North Highland Oklahoma City, OK

North Highland, sometimes referred to as North Highlands, has been part of Oklahoma City since the 1960s. While the neighborhood saw some challenges in the early 1990s with higher crime rates, it has made great improvements since.

While there are no museums in the neighborhood, the Oklahoma Science Museum on Northeast 52nd provides a world of wonders for adults and children. Visit the satellite galleries’ ever-changing exhibits or see scientific principles in action on the science floor by taking a spin on the Segway Course. For a more down-to-earth experience, check out the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. This museum keeps the Old West alive through displays of the iconic imagery of the American West.

North Highlands has no arts scene or annual events of its own, but Oklahoma City’s downtown provides virtually non-stop possibilities.

Though it doesn't have a central restaurant location, North Highland sports a mix of restaurants in and near the neighborhood from fast food to Japanese. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant has been serving traditional Japanese cuisine and a dazzling array of sushi since 1987. Favorites include the sukiyaki, crafted from thinly sliced beef, yam noodle, tofu and fish cake in a sweet soy sauce. For sushi lovers the options are nearly endless, from roe and eel to smelt and octopus.

Family owned and operated Aja Bleu Café on North Western Avenue delivers soul food and homestyle cooking to appease local appetites. Patrons love their chicken wings and waffles, and the catfish special with fried potatoes and onions satisfies with a smile.

West of North Highland in Nichols Hills Plaza, Cool Greens serves up soups and salads, flat bread pizzas and wraps. Choose the Southwest Harvest salad with apples, pears, sundried figs, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese, or build your own salad or wrap with a choice of five toppings and seven proteins, including vegetarian-friendly blackened tofu.

Residents only have to travel a short distance outside of North Highlands to find nightlife adventure. Classics Bar & Grill on North Western Avenue provides a place to watch the game, test your knowledge at trivia night, sing your heart out at karaoke and catch occasional live music by local musicians. Henry Hudson’s Pub on Hefner has an impressive menu of domestic and imported beers, served up with your choice of hot pub grub.

Most residents of North Highland drive to their destinations, as public transportation is a bit sparse. Oklahoma City’s metro transit system, EMBARK, runs along North Western Avenue, but service is limited. If your agenda calls for a taxi, better call ahead as this suburban neighborhood has no taxi stands. Use your smartphone to request an Uber and Lyft, as both car sharing services operate in Oklahoma City.

Access to the city’s highways and expressways poses no problem here, with Interstate 77 running north-south connecting to Interstate 44 about a mile south of the neighborhood. You can’t always count on sidewalks being available on major thoroughfares, so walkability depends on your destination.

No bike lanes run through this neighborhood. Most bikers utilize the Oklahoma City Trails network of paved walking, running, bicycling and skating paths. Most convenient is the Bert Cooper Trails path which circumvents Lake Hefner.

This neighborhood has its own small park, North Highland Park, located on Northwest 81st Street. Free to the public, the park has a playground and a sprayground for the kids but does not have a lot of amenities or annual events. Other parks nearby include Martin Park Nature Center, where visitors may catch sight of a deer, coyote, owl or armadillo in the park’s 144 acres. This park also contains 2.5 miles of gentle hiking trails, a playground, story circle and observation bee hive. Martin Park provides a variety of nature education programs throughout the year, most of which carry no fee. Leave your dog at home, as pets are strictly forbidden at Martin Park. This is due to the wildlife focus of the center.

Affordability makes North Highland an attractive option, with a cost of living lower than the city average. A one-bedroom apartment in North Highland rents for an average of $460 per month. Downing a beer at the local pub will set you back $3, although you can find venues that have $1.75 specials.

Hopping a bus to downtown costs $1.75 for a one-way fare. Gas prices compare very favorably with the national average. The cost of a gallon of gas in North Highland can beat the national average by as much as 24 percent.

Residents must travel to Penn Square Mall on Northwest Expressway or the French Market on Northwest 63rd to find a major shopping mall. Specialty shopping abounds closer by, however, with Nichols Hills just to the west providing numerous opportunities.

Gil’s Clothing & Denim Bar, located in Wilshire Village, has been selling contemporary fashions since 1987. Women can find jeans in a variety of styles and top them off with the latest trends in tops and sweaters. Men can outfit a year-round wardrobe, from swim trunk to sweaters. Spencer Stone Company provides high-end men’s clothing for the sharp, modern gentleman, specializing in fine suits and fashion-forward separates.

North Highland doesn’t have its own neighborhood grocery, but residents enjoy shopping at Sprouts Farmers Market on North May Avenue. For a true farmers market shopping experience, the Midtown Market at Saints in the east plaza at Walker and 9th has a large selection of fruits, vegetables, live plants and even locally roasted and organically grown coffee.