Oakland Vale - Saugus, MA

The historical significance of Saugus and the Oakland Vale neighborhood stems all the way back to the 1600s when Hammersmith, later called Saugus Iron Works, began to operate. It was known for producing over a ton of iron a day, but didn’t prove to be a lucrative expenditure and was closed down by 1670. Many other industries arose throughout the city during the Industrial Revolution.

Saugus has always been a center for manufacturing which many of the museums, including the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, showcase to inquisitive locals and tourists. Annual events held at the Breakheart Reservation and in other areas of the neighborhood provide a clear understanding as to how the town came to be.

On Broadway, you'll find a majority of the restaurants and pubs in the neighborhood.

With only two locations, Angela's Coal Fired Pizza serves coal fired pizza cooked at 900 degrees and made with fresh, quality ingredients. Try the Catania pizza with prosciutto, mozzarella, spinach, garlic, and alfredo sauce while sipping down a $22 pitcher of Angela's sangria. Eat in and relax in the casual dining room with vaulted ceilings, or call ahead for take out to get a taste of the best pizza around in the comfort of your own home.

Towards the south end of the Oakland Vale neighborhood on Broadway, Kowloon Restaurant provides residents with fresh sushi and an array of Asian dishes. The bright red decor, faux mountain range and palm tree background, water fountains and cherry wood bars keep the atmosphere romantic and lively. The restaurant also happens to be a hotspot for celebrities and entertainers when they visit the area.

Live music venues, pubs, comedy clubs and dance clubs can be found within the neighborhood limits. Many locals frequent Giggles Comedy Club for a little standup comedy. The comedy club also acts as a pizzeria, making it a great option for a night outing with friends or family.

Most of the locals in the Oakland Vale neighborhood travel by private vehicle. With safe sidewalks, other forms of transport include walking and cycling. Calling Uber for a ride provides an alternative means of transport. The UberX ride costs about $27 to reach Boston from Oakland Vale.

Public parking and easy access to the highways happen to be some of the many perks of the neighborhood. Route 1 also known as Broadway provides the quickest route to the city, while Main Street and Lynn Fells Parkway give locals access to their neighboring surroundings.

Breakheart Reservation holds most of the untouched land throughout the neighborhood. With over 600 acres of land, the park has many trails, rocky regions with beautiful views and much more. While the trails advise for safety precautions to be taken, there’s still plenty to do for any dog owner or parent. Biking, fishing, grilling, swimming and even skiing are all options at the reservation.

Other parks and areas for play situate themselves throughout the community. Children can run free in the playgrounds and fields at Prankers Pond, the Saugus River and Vital Memorial Park. These parks all provide free parking for those visiting, and also allow for leashed pets.

To live in such an upscale neighborhood, locals spend around $1,680 on a one bedroom rental. The average in comparison to that of Boston’s median rental average differs by just a few hundred dollars. While living in Oakland Vale, you get all of the comforts of city living without being surrounded by innumerable crowds on a regular basis.

The average fuel price for the area remains steady at around 2.4 percent, about one percent higher than that of the national average, yet slightly lower than the average for the state of Massachusetts. Thirsty locals can grab a pint of beer for around $4 to $5 at a local pub or grab a bite to eat for around $15 a plate.

For all household items, grocery products and clothing, make your way to Main Street or Broadway. On Broadway, you’ll see many brand name stores, as well as the mall and several boutiques. When shopping for groceries necessitates, run to Trader Joe’s or Hannaford Supermarket. Main Street harbors most of the specialty shops and consignment stores.

Women who insist on being fashionable at a reasonable price visit Vamped Boutique on the north end of Broadway. The boutique features beautiful views of the city while allowing you to shop for accessories, clothes, shoes and other must-haves for the stylish woman. Another favorite for locals, the Raspberry Beret on Main Street, gives women the opportunity to buy second hand clothing and accessories. You can also sell your own used articles to the store for cash or store credit.