Richland Park - Richland Hills, TX

The neighboring community of North Richland Hills first settled in the late 1800s as part of a land grant, spanning south to Richland Hills. The area remained largely rural until Richland Park and nearby neighborhoods experienced a population boom in the 1960s thanks to their convenient location.

Head to nearby DFW Elite Toy Museum to browse vintage model cars. For music and art stores, explore the shops at nearby North East Mall. For a taste of the local culture, head into the metropolitan area for the annual Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art .

Dining hot spots surround the tiny residential community of Richland Park, but you don't have to leave the neighborhood boundaries for an easy-on-the-wallet, home-cooked lunch. Explore the authentic Mexican eats on Baker Boulevard. For fresh pizza and humble Italian cuisine, take a drive down Grapevine Highway.

Casita Salvadoreña Restaurant offers authentic Salvadorian cuisine in the heart of Richland Park. Pull up a chair to taste the best pupusas this side of Fort Worth served with fresh coleslaw. Be sure to stop by in the morning to sample items from the extensive breakfast menu.

Just down the road, you find the Mexican Deli Snack Bar where you can get a shrimp cocktail for just a few bucks. No Tex-Mex food finds its way to the menu here -- only true, down-home Mexican cooking. Wash down your meal with a refreshing agua fresca made on the spot. Choose from horchata, mango, pineapple, cantaloupe and other exotic flavors.

A short drive north brings you to Jerry's Italian Bistro, a hole-in-the-wall favorite for home-cooked pizza and pasta. The fettucini Alfredo features the freshest pasta and full-flavored Alfredo sauce, and the New York-style pizza has a thick enough crust to satisfy the biggest appetites. For a little something special, splurge on the lobster ravioli. You may be tempted to fill up on the fresh-baked bread, but save some appetite till your meal arrives.

Richland Park itself has no nightlife options, but the bars and clubs of Fort Worth are just a short drive away. You also find a few dives, sports grills and pubs in next-door Hurst if you want to grab a drink after work or shoot some pool with the neighbors.

Conveniently located near the Airport Freeway and Interstate 820, Richland Park offers a quick commute to downtown Fort Worth or the airport. Although most residents navigate by car, public parking never presents a problem along the spacious streets. Of course, you can always call a ride-share service such as Uber or an airport cab if you need a quick ride.

If you prefer public transportation, take a short walk to the Richland Hills Station with direct service to Fort Worth via the Dallas Area Rapid Transit . Richland Park features miles of suburban sidewalks and quiet streets ideal for an evening stroll or bike ride, but you need a car to run most of your errands.

Residents of Richland Hills don't have to look far to find expansive public parks for a morning stroll or a family picnic. Swing by Rosebud City Park to go for a jog on the paved walking track, watch your kids climb on the playground, or chat with neighbors under the shaded pergolas. The park also houses soccer fields and basketball courts. Feel free to bring your canine companion as long as you keep your pooch leashed.

Adjacent to Richland Elementary School you find Windmill Park, a public park with plenty space for playing a game of Frisbee with your dog. Local families stop by to let their kids enjoy the playground and basketball courts. For even more recreation, test your skills at the open tennis courts across from the community center.

High-value homes, spacious properties and a lack of walking-distance amenities place the cost of living in Richland Park at around 5 percent higher than average for Fort Worth. Expect to pay $2.50 for two-hour pass on the DART to get to the downtown area. If you plan to rent, keep in mind that a one-bedroom costs around $865 a month. Gas prices hold steady at around 7.7 percent below the national average, and a pint of beer at a local bar costs about $5.

Richland Park has a small retail scene that includes a few auto shops and furniture stores, but local boutiques and hobby shops await just outside the community along Grapevine Highway.

Stop by The Arcade Factory to get your gaming console fixed at wallet-friendly prices, and make an appointment to explore the arcade showroom filled with classics such as pinball, Pac-Man and Mario Kart. Whether you enjoy cutting-edge racing games or nostalgic retro machines, Arcade Factory has something for every die-hard arcade fan.

For a more diverse shopping experience, take a short drive into Hurst to explore North East Mall, a shopping center with fashion mainstays such as JCPenney, Dillard's, and Nordstrom alongside upscale shops such as Brighton. A little ways further east, you find Mid-Cities Antique Mall, a treasure trove of home decor and memorabilia from the turn of the century to the present. Hidden gems lie waiting at rock-bottom prices, and the dedicated parking lot makes for easy browsing any time of day.

For your weekly grocery shopping, stop by one of the nearby chain supermarkets, or pick up your bread and milk at the local Mission Foods or Stop & Get. Check out the Fort Worth Farmer's Market less than two miles west of Richland Park for an even bigger selection of local goods. Here you find not just produce, but old-fashioned candy and farm-fresh eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.