Rosemont - Sacramento, CA

Just a couple of generations ago, Rosemont consisted of orange groves, cattle ranches, chicken farms and strawberry fields. The first planned community, built by the Rosemont Corporation, went up in the 1960s and gave the neighborhood its name. As the neighborhood became primarily residential in the 1970s, residents flooded in, attracted by great schools and a friendly community vibe.

Keep your eyes open for Cajun-themed events presented by Louisiana Sue, who keeps the spirit of zydeco alive throughout the Sacramento area, including in Rosemont. Whether it's the Pirates and Pumpkins Festival in the fall or the Crawfish and Catfish Festival, you can count on these events to bring together great music, spicy food and happy neighbors.

Restaurants in Rosemont tend toward the casual, with plenty of Asian, American and Mexican eateries lining Folsom Boulevard and Kiefer Boulevard.

Stop at Oz Korean BBQ for tasty Korean fusion-barbecue dishes such as beef brisket with sour and spicy dipping sauces, rancho galbi and garlic shrimp. Enjoy grilling your own high-quality meats to smoky perfection. Locals talk about the all-you-can-eat menu with a gleam in their eyes.

For a fast lunch or takeout when you don't feel like cooking dinner, head to Teriyaki Chicken Express on Kiefer Boulevard. This tried-and-true favorite pleases every time with the chicken teriyaki, yakitori and chicken udon. With fast service, generous portions and friendly owners, you'll find yourself coming back time and again for the sweet, yummy teriyaki sauce.

The Sandwich Spot features a menu filled with cleverly named sandwiches and a location filled with happy customers. Try the Lucky Ducky, packed high with turkey, cream cheese and cranberry sauce, or the Yabba Dabba, which keeps the cranberry sauce and adds marinated chicken and pepper jack cheese. Eat in or take out, ask for extra "bomb sauce" on the side, and don't be surprised when the friendly employees behind the counter remember your name and your order.

While Rosemont doesn't teem with nightlife, it is only a quick drive to downtown Sacramento hot spots like Harlow’s or Fox & Goose. Staying in Rosemont you can find a few friendly neighborhood bars to make your own. Stop in at the Mushroom Lounge, a dive bar with an eclectic jukebox, friendly regulars and astonishingly strong drinks. Happy Bar at the south end of Rosemont has a low-key vibe until the karaoke machines get cranking on weekend evenings. Grab the mike knowing everyone in the bar will cheer for you.

Sacramento's public transit system sends only a couple of bus lines in the direction of Rosemont, leaving residents there to rely on their cars as their primary means of transportation. U.S. Route 50 begins right at the edge of Rosemont before heading east to Lake Tahoe and ultimately across the entire country, while California State Route 99 takes you down the east side of the San Joaquin Valley to Bakersfield. While taxis and Uber are available in the Sacramento area, you'll have to summon one to come pick you up.

While walking around Rosemont tends to be impractical, most of the major thoroughfares and many of the secondary streets have designated bike lanes to help dedicated cyclists get around town.

The American River Parkway just north of Rosemont stretches for 23 miles along the scenic American River. From Rosemont, get to the American River easily from the Watt Avenue Access point, where you can launch your raft, kayak or canoe for a day of fun on the water. Fishermen also gather at this spot to cast their lures.

Oki Park on the edge of Rosemont gives kids a place to play with playgrounds, a swimming pool and basketball court. Bring your leashed dog for a romp, run through the water spray area or sign up for a summertime swim class.

The cost of living in Rosemont runs only about 3 percent lower than that of Sacramento as a whole. If you drive, be prepared to pay about 16 percent more for a gallon of gas than the national average. Even though your public transportation options are quite limited in this neighborhood, when you catch a bus to downtown Sacramento, it'll only cost you $2.50, with a 50 percent discount for seniors, students and those with disabilities.

Housing in Rosemont tends to be reasonably priced, with a one-bedroom apartment renting for an average of $773 per month. When you want to grab a beer with friends on your way home from work, expect to pay $4 or $5 at a local bar.

With no high-end shopping in the vicinity, residents of Rosemont typically head north to the Arden-Arcade neighborhood for errands at spots such as the Arden Town Center mall. A little closer to home, you can find a few specialty shops.

Green Acres Nursery & Supply on Folsom Boulevard helps keep your living environment green and tranquil. This nursery sells plants of excellent quality at inexpensive prices, and the full inventory includes trees, fruit trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables to make your green thumb happy.

Learn to cut with a MAC knife in the kitchen, and you're spoiled forever as a home chef. Users of these well-balanced, extremely sharp knives insist they're the best in the world, and you'll find the U.S. distribution point right in Rosemont. Pick up a starter knife or a whole set to discover how easy cooking dinner at home becomes with the right equipment.

Once you have your professional knives, you need food, so head to Raley's, Save Mart Supermarket or Food Source. La Popular Super Market on Kiefer Boulevard is a little bodega carrying Mexican food staples, and the full carniceria carries meats freshly marinated and ready to cook. Just across the freeway, you'll find the Midtown Farmers Market Sacramento, which opens every Saturday morning to sell fresh fruit, handmade soaps and hot tamales.