North Central Hollywood Hollywood, FL

The city of Hollywood was formed in the 1920s by a man who dreamed of creating an East Coast counterpart to the motion picture mecca of Hollywood, California. While that dream never came to fruition, Hollywood developed rapidly as a suburb of Fort Lauderdale in the 1950s and '60s, and by the end of the 20th century, it had its own impressive commercial base and cultural scene.

The area that comprises North Central Hollywood makes up one of the most established parts of the city; its development occurred early on in the timeline as growth spread south from Fort Lauderdale.

The Gallery of Amazing Things, an event venue featuring dozens of unique art pieces, sits less than a mile north on U.S. 1. Annual events in Hollywood include a Fourth of July celebration and a St. Patrick's Day parade and festival.

Sheridan Street, a major east-west thoroughfare in North Central Hollywood, houses numerous dining options, as does U.S. 1, a major north-south secondary highway in the area. On either street, you can find anything from Italian and Chinese to burgers and steak houses.

For a good meal and an amazing view, head over to the oceanfront and visit Hollywood Prime. This four diamond-rated restaurant is located within the Diplomat Resort and Spa. Known for its succulent steaks and fresh seafood, locals say that it is worth the higher price tag. If your budget is a bit more limited, walk across the hotel lobby to Fresh. This grab-and-go establishment offers salads, freshly made sandwiches and delicious pastries.

When a late-night craving for pizza hits, Cyber Pizza Cafe, located on U.S. 1 a half-mile north of North Central Hollywood, has you covered. Open until 4 a.m., this locally owned pizzeria has daily specials on the best pies in South Florida. You can order a full pie, or if you just need a snack, pay by the slice. If your taste buds ache for something other than pizza, sample another menu item, such as the Philly cheesesteak or the burritos. Make sure to save room for an ice cream dessert.

For vegetarians who still like great deli food, Atlas Meat-Free Delicatessen serves sandwiches featuring vegan burgers, vegan sausage and vegetarian turkey as the meat substitutes, and they're topped with vegan cheese and fresh toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. Chefs prepare the vegan meat, which consists of fresh, local produce and non-GMO grains, in the kitchen daily. Be sure to stock up during your visit. Located inside the Yellow Green Farmers Market, Atlas is only open on the weekends.

The centralized location of North Central Hollywood puts it in close proximity to several popular nightlife hubs in the area, including Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Young Circle in Hollywood and South Beach in Miami, all of which can be accessed in a 35-minute drive or less. These districts are all renowned for their abundance of bars, nightclubs and live music venues. More low-key nightlife can be found closer to home, such as Shenanigans Sports Pub, which provides daily happy hour specials and dozens of sporting events playing on large TVs.

While some of the residential neighborhoods in North Central Hollywood contain streets that are suitable for walking and biking, most area residents drive when needing to cover any significant difference. All of Broward County has heavy traffic, and most streets in Hollywood do not have bike lanes.

North Central Hollywood provides abundant free parking and sits in close proximity to I-95, U.S. 1 and several major east-west secondary roads. These routes provide many ways to commute to other points of interest in Broward County.

If you don't want to drive, you can travel by taxi. Be sure to call in advance for a ride since you can't hail a cab in North Central Hollywood. Uber, the popular ride-sharing service, provides another option that many locals prefer.

Public transportation consists of the Broward Transit Association bus system, which has several stops in North Central Hollywood.

Topeekeegee Yugnee Park stands as the largest park in the area. It contains fitness stations and a 2-mile path for walking, jogging or bicycling, picnic areas, bicycle rentals and a water park. For sports enthusiasts, the park also has basketball and tennis courts, as well as sand volleyball. The park provides designated areas for dogs.

Free parking and a $1.50 admission fee make the park an affordable and fun way to spend a sunny afternoon. Topeekeegee Yugnee also hosts many events throughout the year, such as fitness boot camps.

North Central Hollywood residents enjoy a lower cost of living than the average South Florida resident. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $802 per month, and a beer in a local bar typically costs around $3.50. Area gas prices usually hover 2 percent higher than the national average, and a bus ticket to downtown Fort Lauderdale runs $1.75.

If you need to make a large shopping trip, you have several options convenient to North Central Hollywood. You can head about 15 minutes north to the Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale, which houses big box stores, such as Macy's and Dillard's, along with high-end shops that include Coach and Sephora. If you want even more options, drive 20 minutes west to the Sawgrass Mills Mall; it ranks as one of the 10 largest enclosed shopping centers in America.

Closer to home, you can find several boutiques and specialty shops, such as Two Kisses Boutique. Located near Young Circle in the heart of Hollywood, this trendy shop carries fashionable women's clothing from local, national and international designers, accessories such as handbags and jewelry, and other local goods.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at City Nut & Candy. This Kosher candy store stocks a large supply of sugar free goodies, as well as dried fruit and bulk candy.

For large grocery trips, residents visit Publix or Save-A-Lot, both of which maintain locations on Sheridan Street. The Yellow Green Farmers Market sits right in the neighborhood, stays open year-round on Saturday and Sunday, and carries goods such as locally grown produce, fresh baked goods and artisan products created by local craftsmen.