Linden Park - Kansas City, MO

This beautiful area began as a settlement for Hopewell Indians several thousand years ago. The oldest houses sprang up in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and then developers built more modern single-family homes.

Any art scenes and festivals are to the south at the Village at Burlington Creek or to the southwest in Parkville. The annual holiday lighting ceremony at the Village kicks off the retail shopping season with families in attendance.

At the northern end of Linden Park, two ethnic restaurants serve locals who need a quick bite for lunch or families who want to sit down to a comfortable dinner. Further north, find a local bistro run by two guys from Parkville. Look to the south a few blocks to find nearby nightlife.

Iron Wok Chinese serves 17 different types of sushi rolls, dozens of lunch specials and five choices from the hibachi grill. A bowl of soup and a crab rangoon are less than $6 combined, and locals love the orange chicken and honey chicken. You can't go hungry with large portions for small prices. Specialty sushi rolls include the Missouri River roll, honeymoon roll and holy moly roll. Try grilled scallops served with yellow onions and teriyaki sauce.

Tasty Thai specializes in spicy creations from Asia fused with some American cuisine. As a side dish, try the Hawaiian fried rice with pineapple, cashews, raisins and tomatoes. Appetizers, such as Golden Triangles, come in large enough portions to serve as meals themselves. These crispy spring rolls contain ground shrimp, garlic and cilantro with sweet and sour sauce on the side. The special of the house, cashew duck, contains stir-fried duck, pineapple, roast mushrooms and cashews. Thai spicy catfish fillet adds an American twist to Thai flavors with catfish, basil, curry, peppers and eggplant.

BC Bistro, a few blocks north of Linden Park, opened in 2014. Its owners opened their higher-end bistro to bring their version of sophisticated tastes to the Northland. Start with pork fajita nachos made with braised pork, pepper jack cheese sauce, onions, peppers and pico de gallo. Six gluten-free wraps come with house fries or chips. One signature wrap contains salmon, avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato, while mozzarella and avocado aioli meld the salmon wrap together in savory goodness.

Gators VIII Bar & Grill serves as the local dive bar located in Platte Woods, just north of Linden Park. The place stays open until 1:30 a.m. six nights per week and goes to midnight on Sunday. Traditional American fare complement plenty of the beers on tap that flow nightly. Karaoke and billiards rule at Gators VIII. Em Chamas Brazilian Grill features weekly live music in the Village at Burlington Creek.

A few sidewalks on busier streets allow kids, parents, seniors and families ample places to walk. Streets have room for bicycles because most houses have attached garages. The large shopping center to the north welcomes hundreds of motorists with enough parking. If you need a taxi, a couple of companies service the area and Uber can pick you up anytime.

Prairie View Road to the east connects to 72nd Street at the northeastern corner of Linden Park. This intersection sits just one block west of I-29 for easy access to the rest of the metro area.

KCATA's Route 129 bus stops every 15 minutes at the corner of Prairie View Road and 72nd Street. This route heads south towards Kansas City before returning north towards KCI airport 7 days a week.

Woodsmoke Park notes the anchor of the neighborhood, just to the west of Hunters Glen Apartments. The wooded, concrete trail meanders for a half mile. For a longer trail, try the Southern Platte Pass along 64th Street. Riss Lake sits to the southwest if you love small boating activities. Park Forest Park, a mile to the west, contains playscapes for children and a quarter-mile asphalt walking trail through the park. Nearby elementary schools also have playgrounds for kids.

The Village at Burlington Creek has annual events such as the holiday lighting ceremony, special events at the ice rink and regular live music at the wine bar. Downtown Parkville, about three miles away, features Parkville Days, a microbrew festival and the River Jam with live music and art for two days.

The cost of living in Linden Park is lower than that of downtown Kansas City. The average one-bedroom apartment is $570. Leasing townhomes on Fisk Court affords residents with more space for a couple hundred dollars more.

A KCATA ride to the center of the city costs $3 for a day pass, while gasoline prices typically settle at 18 percent lower than the national average. A pint of beer at the local bistro ranges between $3 and $5.

K-Mart anchors the shopping plaza on the north side of Linden Park. Hy-Vee, a few blocks to the south, marks the closest grocery store. Downtown Parkville, further to the southwest, has the nearest farmer's market from April to October.

Epic Bike and Sport has a staff of seven to cater to your cycling needs. The shop focuses on the Specialized brand of equipment for tires, frames, helmets, gear and clothes for any skill level. Epic services what it sells, and techs tune up bikes purchased at other independent cyclist shops. The three levels of tune ups include basic, optional and the works.

Outlaw Cigars claims to the own the "world's biggest baddest cigar store." Outlaw provides tons of imported South American cigars made by the experts. Regular events and parties make Outlaw a popular hang out spot during the summer when the company sponsors sporting events, golf tournaments and lavish parties with cigar-making legends. Outlaw Cigars characterizes a truly unique experience in Kansas City.