Jordan Meadows - Salt Lake City, UT

Prior to the construction of the airport in 1911, the land that is now Jordan Meadows sat empty. As airport traffic grew following World War II, development increased in the surrounding area as businesses set up shop to support airport operations. Residential construction in Jordan Meadows east of I-215 took off shortly thereafter. New construction slowed after the 1970s, leaving mostly housing stock from that decade and earlier. Residents do not need to travel far in search of dynamic cultural activities. Travel one mile east of the neighborhood and you can find the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Utah Museum of Art and History, and the Leonardo, a science, technology, and art museum. Neighborhood residents enjoy trekking across the river to the Utah State Fair, which begins the Thursday after every Labor Day and runs for 11 days.

Its proximity to an international airport means Jordan Meadows serves as the landing spot and temporary respite for travelers from every corner of the globe. As such, within a radius of just a few miles, you can find an impressive array of well-known chain eateries and unique local digs and watering holes. As a general rule, the farther you travel from the airport, particularly heading east, the fewer chain restaurants and more local flavor you encounter. If seeking fantastic Mexican food, head east on Temple just past Agricultural Park to run into the Red Iguana just before reaching I-15. The restaurant's dated exterior belies the expansive, modern, and progressive menu found inside, which includes both traditional and gluten-free fare. Locals rave about the seafood stew, mole, and killer nachos; the restaurant's boasts about its "Killer Mexican Food," and locals agree. The drink menu matches the variety and quality of the entrees, with the margaritas a local favorite. Those who prefer something nonalcoholic gravitate toward Red Iguana's one-of-a-kind cinnamon coffee. While a line at the door might greet you upon arrival, the restaurant staff works efficiently to keep it moving and serve guests quickly. Closer to the airport on Temple sits Basilico Italian Restaurant , which wows visitors and locals alike with its homemade meatballs, signature Alfredo sauce, and meat lovers' pizza. Visit often, as Basilico runs daily lunch specials, and peruse its drink menu, which features beer, wine, and spirits. Stay for dessert and enjoy delectable dolci or an after-dinner coffee. When in the mood for Chinese, Jordan Meadows residents head to China Delight . The orange chicken receives high marks from regulars, as does the beef lo mein and egg foo young. China Delight stays open until 9 p.m. every day except Sunday; if you're starving, you can cut down on wait time by ordering online through the restaurant's website. Most of the area's exciting nightlife can be found a few miles east in downtown Salt Lake City, though Jordan Meadows offers a handful of local dives. For example, Lofte's Bar and Grille, located just outside the airport's boundaries on Temple, features draft beer, burgers, and hot sandwiches, and entrees that come with soup and salad. Its kitchen remains open until 10 p.m. and alcohol is served until 1 a.m.

While most Jordan Meadows residents drive to their destinations, the neighborhood provides easy access to public transportation via rail and bus. The TRAX light rail system, which maintains several stations in and around Jordan Meadows, serves as an easy way to get downtown and to other points of interest in the metro area. Residents also have the option of taking Utah Transit Authority buses all over the city and neighboring suburbs. Hailing a cab proves difficult in Jordan Meadows. Fortunately, Uber serves the area extensively, and calling ahead for a cab usually results in a short wait. The neighborhood provides easy access to two interstates, resulting in a quick trip to get downtown. With wide, flat roads and well-maintained sidewalks, Jordan Meadows is pedestrian-friendly. Cyclists enjoy low traffic volumes on residential streets in the neighborhood.

Residents enjoy access to several parks along the Jordan River, including Constitution Park, which offers a multi-use sports field and abundant green space, and Cottonwood Park, a smaller park with picnic shelters and walking and biking trails. Even better, the Jordan River Parkway Trail, friendly to walkers and cyclists, connects the various parks along the river. All the Jordan River parks allow dogs, provided they remain on a leash. Cottonwood Park provides an off-leash area.

Jordan Meadows residents enjoy lower rent costs than the city average. The neighborhood's median one-bedroom rent of $680 sits significantly lower than the Salt Lake City median of $795. Getting downtown via public transportation does not cost much; a one-way ticket on TRAX or a Utah Transit Authority bus costs only $2.50. Expect to pay $3 to $4 for a bottle of domestic beer at a Jordan Meadows bar and slightly more for imported. Gas prices in the neighborhood hover right around the national average, though as in most cities, they creep up as you get closer to the airport.

The nearby presence of several retail centers provides neighborhood residents with sufficient shopping options. Willingness to head a mile or two east broadens the choices for retail therapy. At iconoCLAD , customers can sell their own clothing, accessories, and local artisan crafts on consignment and receive 50 percent of the sales price in cash. The store also makes for a fine place to shop for affordable yet trendy clothing. Eborn Books, located downtown and only a short drive from Jordan Meadows, holds the distinct honor as Utah's largest new and used bookstore, featuring more than 500,000 titles spread across 30,000 square feet. Bookworms can lose themselves for hours inside this local gem and emerge with a stack of new reads at some of the area's lowest prices. For more extensive shopping options, the city center, less than a five-minute drive from Jordan Meadows, features an abundance of high-end stores, value stores, and national chains. Residents do their grocery shopping at Smith's and Super Saver, both located just north of Agricultural Park. Many of them patronize the Downtown Farmers Market in downtown Salt Lake City during the summer months.