Hillcrest-Bonneville - Ogden, UT Area Guide

For centuries, Shoshone tribes traveled through the area now called Ogden, and Europeans first settled in the area in 1846. That year, trapper Miles Goodyear established Fort Buenaventura, but he shortly sold the fort and the surrounding land to a representative of Brigham Young, who wanted to create a Mormon settlement.

Farmers occupied the area until 1869, when the town turned into a busy commercial center as it became the junction of the Union and Central Pacific Railroads. Ogden grew steadily through the years, and the Hillcrest-Bonneville neighborhood emerged on its northwest edges at the turn of the 21st century. In 2013, Ogden earned a number 16 spot on Forbe's list of Best Places for Business and Careers.

Ogden's Union Station serves as the hub for arts and culture. A converted railway depot, this building contains art galleries and several heritage museums including ones focused on cowboys and firearms.

In Hillcrest-Bonneville, a couple of restaurants sit on the streets intersecting Monroe Boulevard, but the majority of eating establishments sit along Washington Boulevard. The offerings include a range of coffee shops, burger joints such as Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria, and a few ethnic restaurants.

Head south on Kiesel to All the Perks Espresso. This cozy spot, a local chain, features creamy espresso and a great-tasting bold coffee. All the Perks consistently ranks as one of the best coffeehouses in the area, and for good reason. Locals may love the ambiance here, but the perfectly roasted coffee and consistently great service remain the real reasons why locals can't get enough of this place.

For lunch, dinner, or a fun night on the town, check out the Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria. Pizza flavors include unique varieties, such as chicken tikka masala, pizza, and taste of the islands pie with cilantro, shrimp, pineapple, and red peppers. The constantly-changing beer menu hosts a range of foreign and domestic craft beers.

For nightlife, locals enjoy live music at Slackwater, or they head to one of the local bars such as Andy's Lounge. Andy's has pool tables, dart boards, and a group of regulars. Alongside classic pub grub, including fries and bacon cheeseburgers, Andy's menu features Greek fare, such as chicken souvlaki, skewers, and gyros.

If you simply want a cheap drink or a quick liquor purchase, check out Historic Place in Ogden. Unassuming from the outside, this shop features charming interior complete with old Galaga video games from the early 1980s. It boasts a fun and friendly vibe that draws many locals, but dancers in search of clubbing head into Salt Lake City. There, revelers find clubs such as Area 51, which hosts a range of musical nights.

Hillcrest-Bonneville drivers can reach downtown Salt Lake City easily via Interstate 15, and they can reach central Ogden via Monroe Boulevard and 24th Street. Ogden and the Hillcrest-Bonneville neighborhood have ample numbers of free parking spots, but in central Salt Lake City, expect to pay for parking.

Buses run in the neighborhood, and routes running hourly on weekdays connect the area to Salt Lake City. The journey from Bonneville-HIllcrest to SLC takes just under two hours. Cab companies and Uber drivers operate in both the Ogden and Salt Lake City areas.

Bicyclists ride safely through the streets of this neighborhood, and ambitious riders can even take the Denver and Rio Grande Western Trails into Salt Lake City.

Ogden houses over 40 local parks, but in Hillcrest-Bonneville, locals favor Bonneville Park. This neighborhood park has a children's playground in sand, several picnic areas, basketball hoops, and ball fields. Dog lovers take their pups to the Ogden Dog Park. This park has enclosed areas protected by double-gate entries. Dogs enjoy the obstacles and equipment located in the park.

One of Ogden's most unique parks "roars" with fun -- Dinosaur Park contains full-sized sculptures based on actual fossil skeletons, brought to life through the use of robotics. With more than 100 dinosaurs in this unique park, it is definitely worth a visit.

Just outside of Ogden, Snowbasin Resort offers year-round fun. In the summer months, the park hosts concerts, bicycle races, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, and special events. In the winter, it's all about the snow -- this ski resort features Nordic trails, a tubing hill, and four snowboarding parks featuring 65 rails.

For outdoor festivals, head to Fort Buenaventura. Annually at this park, the Ogden Music Festival attracts a festive crowd of campers for a three-day live-music fest.

Living in the Hillcrest-Bonneville neighborhood of Ogden costs less on average than living in the Salt Lake City area. In Hillcrest-Bonneville, renters pay an average of $587 per month for a one-bedroom apartment -- far less than SLC's average of $749 per month.

In Hillcrest-Bonneville, drinkers pay between $4 and $7 for pints of craft beer, but at dive bars, you can find pints of domestic beer and even mixed drinks for under $3. Gas in the area costs five percent less than the national average, and you can ride the bus from Hillcrest-Bonneville to downtown Salt Lake City for $6.

For shopping, residents of Hillcrest-Bonneville head to one of the malls in Ogden such as the Ogden City Mall or the Newgate Mall. In addition to large malls, fashion lovers enjoy the unique freestanding boutiques in the area.

To check out contemporary fashions, head to N'Vee Boutique. Appealing to a young crowd, the shop has contemporary slogans such as "clothing 2 luv beyond envy" and sells trendy jewelry. Beyond just being trendy, this shop has classic must-have items such as thermal tees for less than the cost of a burger.

For groceries, locals have access to large stores such as Smith's. In the summer, they buy fresh produce and artisan goods from local farmers and ranchers at the Ogden Farmers Market.