Molholm Two Creeks Lakewood, CO

A rutted road developed west of Denver in the 1850s, Colfax Avenue originally attracted Eastern European immigrants. These early settlers built a tubercular sanatorium, planted apple orchards and established pig farms. In 1960, the development of the freeway system decimated the area along this once central vein of the city, and it fell into despair.

Belmar, a multipurpose town center, exemplifies the area's art culture with artist studios, gallery spaces and a non-profit photography school. Locals live near the locations of annual festivals, such as the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and Festival Italiano.

You can eat all day long along Colfax Avenue, and your meals either take you to exotic destinations or give you a taste of old-fashioned Americana. Start with breakfast at the Hits the Spot Diner. For something warm and filling, try the breakfast burrito or one of their omelets, but if you need more on your plate, consider the diner's pork chops and eggs or steak and eggs. Sweet lovers dig into the cinnamon French toast.

For lunch, take a culinary trip to Asia at Sidewok Cafe. More than just a clever pun, this cafe brings locals healthy Asian food from Chinese and Thai culinary traditions. Everything from the Kung Pao Chicken to the pho looks fresh and healthy, and the restaurant also cooks up vegetarian dishes.

Nightlife options vary in Molholm/Two Creeks, but Casa Bonita stands as a local favorite. At this iconic Mexican restaurant — which was once featured in an episode of "South Park" — the food is only part of the draw. The restaurant has a 30-foot waterfall, as well as stunt people who dive down the waterfall as diners watch. Stage shows, an arcade and live music complete the offerings at this family friendly venue.

Clubbers frequent Charlie's Denver, an eclectic nightclub that welcomes everybody. This club features two dance floors: one where you shake your booty to top-40 music, and another where line dancers groove to country tunes. One of the country's few gay-friendly country western bars, this club attracts an upbeat crowd of all orientations.

RTD bus route 9 runs from Molholm/Two Creeks to downtown Denver every 30 minutes, and this bus takes approximately 36 minutes to reach the city. Once in downtown, take a free train up and down the 16th Street Mall.

Drivers can reach downtown Denver via Colfax Avenue, and when they want to leave town, they have easy access to Interstate 25, which runs to Colorado Springs in the south and Fort Collins and Boulder to the north.

An extensive network of bicycle trails and bike lanes run through the metro area, and the Lakewood Gulch trail links Molholm/Two Creeks with Denver. Walking through the area feels safe, and many pedestrians fill the sidewalks. Locals hail cabs along Colfax Avenue, but from other parts of the neighborhood, calling a cab or an Uber driver is a better option.

O'Kane Park, site of the annual Dragon Boat Festival, attracts visitors because of its ample list of amenities. Children enjoy well-maintained playground equipment, dogs have access to a large off-leash area and exercise enthusiasts walk or bike the path around the park. In the summer, a flower garden and fountain add more beauty to the park.

Surfside Spray Park cools you off when the summer heat gets unbearable. Featuring a range of spraying water features, this city park charges a $1 admission fee to anyone old enough to walk into the park. You can also rent the park for special events.

Residents here enjoy a relatively low cost of living compared to other residents of the Denver metro area. In Molholm/Two Creeks, renters pay an average of $763 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, roughly 28 percent less than Denver's average of $1,061

With just a $3 bus ticket, locals can reach downtown Denver to access its economic and entertainment opportunities. Drivers enjoy free parking spots throughout the neighborhood, and gas prices run 11 percent lower than the national average. A pint of beer costs $3 to $4, keeping costs relatively low for locals.

Most of the shops in Molholm/Two Creeks sit on Colfax Avenue, but rather than being a destination for window shopping, the street tends to house discount shops, such as The Dollar Tree, ARC Thrift Store or EZ Pawn. However, the area sits just a few miles from Highland's LoHi Marketplace at Olinger, home of upscale fashion boutiques, such as Inspyre Boutique, Jewelius and Goldyn. Inspyre focuses on fashion-forward styles but promises to keep the prices under $100. If you want Colorado-designed Jewelry, check out Jewelius. Goldyn gives the Denver fashion scene a direct link to fashion designers from New York, and it draws people who want to wear Helmut Lane, Rebecca Minkoff and other comparable labels. Large chain grocery stores like King Soopers and Walmart exist in the area, as well as smaller specialty shops, such as Viet Hoa Supermarket. Locals craving fresh veggies can shop at the City Park Esplanade Fresh Market near Sullivan Fountain at the intersection of East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street during the summer.