North Aurora - Aurora, CO

In the 1880s, businessman Donald Fletcher saw promise in a flat expanse of prairie east of the Rocky Mountains, and he founded the town of Fletcher. In 1893, a silver crash drove Fletcher from the area — and he abandoned residents with a huge water bill. Incensed, residents dropped his name from the town and renamed their city Aurora, after one of the area's subdivisions.

In the following years, multiple subdivisions sprung up in the area, and between the 1970s and 1980s, this was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

On the eastern edge of this suburb sits the Plains Conservation Center, where you can see how the area looked before the developments arrived. Aurora residents also have access to Denver's museums, including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Art Museum.

Most of the restaurants in North Aurora sit on the border of Aurora and Denver, along Colfax Avenue. There, you can munch on your favorite meal, explore new flavors, down a pint of lager or dance the night away.

At the Kitchen Table Cafe, Aurora residents enjoy old favorites made with organic ingredients and stunning skill. Try the meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy. The succulent texture of the meatloaf, as well as the subtle traces of rosemary in the gravy, make this a meal worth trying.

Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery features trendy baby kale and quinoa salads alongside hearty streaks smothered in an array of sauces, from hollandaise to sweet and spicy yellow chili sauce. If you're not a meat lover, this eatery serves tofu as well.

Open only in the evenings, To the Wind Bistro pulls in residents for its small, gourmet plates and European atmosphere. Locals love the sweet potato gnochi, duck pastrami or black cod and manila clams.

If you want to sample a local brew, check out the Vine Street Pub and Brewery. Named the best dive bar in Denver by Westward Magazine, this pub has the capacity to produce up to 5,000 barrels of beer annually.

If you prefer cocktails, head to The Thin Man, where an upbeat, mature crowd sips infused-vodka drinks. Thanks to the knowledgeable bartenders, who can always guide you to the right drink, even cocktail novices enjoy this joint.

The Abbey Tavern serves up classics with a twist in a beautiful patio surrounded by a brick wall. Try the barbecue chicken wings with a splash of Guinness in the sauce, the Irish nachos with corned beef or the breakfast-themed macaroni and cheese topped with eggs and bacon.

Clubs also dot the streets in part of the neighborhood nicknamed SoCo, short for South Colfax. Locals frequent the Beta Nightclub, which hosts an upstairs rap room and a large space for electronica on the main floor. Milk, a nearby club, has a retro jazz room and a bar inspired by A Clockwork Orange.

Residents can easily walk through North Aurora's commercial district, but as a relatively sprawling suburb, the area isn't considered a walkable community. Residents with bicycles ride through the residential streets, but the traffic on Colfax can be dense and intimidating for bicyclists.

Interstates 70 and 225 intersect in this area, allowing residents to easily access downtown Denver or connect to Interstate 25 for a commute to the southern suburbs. Parking is free on residential streets, and most businesses have free parking lots as well. As you get closer to Denver, however, you need to buy permits or pay for parking.

A range of public transit options serve the residents of North Aurora. RTD buses run along Colfax, a light rail station sits on North Parker Road and the Amtrak train picks up travelers at the nearby Denver International Airport.

Cabs can be hailed on the street if you're lucky, but in most cases, using Uber or calling a local cab company is a better way to snag a ride.

Several small parks dot the neighborhood, including Central Park Stapleton, which features a huge playground for kids. W.H. Ferguson Park features quirky concrete turtles as well as picnic tables and a playground, and Founders Green hosts free summer shows from the Aurora Fox Theater.

Denver's largest park, City Park, sits north of North Aurora. Large expanses of green grass provide areas for recreation and relaxation, and a lake offers scenic views. The children's museum and the zoo, both free to residents on several days throughout the year, sit on the edges of the park.

Festivals abound in north Aurora and the surrounding area, including Denver Zoo Lights, the Stapleton Beer Festival and the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo.

Living in North Aurora offers better value than other parts of Denver. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Denver costs $1,041 per month, and rent in North Aurora sits at about the same rate — but bargain hunters can find one-bedroom deals between $820 and $950.

A gallon of gas in North Aurora costs 95 percent of the national average, and if residents prefer to take public transit, it costs $4 to get into Denver during rush hour. An all-day pass for the buses and light rails costs just under $7, with more affordable options available for month or yearly passes. A pint of beer on special costs only $3 on Colfax, and even full-price beer can be found for $3 to $6.

Colfax brings shopping to the area as well. Check out the boutique Soul Haus for home goods, clothing, and homemade gifts and decor made by local artists. The Peppermint Boutique has women's clothing, and Talulah Jones features children's wear.

The Tattered Cover Bookstore has long been considered one of the best independent book stores in the country, and area residents visit this shop to browse for used books or listen to nationally acclaimed writers.

If you are not looking to travel too far to get your groceries, there are many options available. Walmart and Safeway provide two inexpensive options right along nearby Colfax Avenue.

For sporting equipment, visit Dick's right down the road, or pick up some treats for your favorite furry friend at PetSmart. Finish up your trek down Colfax Avenue by stopping in at the Home Depot, for any do-it-yourself home improvement needs.