festivals or annual events take place specifically in either of these parks, so residents travel a short distance to downtown Jacksonville instead. Visitors partake in events including the San Marco Art and Craft Festival held every fall on the last weekend of October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission does not cost anything, and folks enjoy seeing work from local artisans and sampling cuisine from local food vendors. The festival's main attraction remains the many paintings, sculptures and other works of art made by local artists.

The cost of living in Glylea-Grove Park remains quite affordable. A typical one-bedroom apartment costs $543 per month on average.

Most residents choose to either drive alone or carpool to work as many work in the downtown area. Gas prices in Glynlea-Grove Park average the same as the rest of the state and 4 percent above the national average.

A beer at a local bar or restaurant can cost anywhere from $2 for a domestic can during happy hour to around $6 or $7 for a specialty craft brew or an imported beer.

Specialty boutique shops are extremely hard to find in and around the area because of the chain retailers and malls here. Because of this, many residents drive a short distance south to the Avonlea Antique Mall to shop for china and crystal as well as beautiful antiques and collectibles. Those wishing to shop for high-end clothing and shoes need to drive to the downtown area of Jacksonville only 13 minutes away. There, patrons can find shops such Jane Doe Boutique on Park Street which sells trendy women's fashion and accessories. Closer to Glynlea-Grove Park, you'll find Rosie True, a women's fashion apparel and accessories boutique. Women can find hip and trendy dresses and tops as well as chic and fun dresses and skirts. Customers can also search for shoes, hats and handbags at Rosie True. Very few delis and grocery stores can be found in the neighborhood. Residents can purchase groceries either at Twins Food Store on Holiday Road South or San Marco Food Mart on Crane Avenue. No farmers markets exist in the small neighborhood, so residents travel a short distance to downtown Jacksonville to enjoy the Jacksonville Farmers Market on Beaver Street.