Inspiration Hills - San Antonio, TX

Horseback riders roamed the beloved horse trails crawling through the land where Inspiration Hills now sits, until 1953, when Wilber Fite and nephew began developing the area. In an attempt to delay construction of the houses, the riders would uproot the wooden stakes designating the residential lots. Eventually, architecturally unique homes filled the land, sitting on large lots among beautiful vistas. Through the 1970s and 1990s, the area experienced a population boom as families moved from downtown San Antonio in search of an outer suburban lifestyle.

Though residents must travel to downtown San Antonio for museums, Santikos Bijou, located 6 minutes northwest of Inspiration Hills, provides locals an opportunity to catch an independent art film. The art hanging on the walls of the theater adds to the cultural experience.

Inspiration Hills hosts an annual community garage sale and craft fair in November, in time to start shopping for the holidays.

Inspiration Hills residents enjoy a wide selection of nearby dining and entertainment options without having to travel downtown or to San Antonio’s tourist-filled spots.

Head south on Bandera Road to stop at Los Cocos Fruteria Y Taqueria for wallet-friendly, authentic Mexican food. Known for its sizzling grilled meats and fresh fruit cups, locals also love to stop in for a refreshing mango agua fresca on a hot Texas day. Quick service makes this place a great stop for lunch.

About 2 miles west of Inspiration Hills sits another neighborhood favorite, Pancake Joe’s. Locals don’t mind the long weekend wait for an order of perfectly crispy hash browns. This place serves breakfast and brunch with a full traditional menu from banana nut French toast to biscuits and gravy. Choose from a variety of pancakes like blueberry or strawberry cheesecake, or go for the local favorite, eggs Benedict with tangy hollandaise. The friendly staff keeps your coffee cup full of piping hot coffee.

Head north on Babcock Road across Highway 410 to Sandwich De Paris for a fresh lunch. Open until mid-afternoon on the weekdays, lunches get crowded with scrubs-donning patrons from the nearby Medical Center, but the food proves worth the wait. The eclectic offering of sandwiches with freshly baked bread pair perfectly with the soup du jour, or the house favorite, French onion. Be sure to grab a brownie for dessert.

For a relaxing place to unwind with a cold brew, locals go to Rookies Bar on Callaghan Road near Highway 410. The wall-to-wall wood paneling throughout the dive bar provides a cozy atmosphere while patrons play shuffleboard and line up tunes on the jukebox.

South of Highway 410, on Babcock Road and Hillcrest Drive sits another neighborhood favorite, I Don’t Know Yet Lounge. The laid-back bar serves cold beer in giant mugs with budget-friendly prices. Friendly bartenders make patrons feel at home.

With its central location and close proximity to major thoroughfares in San Antonio, traveling from Inspiration Hills to various points of interest in the city proves quick and convenient. Residents prefer to travel via personal car, with biking and walking left for the leisurely ride or stroll around the neighborhood. Most errands require transportation by car, but some travel can be done by public transportation. Cabs do not typically make stops in the neighborhood, but one can request a ride by calling Yellow Cab or schedule a ride with Uber using a smartphone. One bus line passes through the neighborhood, and a trip downtown takes around 40 minutes.

Residents head three miles southeast to Woodlawn Park for outdoor entertainment. A park suited for families, dog owners and the exercise-centric, this inner-city park has it all. Run along the well-lit jogging trail, and catch a cool breeze coming off the lake. The city stocks the lake for leisurely fishing, and the ducks add to the wildlife viewing. Families enjoy the playground and pool, while the barbecue grills stay packed during holiday weekend picnics. Woodlawn Park draws large crowds each year at its annual Fourth of July celebration, complete with fireworks.

Inspiration Hills’ close proximity to downtown San Antonio and its makeup of architecturally interesting, yet modest, homes make the neighborhood a desirable place to live. Compared to San Antonio’s overall average cost of living, Inspiration Hills runs about four percent higher. A one-bedroom apartment costs about $564 per month. With a range of shopping and dining options nearby, residents easily find budget-friendly entertainment and meals, while paying about $3 for a domestic beer. A metro bus ride downtown costs $1.35, but traveling by personal car proves economical as well with gas prices about 20 percent lower than the national average.

Because of Inspiration Hills’ central location, residents have easy access to a number of San Antonio’s major shopping centers. For upscale shopping in San Antonio’s premier outdoor shopping destination, head about 12 miles north to the Shops at La Cantera. Alamo Quarry Market and North Star Mall are just 10 miles and seven miles northeast, respectively. These places provide one-stop shopping, but locals need not travel farther for specialty boutique shopping as well.

Hogwild Records on Main Avenue, in nearby Tobin Hill neighborhood, draws patrons from near and far looking for a special selection of music records. The helpful staff gives the store an edge over purchasing music online as the store has maintained its old-school record-store vibe. Head north on Interstate 10 to Gernin Boutiques, a trendy vintage and consignment shop. The quality selection of clothing and accessories attracts hipsters and bargain-hunters alike, and the snappy jazz music playing in the background adds to the cool atmosphere.

With its headquarters located in San Antonio, residents enjoy close proximity to multiple HEB grocery stores throughout the area. Known for its affordable prices and wide selections, HEB stores provide well-stocked shelves to help you check off your grocery list. For a larger organic selection, Inspiration Hills residents travel a few miles north on Interstate 10 to Sprouts Farmers Market for fresh produce and health-centric goods. Head over to the San Antonio Farmer's Market in nearby Leon Valley on Wednesdays until 1 p.m. for seasonal, local fare.