Hope Valley-Greensboro - Greensboro, NC

The long history of Greensboro begins with its formation by migrant Quakers from Pennsylvania around 1750. The Battle of Guilford Court House was fought in the area in 1781, and the leader of the American troops was Major General Nathanael Greene. Although the Americans lost that battle, it wasn't before they inflicted serious damage to British troops. The damage was so severe, it led to the surrender of British troops just seven months later. Today, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is located north of Greensboro, roughly 20 minutes from Hope Valley. Greensboro was named in General Greene's honor.

Hope Valley was developed as the area's first country club community. The country club still remains the centerpiece of the neighborhood, and is situated between the sprawling universities of Chapel Hill and Duke. The golf course was designed by Donald Ross, and Aymar Embury II designed the clubhouse. Hope Valley retains its country club community feel, with plenty of open spaces and heavily-wooded areas.

The Anne Rudd Galyon and Irene Cullis Art Gallery is part of Greensboro College. This center encourages art submissions and gives visitors free access to local and national artists. The Elsewhere Gallery on South Elm Street provides an interactive environment and showcases reworked art, plays, presentations, and new pieces from local artists.

Dining options around Hope Valley require a 10-minute drive westward along Battleground Avenue. Undercurrent Restaurant features a seasonal menu and uses farm-fresh ingredients. Acclaimed by USA Today as one of the top ten best restaurants in Greensboro, daily menu specialties include lamb terrine: a towered plate of seasoned lamb topped with dried apricots and ginger, leaned against grilled ciabatta bread with peppercorn-cranberry sauce and herb-mustard dashed across plates. Daily menu options appear on social media, including photos and ingredients. The reasonably priced establishment doesn't sacrifice quality as their dishes come to you masterfully prepared.

Table 16 Restaurant on South Elm Street serves decadent dishes by land and sea. Considered a New-World restaurant, the meals inside Table 16 include elk sausage and pheasant delivered from local farms. The Trigger Fish blends chorizo, black turtle beans, panko cauliflower and yellow curry-coconut sauce to create unique dishes with powerful tastes and textures. Table 16 incorporates ingredients from around the world for a memorable eating experience.

Cafe Europa, a chic bistro near Table 16, has daily drink specials, outdoor seating, and views of Center City Park conveniently located across the street. Popular among after-work crowds, Cafe Europa features half-priced wines on Wednesdays. Trees wrapped with twinkling lights create a relaxing ambiance for outside lounging, and regular performances from Boston's House of Jazz can be heard while sipping cocktails, further immersing guests in the bistro's unique atmosphere.

A 10-minute walk from Hope Valley homes, Chopper Bar N Lounge has billiards tables, drink specials and live entertainment. Comedy nights, candle-lit dinners, musical performers, benefit shows, deejays, and outside pavilion tents during the summer provide the perfect way to spend nights without leaving Hope Valley. Televised football games and boxing matches make Chopper Bar N Lounge a low-cost experience within minutes of home.

If you choose an apartment in Hope Valley, you'll probably commute to school or work. But since this neighborhood is about 10 minutes from everything, you'll be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you prefer mass transit, bus stops are located throughout the area with routes to downtown Greensboro, Bennett College, Greensboro Public Library, and recreation facilities. A quick 10 minutes away, the Greensboro Galyon Transportation Center railway has lines from New Orleans to New York. One mile north, Route 70 connects Tennessee and North Carolina with access to local destinations. Route 29, accessible from Route 70, features interstate travels to South Carolina and Virginia.

When driving downtown, most streets have metered parking. Parking garages have hourly and daily rates, but are free to park after 6 p.m. Hope Valley does not have bike lanes, but this quiet community rarely sees much traffic, and bicycling along neighborhood streets will connect you to downtown's bike lanes for easy access to retail centers and parks.

Barber Park features an indoor sports pavilion with eight tennis courts and four basketball and tennis courts free for public use. Visitors of Barber Park can check out a Bronco's game at the Penn-Wright Baseball Stadium. This park also includes an amphitheater, a one-mile walking and running trail, a playground, a splash park, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

Campers will appreciate the Greensboro Campground, located about 10 minutes outside of Hope Valley. With full hook-ups and a friendly staff, this is the ideal weekend getaway (and you don't even have to leave the neighborhood). Greensboro Campground is dog-friendly.

Hope Valley is more affordable than many Greensboro neighborhoods. One-bedroom apartments in Hope Valley average about $550 a month. This is about four percent lower than many nearby neighborhoods. At the local bar, you'll pay about $4 for beer and cocktails begin around $6. Gasoline prices are about two percent higher than national costs but many amenities within 10 minutes save gas and time.

Greensboro prides itself with community-driven boutiques and grocers. Just Be on South Elm Street sells crafts, clothing, and household items made by local artists. The filled space includes carved wooden earrings, weaved-basket handbags, lotions, soaps, and fragrances. Perfect for gifts or personal treats, this little boutique reasonable prices and a friendly staff.

The Shops at Friendly Center provides Greensboro residents and visitors with outdoor luxury retail shopping. Retailers include Express, White House Black Market, Eddie Bauer, Sur La Table, J. Crew, and over 75 shops and restaurants. Plentiful grocers in the area include a Food Rite, Food Lion, and M & M Grocery on East Market Street, within 10 minutes of Hope Valley.

Deep Roots Market provides the Greensboro community with organic and natural products along with organizing local events. This co-op stocks products without artificial sweeteners, trans fats, growth hormones, or aluminum at reasonable prices. Deep Roots Market has a community room for rental or participation in book clubs, cooking and wellness classes, movie screenings and support groups. Customers and members of the Greensboro community plan all events. A Whole Foods Market located within the Shops at Friendly Center also carries natural goods and homeopathic remedies.