Kearns - Salt Lake City, UT

On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young and his company arrived in Salt Lake City and established the Mormon Church in the area. They named the river running through the area the Jordan River after the Biblical river of the same name. Initially, only a few farms existed west of the river, but Young proposed the west valley would eventually house millions of inhabitants.

Although the West Valley City/Kearns/Taylorsville/Magna areas still have yet to reach that number, the area became increasing populated over the years. It experienced booms in the 1920s when paved roads linked the area to SLC and again after WWII as suburban developments emerged in the area. Designed quickly, the area became home to many multifamily developments.

For arts and culture, locals head to the Leonardo in Salt Lake City. This museum hosts art and science exhibits, including traveling displays such as Body Worlds and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Restaurants sit along the busy roads of the West Valley City/Kearns/Taylorsville/Magna area. Predominately cheap to mid-price options include Thai, Vietnamese, Latin American and a range of other ethnic restaurants alongside burger joints, pizza parlors and steakhouses. For breakfast, check out Utah's favorite scones at the Sconecutter. This eatery sells sweet breakfast scones such as the raspberry butter scone, but it also has sandwiches on homemade bread, pita wraps and Navajo tacos. Slurp a thick ice cream or yogurt smoothie with your meal. For dinner, locals enjoy Rincon Salvadoreno. Located next to an apartment complex, this restaurant serves Salvadorian food. If you've never tried it before, taste test your way through the combo plate featuring pupusa, tamal empanada, fried plantain and a milk and banana dessert. For evening entertainment, locals head to the Fox Hole, Copper Creek Pub and Grub or one of the other sports bars or brew pubs in the area. Fox Hole sits in a strip mall and has a neon sign in the window declaring "No kids This ain't Chili's " This dive bar has a small crowd of regulars, burgers some rave about while others complain, and cheap drinks. For craft beers in an upscale atmosphere, head to the Copper Creek Pub and Grub. This brew pub welcomes families, has a long list of high quality beers and features a hearty menu of pub grub. For more exciting nightlife options, revelers must leave the suburban area and head to central Salt Lake City for clubs such as Area 51 and The Hotel / Club Elevate.

West Valley City/Kearns/Taylorsville/Magna residents enjoy free parking spots throughout residential and commercial areas. Highway-201 and Interstate-215 run through the area, providing drivers with convenient access to I-15 into downtown.

Buses connect the area to downtown Salt Lake City. Riders can take buses the entire journey, or they can jump on the train from Redwood Junction Station to Temple Square Station.

Walkers enjoy safety in the area, but it isn't a walkable community. For bicyclists, the area has safe streets and dedicated biking paths, and maintaining a 10 mph pace, bicyclists can even commute into the city in less than an hour via the Jordan River Parkway.

Cabs and Uber cars serve the area. Rather than trying to hail a ride in the street, call in advance to arrange a ride.

The West Valley City/Kearns/Taylorsville/Magna area contains many parks and spaces for outdoor recreation. One of the largest in the area, Oquirrh Park features baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a skate park and a BMX track. Next door to the park, the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center offers indoor workout opportunities, including swimming. The fitness center charges daily admission of $3 to $4 per person and has membership plans available.

Neighborhood parks in Taylorsville including Azure Meadows and Bennion have playgrounds with swings and slides. Also in Taylorsville, Millrace Park hosts a fenced-in off-leash area for dogs, and the park also has a playground and paths for jogging or walking.

For outside entertainment, locals head to Pioneer Park in central Salt Lake City for the twilight concert series. Held annually in July and August, this city-hosted event features free music from a range of bands.

In the Kearns area, residents find a slightly lower cost of living than the metro area average. In this neighborhood, one-bedroom apartments rent for $710 per month, $41 less than the metro average.

Taking the bus from the area to Salt Lake City costs less than $3, and riders can buy a daily pass for $6. Area gas stations price their gas at 8 percent less than the national average, and you can pick up a pint in a local pub for $3 to $5.

Shoppers in and around Kearns have access to numerous shops at the Valley Fair Mall. The mall has a diverse crowd, and nearly half its stores are independently owned.

Many national chain stores line Interstate-15, the most popular shopping corridor in the area, but a few specially shops and boutiques exist throughout the area as well. All the Rage Boutique sells fashion-forward clothing. Its hip space features pink walls, trendy jeans hung with matching shirts and a great selection of jewelry.

For upscale furnishings and decor, shoppers head to The Black Goose Design. This shop carries everything from furniture and rugs to chandeliers, and it has decorators, designers and personal shoppers on staff to help patrons find the perfect items for their living spaces.

For groceries, locals shop at one of the large chain grocery stores in the area, such as Harmon's or the Walmart Supercenter. In the summer and winter, you can visit the Wasatch Front Farmer's Market to check out local produce and artisan fare.