Saratoga-Oakbrook Village - Tulsa, OK

Historic Route 66, "America's Mother Road," runs through this neighborhood along 11th Street. Originally outside the city, by the 1940s, the area was finding its identity as a working-class stronghold. More recently, the neighborhood attracts young professionals who work in administrative, social services and medical positions.

Restaurants in the neighborhood tend toward fast food joints such as Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy. For a truly authentic Mexican meal, those in the know head just a bit farther west to El Gallo Loco, where the menu is in Spanish and the tortillas are made by hand. The "pick 2" dinner serves up large orders of pork, ribs, or beef, and the vegetable menu even includes spicy cactus.

Just a mile or so north of this neighborhood sits one of Tulsa's most renowned eateries. Located on the original old Route 66, Hank's Hamburgers has impressed as a Tulsa landmark since 1949. Hank's specialty remains old-fashioned hamburgers with onions grilled in the meat, dressed up with special seasonings. Get your kicks on Route 66 with the bestselling Big Okie burger, which weighs in at a whopping 16 ounces thanks to four 1/4-pound patties with cheese. Other favorites include the chicken club sandwich and chili cheese fries. For dessert, enjoy a thick malt or spend a mere $1 on Hank's chocolate peanut butter balls.

The family-oriented character of this neighborhood means that residents generally take a drive to find the nearest nightlife. Down Mingo Road a couple of miles, locals enjoy the party atmosphere at Knuckleheads Too Bar & Grill. Visit on Wednesday for the hump day special: free hamburgers and hot dogs with $4 margaritas.

Tulsa is known for its traffic and, true to form, most residents of Saratoga-Oakbrook Village drive to their destinations. Buses do run down 11th Street to downtown, but for most other destinations, a car is desirable. Fortunately, highway access isn’t a problem with the Mingo Valley Expressway connecting you to Tulsa’s major highways.

You can’t find a cab to hail curbside here. Passengers who desire taxi service should call ahead for a ride. Uber operates in Tulsa for those with a smartphone.

Public parking is often available on the street without charge and most businesses have free parking. The area wasn’t designed with foot traffic in mind, and most residents find driving a more desirable a mode of travel than walking. City streets have no bike lanes here, so bicyclists prefer to ride the Mingo Trail or other pathways on the Tulsa Area Trails System.

Residents of the Saratoga-Oakbrook Village neighborhood appreciate the amenities their closest local park provides. McClure Park, located at 7th and Memorial, charges $2 for a day of summer fun in the Olympic-sized pool with slides and concessions. In addition to the swimming pool, McClure also has sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and a 1.75-mile walking/jogging trail with a foot bridge across the creek. Admission to this kid-friendly park is free and dogs are welcome on a leash. McClure is one of Tulsa’s Community Center Parks, so park patrons can attend arts and crafts, sports and fitness and dance classes, plus education programs, for a small fee. The park also hosts annual holiday and special events.

This neighborhood carries a more affordable price tag than most. Expect to pay about 20 percent less than the city average for a one-bedroom apartment or about $455 per month. Gas prices here help families stay on budget, averaging 17 percent below the national average. Cost for a one-way, one-bus ride downtown only sets you back $1.50, and seniors with a Super Senior ID card and children under four ride free.

Hoist a mug of domestic beer at a local pub for $3 or pay a couple of dollars more for the imported variety. Some bars offer beer specials with lower prices.

Residents must travel a short distance outside this neighborhood to find major shopping areas, but with the Mingo Valley Expressway and Interstate 44 at hand, that poses no problem.

Head down to 51st Street and Sheridan for a unique shopping experience at the Farm Shopping Center, where you can find 37 specialty stores and restaurants as well as a bank. For hip girly fashions at reasonable prices check out Abelina’s Boutique Dress Couture at the Farm. Abelina’s specializes in custom-designed dresses and wedding gowns, casual apparel and jewelry.

Hollyberry & Co., also at the Farm, provides a Christmas shopping experience the whole year through. One of a kind home decor and gift items let shoppers bring the Christmas spirit home no matter the time of year.

On a smaller scale, Mini-Mall 31 at 31st and Sheridan houses shops featuring items that may not be available anywhere else. Ewing Music contains one of the largest selections of print music and karaoke accessories in the state. Will Rogers Clocks, Lamps n' More carries thousands of clocks, curio cabinets and miniature clocks.

For major grocery shopping, locals drive three miles south to Reasor’s, which has a bakery, deli, floral department and pharmacy for one-stop shopping needs. The closest farmers market is OU-Tulsa Farmers Market at 41st and Yale Avenue, where Tulsans shop for local produce, honey, cheese and plants.