Riverview - Mesa, AZ

Originally inhabited by the Hohokam people, these neighborhoods rest just south of the Salt River. The fertile soil and adjacent river was a large reason Mormons from Utah settled the land in the late 1800s. Most of the settled land in Mesa was agricultural farmland for a majority of the early years.

For Mesa, aviation really took off with implementation of Falcon Field and Williams Field. As the aviation industry began making Phoenix a destination, and air-conditioning technologies began making the summers more bearable, Mesa witnessed a large population growth. Today, Mesa sits as the 38th largest city in the country with roughly 450,000 residents.

The Mesa Riverview shopping center serves as a central location for residents in these communities to dine. National chains from Chili’s to IHOP have all your meals covered, and a variety of fast food options provides meals at all hours of the night. Mesa Riverview holds a few nightlife options, though a majority of residents in the area venture west to Tempe’s Mill Avenue or up north to Old Town Scottsdale to get their party fix.

Moving south of the border and south of Mesa Riverview, Restaurant Huachinango has been offering customers in the area authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch for the last 20 years. From tacos al pastor to menudo, getting a true taste of Mexico couldn’t be easier for residents of West Enders and Fairway Gardens. Picnic-style decor provides a casual and relaxed atmosphere, and if you close your eyes, you just might think you have been transported to Mexico City.

Royal Thai Grill offers Far East cuisine just northeast of these neighborhoods. Located in a quaint strip mall, Royal Thai's dishes explode with flavor. With a relaxed atmosphere and over 100 menu options, feel free to take your time and of course, come back to try something new. The pad see ew always delivers, but feel free to get a bit adventurous, both with your meal and with the personalized level of spiciness you choose.

If beer variety strikes your fancy, The Brass Tap in Mesa Riverview will be your go to destination for brews. With over 60 beers on tap and 240 craft beers to choose from, you’ll have quite a challenge on your hand to try every one once. If you think you are up for it, The Brass Tap will give you the “beer guru” title for polishing off 300 different beers as a member of the Brew Crew. If you are looking for a dive bar vibe, then the Woodshed II has your name written all over it, with cheap brews, memorabilia and TVs from the 1970s and yes, karaoke nights.

Residents in these neighborhoods rely on their cars as their predominant mode of transportation. Heading south to the Sycamore and Main light rail stop, a park-and-ride lot with over 800 spots lets you take the train west towards Tempe and downtown Phoenix. Bus route 104 take you south along Alma School Road into Chandler and meets up with east-west route 30 at University Drive.

Calling a local cab company or hiring an Uber driver serves as the most reliable ways to obtain driver services in these neighborhoods, as taxis seldom venture in there on their own. The two main arterial roads, Alma School Rd and Rio Solado Pkwy have bike lanes in both directions providing viable safe bicycle routes around the area.

Typically, residents don’t walk many places unless they are seeking a way to get exercise. That said, the Tempe Canal cuts through these neighborhoods and provides a safe dirt corridor for pedestrians to get a good walk in without a fear of traffic getting in their way.

The Tempe Canal provides a long, unbroken stretch of flat trail for bike riders, runners and dog walkers. Newly renovated Mesa Riverview Park sits just west of Fairway Gardens and West Enders and serves as the home of the Chicago Cubs spring training facility.

Riverview Park also provides a great opportunity to bring your family to the man-made lake to practice some urban fishing. Two different climbing structures in the park let kids get exercise in an exciting way. The hot summers make a visit to the park’s “spray ground” a free and fun option for cooling off.

With quick access to the Loop-202 Red Mountain Freeway, these communities are a straight shot east to Lost Dutchman Park. Located in the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman Park possesses some of the best trails in the valley for experienced hikers, pay the $7 per-vehicle fee and head to the top of Flat Iron for some of the most scenic views of the valley you can find.

The cost to live in the West Enders and Fairway Gardens neighborhoods tends to be slightly lower than the rest of Mesa. Though mostly residential, a one-bedroom apartment in the area costs about $617 per month. A one-way trip into downtown Phoenix via Valley Metro Light Rail has a $2 fee, the same as riding the bus. Gas prices in the area tends to average around 10 percent less than the national average, and a domestic beer at a local bar sets you back between $3 and $4 dollars.

Residents of West Enders and Fairway Gardens have easy access to the massive Mesa Riverview shopping center, as well as the equally large Tempe Marketplace. From Walmart to Home Depot to Target, these two complexes provide a convenient locale to purchase a majority of the items they need everyday. Heading to Old Town Scottsdale off the US 101 freeway provides convenient access to high-end stores.

People come to Tillie’s Attic when they are looking for unique, antique or boutique treasures. Tillie's Attic specializes in the rare and hard-to-find. When you walk through the door or browse through one of the shop's periodic sidewalk sales, you can be sure to find that thoughtful gift you’ve been searching so long for. Located just south of the US-60 at the Dobson and Guadalupe intersections, Tillie’s convenient location makes picking up seasonal decorations for your home a cinch year-round.

Fairway Gardens and West Enders have two main options when shopping for groceries. Walmart Supercenter, located in Mesa Riverview serves as the closest grocery store to the area, and just down Alma School Road, residents can shop at the Fry’s Marketplace. Both stores provide all your basic needs for everyday grocery shopping. Between October and May, the city of Mesa has a free public farmers market in downtown every Friday. The farmers market provides an alternative to the big markets, by allowing you to purchase local produce and meats. Mekong Market offers the area a one-stop-shop for all of your Asian and vegetarian cooking needs. Experiment with a variety of noodles and mushrooms and really wow your guests at your next dinner party. Whether you are a master chef or just learning the tricks of the trade, Mekong Market surely has what you are looking for to make the most complicated or simple Asian dishes.