Oak Hill - Jacksonville, FL

Dig a little and you'll find evidence of Jacksonville's long history buried in the soil right under Oak Hill. European settlers came to the area in the 1500s, but it had been inhabited for thousands of years before that by a coastal subgroup of the Native American Timucua people. Over the next few hundred years, French, Spanish and English settlers battled over the region. Florida finally became a United States territory in 1821, and Jacksonville elected its first mayor in 1832.

These days, Oak Hill stands as a thriving neighborhood situated within easy driving distance of many museums and theaters. Head up to the Cummer Museum and Gardens in the Riverside area to enjoy a wonderful collection of historic art and some of the oldest trees in Florida. Visit the Jacksonville Historical Society on Philip Randolph Boulevard to find out more about Oak Hill as well as the wider Jacksonville area.

Quite a few different restaurants serve the Oak Hill neighborhood. Many of them lie along 103rd Street at the north end of the neighborhood. Choose fast food or opt for authentic ethnic cuisine, depending on your preferences.

Visit The Original Tunis on 103rd Street for truly tempting home-style food and quick, friendly service. Order the yummy chicken wings and add crinkle-cut fries for a quick, tasty family meal. Treat yourself to a side of succulent fried mushrooms to go with the delectable meat in your gyro, and go home with a happy tummy. You can eat in, take out or drive through.

Slip into Success Chinese Restaurant, also on 103rd Street, for seriously satisfying comfort food. An amiable crew and flexible menu options make this place easy to love. If you don't see what you want, just ask for a custom order. Try the succulent white-meat sesame chicken. or indulge your taste buds with the seafood delight. Order in, take your food home or call for delivery.

If you like Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, be sure to stop in at Tita's Kitchen on Firestone Road. Super-clean surroundings and fresh ingredients combine for a genuinely enjoyable dining experience. Order the Nicaraguan gallo pinto, and wrap your lips around to-die-for rice and beans. Finish up your meal with a chocolaty cacao con leche, and saunter out with a warm glow inside: You'll love it.

Oak Hill residents spend subdued evenings in local restaurants, socializing over a full bar. Livelier nights out can also be found within walking distance. Drop into Steel Pony on Jammes Road at the north of the neighborhood for a decent selection of drinks and a cozy hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. Alternatively, head up into central Jacksonville for more energetic night-time fun.

Most people in Oak Hill own and use a vehicle of some kind, in large part because of the neighborhood's proximity to the city center. West Beltway 295 goes directly through the middle of Oak Hill, so you can get onto the highway easily.

Properties in the neighborhood usually come with a designated parking space, driveway or garage space. Scarce public parking in Oak Hill makes finding a space an issue at times, but businesses have on-site parking for customers and spots stand available on residential streets.

Oak Hill residents also walk and cycle frequently. No bicycle lanes exist in the neighborhood, but the streets are pretty bike friendly. Most streets in the area have sidewalks, making them quite walkable and safe for pedestrians.

You can't readily hail a cab in Oak Hill, but you can call for a taxi. Order a sedan, minivan or airport shuttle from Checker Cab by phone or via the neat, user-friendly interface on the firm's website. For a car-sharing alternative, try Uber which operates in the Jacksonville area and can save you money, especially if you plan to travel a longer-than-average distance.

Getting to the center of Jacksonville by bus takes about 45 minutes on a weekday. Simply board a number 5 bus northbound on Blanding Boulevard and ride directly into the city center.

Two neat little parks lie in close proximity to the Oak Hill neighborhood: Wheat Field Park on Wheat Road to the west of the area and Wesconnett Park on 103rd Street and Wesconnett Boulevard near the northeast corner of Oak Hill. Neighborhood residents enjoy free access to both parks.

Wheat Field Park features an excellent softball and baseball setup, and the 7.4-acre venue also has a playground for the little ones. Security lighting makes this park suitable for night-time play as well as daytime fun. The West Duval Youth Association uses the park for its pre-T-ball, T-ball, softball and baseball programs.

If you enjoy playing basketball, head over to Wesconnett Park. You'll find two recently updated basketball courts and a handy multiuse field to run around in as well as a playground and plenty of parking.

Both parks permit pets, but require they be kept on a leash and cleaned up after. For more dog-centric action, consider taking your pooch to Confederate Park Dog Park in Jacksonville's Downtown area. This free park features a large fenced area for off-leash fun as well as a rinse area for post-play cleanup.

Outdoor events in the general Jacksonville region include the Jacksonville Jazz festival, which occurs at a number of Downtown venues in May each year. The nearby beach towns showcase local artists and international bands in a series of annual open-air concerts and festivals.

Oak Hill residents stay close to city amenities without paying the high prices associated with inner-city living. Cost of living runs about 7 percent less than the Jacksonville average. Expect to pay about $542 for a one-bedroom property in the community.

More affordable when it comes to nights out as well, local bars and pubs in Oak Hill charge about $4.50 for an imported bottle of ale or $3.50 for a domestic draft. Craft beer prices vary depending on the batch and also upon the brewery.

Gas prices in Oak Hill sit on par with the Jacksonville average, with prices about 1.5 to 2 percent above the national average. You'll pay $1.50 one way to get into the city center, or 75 cents if you qualify for a reduced fare. Happily, seniors in the area ride the bus for free.

Oak Hill residents live within a mile of three grocery stores, making it an ideal neighborhood if you don't like to travel far for ingredients. Rowes Supermarket on Blanding Boulevard has a large selection of staple items as well as international foods and snacks. The store's clean and well-stocked deli counter helps you fill your fridge and the prices go easy on your wallet.

For boutique-style stores, visit central Jacksonville. With that said, you'll find plenty of useful shops in the immediate Oak Hill area.

Visit Family Dollar on Morse Avenue at the southeast corner of the neighborhood for a collection of essentials, from foods to personal care items. Pop into the Bargain House of Fleas on Blanding Boulevard for a treasury of vintage items, produce, clothing, beauty products and household knickknacks. Friendly vendors make this smaller flea market easy to navigate for a fun afternoon any day of the week.

Several farmers markets serve the general Jacksonville area. The largest and arguably the most convenient, Jacksonville Farmer's Market in the Riverside area resides about 5 miles north of Oak Hill. This community gem opens 365 days a year and carries local produce, seasonal treats and sustainably sourced ingredients. An array of vendors under one roof makes this market a bargain shopper's paradise.