Lynhaven - San Jose, CA

During the 1950s and '60s, former city manager "Dutch" Hamann drastically increased the sprawl of San Jose from 17 to 149 square miles. His goal was to make San Jose the Los Angeles of northern California. What also aided in the expansion during that time was the growing demand for high technology brought on by World War II. San Jose was once predominantly farmland, but the need for aerospace and defense advancements during the war forever changed the economic landscape of Santa Clara County. A massive influx of people moved into the area with the creation of so many jobs.

The Lynhaven neighborhood has done an amazing job over the years in forming a tight knit community in spite of this rapid growth. The Lynhaven Neighborhood Association hosts annual events such as the Ice Cream Social, Neighborhood Fruit Harvest, Clean Up Day, Dumpster Day and National Night Out.

The few restaurants in this neighborhood sit along the eastern boundary of Winchester Boulevard. Walk two minutes north on Winchester to get to Krungthai Restaurant, Lynhaven's best Thai joint. In traditional Thai fashion, grab a group of friends and split multiple dishes. Make sure to try the garlic prawns, tom kha gai, pineapple fried rice, pad thai, massaman curry, and eggplant kee mao. Portions come large here so you definitely won't leave hungry.

Mizu Sushi Bar & Grill has an amazing atmosphere and creative cocktails. During happy hour (5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day but Saturday), order a half-priced cherry blossom cocktail or the eastern kiss, which resembles an Asian margarita.

If you feel like grabbing a beer after work head over to the Yard House in Santana Row. This sports bar has a large selection of beers on tap and TVs to watch the game. Try their twist on a classic with the BBQ Bacon Burger to compliment your cold beer.

Lynhaven is surrounded by major roadways which partially explains the predominance of driving among neighborhood residents. With I-280 as the northern boundary and the San Thomas Expressway as the western boundary, getting in and out of the neighborhood could not be any easier. Interstate 880 also crosses perpendicular to I-280 just a couple blocks to the east of the neighborhood as well. With the lack of commercial amenities to draw outsiders into the neighborhood, parking never becomes an issue either.

Walking and biking can be done safely within the neighborhood, but neither is relied on very much as a main form of transportation. The only bike lane exists along Williams Road, the southern boundary of Lynhaven, but more are frequently found on the streets in neighboring neighborhoods.

VTA provides local public transportation on the buses which stop along Williams and Winchester. Bus route 25 transports locals from Lynhaven 3 miles east to Fruitdale Station, another public transportation option run by VTA. Both the buses and light rail cost $2 per ride. For regional public transportation, Caltrains run throughout the entire Bay Area and can be accessed at the San Jose Caltrain Station, less than 5 miles away from Lynhaven.

If nothing else, Uber or calling a cab company always remain an option.

Starbird park serves as the main recreation space for Lynhaven locals. Families enjoy the picnic areas on weekends and kids run around the multiple playgrounds. The fields play host to local sports teams as well as impromptu pickup games of touch football and soccer. The basketball courts add yet another attraction to the park and dogs are welcome as well. Every summer, locals also head downtown to Cesar Chavez Park for the San Jose Jazz Festival.

The average price for a one-bedroom apartment in this neighborhood comes in at $1,765 per month. This falls about 23 percent higher than the San Jose average of $1,435 per month. Local gas prices also average about 23 percent higher than costs across the country. While rent and gas drive the cost of living up, other expenses such as eating out or grabbing a beer remain relatively on par with other cities. Expect an entrée to start around $12 at a decent restaurant and a regular-priced beer to go for $5.

Besides the Toys "R" Us in the neighborhood, locals typically head just north on Winchester to do their shopping. On the other side of I-280, the shopping centers of Santana Row, Westfield Valley Fair and the Winchester Shopping Center offer a ton of options. Browse racks of clothes at stores such as Loft, H&M, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch or American Eagle. Roam department stores like Macy's, Nordstrom and Men's Warehouse. High-end retailers such as White House Black Market, Armani and Tory Burch exist as well. And that doesn't even mention the Anthropologie, Best Buy, DSW or Barnes & Noble.

Even grocery shopping is done here at the Safeway on the corner of Stevens Creek and Winchester. Back in Lynhaven, locals also often head to Grocery Outlet on Williams Road. The family-owned Honeybaked Ham Company provides local business supporters a chance to buy marinated smoked hams, turkeys, roasts and even desserts from a trusted member of the community.