Holiday West - North Richland Hills, TX

Holiday West was settled by 600 farming and ranching families in the 1840s. The land remained unchanged for 100 years until 268-acres were subdivided for new single homes. Today, the neighborhood comprises a part of one of the largest suburban enclaves of Fort Worth.

The DFW Elite Toy Museum on Eden Drive has a wide collection of antiques, rare items and odd toys. This dog-friendly museum even has collectibles your best friend may be interested in sniffing out. This free-of-charge museum stay open on the weekends for anyone enthusiastic or curious about the toys of past generations.

Immerse yourself in the rotating exhibits of Artspace111, Gallery and Gardens on Hampton Street. The space makes contemporary art approachable to guests of any age. Host an event or special gathering in the serenity of the Artspace Gardens. The gallery opens Tuesday through Friday.

A generous mix of Chinese, Indian, Tex-Mex and American cuisine represents the strong ethnic diversity in the Watauga, North Richland Hills and Haltom City neighborhoods. Establishments supplying Holiday West's nightlife can be found along Interstate 820 and Rufe Snow Drive.

Bars like Texas Billiards pack the expansive floor with shuffleboard tables, pool, darts and flat-screen televisions broadcasting live sporting events. Patrons can sing their favorite songs solo or with friends on Friday and Saturday karaoke nights after 9 p.m. Come in early for happy hour until 7 p.m. Sparks Sports Bar offers many of the same amenities and hosts live music on certain weekends. Play NTN Trivia with your smartest friends while you enjoy any of the 20 beers on tap.

Sana Indian Restaurant dishes up authentic Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi dishes for lunch and dinner every day of the week. Sit down for a meal, or visit the grocery section for specialty spices and Asian food goods. Enjoy the lamb curry, or order the vegetable curry for a meatless option. Sana will cater your special event and accepts special requests.

D. Asian Thai Restaurant, the best in fresh vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free Thai and Lao food in town, is ready to please with its low-key "bring your own beer" atmosphere. This establishment serves vegan or traditional egg rolls to whet your appetite, and the famous mango and pineapple curry proves a satisfying entree.

Residents purchase the bulk of their groceries at the nearby WinCo Foods or Walmart Supercenter.

Interstate 35W delivers commuters to Fort Worth and Interstate 820 loops around the city for speedy transit to the north side of Dallas. U.S. Route 377 cuts through the heart of Haltom City for local commutes to downtown Fort Worth. The-T, Fort Worth's public transportation system has connections along North Beach Street up to North Tarrant Parkway. The Trinity Railway Express, a commuter rail service, stops in Richland Hills along Highway 121 for high-speed travel into Fort Worth and Dallas.

Taxi services supplying the demand from DFW Airport dot the landscape around the Holiday West neighborhood. Uber and Lyft also serve the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Bicycle-friendly roads and trails are very common north of Glenview Drive. Pedestrians can feel safe walking in the quiet bedroom communities of Holiday West, but sidewalks on the main thoroughfares stop and start intermittently. Parking on residential streets is legal, and business supply ample parking spaces in commercial districts.

Hundreds of acres of green parks and fields spread across the Holiday West neighborhood. Area parks and recreation departments host activity classes and leagues for children and adults. The Haltom City Recreation Center features Zumba, belly dancing, soccer leagues for 3 to 10 year olds, fitness lessons and other fun classes good for the heart and mind.

The Tipps Canine Hollow Dog Park lets pets run leash-free to their heart's content. The free-to-use park has 2 acres of fenced-in land with water and dog waste stations. Exercise your pets and make a new friend from 8 a.m. to dusk. Northfield Park on Davis Boulevard stands as an area favorite for children and their families. Kids like to play on the large playground equipment and active residents of all ages can take advantage of the barbecue grills, picnic shelters, tennis and basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, horseshoes and softball field.

Head to the North Richland Hills Family Water Park to enjoy one of the coolest places to be all summer long. Fun for the entire family, NRH2O provides a safe place escape on hot Texas summer days. Prices vary, depending on residency and services desired.

Every year, water-loving residents have the chance to earn donations for the Special Olympics Texas of Greater Fort Worth with the Polar Plunge at NRH2O. Polar plungers support more than 4,000 area athletes every January, when they take the full submersion into freezing January waters. To pledge or to become a polar plunger, visit the Special Olympics Texas website.

Living in Holiday West costs 4 percent more than the city average. Two-hour local bus passes cost $1.75 and day passes cost $3.50. TRE 1 Zone passes to Fort Worth cost $2.50 for a two-hour pass or $5 for dailies. Single-use Regional TRE passes cost $5, with day passes at $10. Public commuters can reach downtown Fort Worth for $4.25 or Dallas for $6.75.

On average, tenants pay $723 for a one-bedroom residence. Pints of beer cost $4 or as little as $2.50 during happy hour. Gasoline costs 9 percent less than the national average.

Shopping opportunities abound in Holiday West on any of the major roads, but especially at Highway 121 and Interstate 820 at the North East mall. More than 150 stores are located in the mall, including anchor stores like Nordstrom, Dillard's, Macy's, JC Penney, and Sears and specialty shops like Michael Kors, Chico's, and Buckle.

The Grooming Boutique on Hurstview Drive gives your pet special one-on-one time with baths and special check ups. This locally-owned and operated boutique treats your pet like one of its own, returning your pet to you cleaner and happier before.

The fashion and apparel experts at GirlGirl Boutique want to give you a unique look that only you can pull off. Shop from select designers like Michael Lauren, Lauren Moshi, Chaser and many more to find a hot, exotic or comfortable look you can wear in any situation. Visit its Glade Road location or find your favorite outfit online.

No shortage of food or grocers exists in Holiday West. Residents can choose from ALDI, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Market Street or the Nguyen Loi Oriental Supermarket for all of their grocery store needs. The North Richland Hills Farmers Market connects area residents to seasonal, farm-fresh produce on a daily basis. The market sells herbs, pies, chocolates, plants, garden supplies, flags, pottery and various seasonal items for the home and garden. Visit during regular business hours on Davis Boulevard and Sayers Lane.