Silverado Ranch - Las Vegas, NV

Silverado Ranch sits on the west side of the large suburb of Henderson, Nev., and it grew up along with the area after World War II. Although the town languished for a while after the war effort ended, residential development in the '90s boomed, with many people attracted to the new construction and the ability to be near Las Vegas while having a distinct, separate identity.

While Silverado Ranch itself doesn't hold any museums, just up Las Vegas Boulevard you'll find Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition with its replica of the ship's grand staircase and many personal belongings from actual passengers. Not all the fun happens up on the Strip, though. Enjoy the South Point Gourmet Food Truck Festival in May and the weekly Cars and Coffee car show that brings together a whole community of car lovers from the Las Vegas Valley at Sansone Park Place.

Silverado Ranch residents don't have to drive the six miles north to the Las Vegas Strip when they want a great meal. The neighborhood Ranch provides plenty of options for dining out, especially along Eastern Avenue, Maryland Parkway and Silverado Ranch Boulevard.

Poke Express and Island Sushi & Grill share an address, making it a great choice when not everyone in your group wants sushi. Poke Express caters to the large Hawaiian population of the Las Vegas area. Pick up some furikake ahi poke or some kimchi mussel poke, or try some of the other creative poke offerings on the menu. For a real taste of the islands, come on Thursday when the restaurant serves poi, or slide on over to the Island Sushi side of the restaurant for all-you-can-eat sushi.

Grimaldi's Pizzeria on S. Eastern Avenue serves up New York-style, thin-crust pizza that manages to be chewy and crispy at the same time. Chefs cook up each pizza individually in the coal-fired brick oven, and you can sit back and enjoy some Sinatra playing on the sound system while you wait. Salads and cheesecake round out the menu.

When you want something a little different, head to Taj Palace for award-winning Indian food. With light curries, flavorful samosas and moist, sizzling tandoori chicken, locals always find something to like. Get a free mango shake when you check in, and come back for the weekday lunch buffet.

Silverado Ranch residents find little need to travel up to the congested Las Vegas Strip for nightlife since the local scene has so much to offer. Drop in at the Fireside Restaurant & Tavern on Cactus Avenue for an amazing selection of rare beers and friendly bartenders who remember your name and preferred drink. The pool tables at Mickey's Cues & Brews remain in mint condition; once you've spent an evening shooting pool here, no other pool hall satisfies, and you can bring your teenagers along with no worries.

RTC Transit runs bus routes through the Silverado Ranch neighborhood and the rest of Henderson to connect locals to Las Vegas and other areas of the Las Vegas Valley. In addition, while you won't find cabs on the street, you can call them easily or schedule a ride with Uber when you need personalized transportation.

Most residents in this affluent neighborhood drive their own cars, and drivers enjoy the close proximity to Interstates 15 and 25, as well as Las Vegas Boulevard leading right up to the beginning of the Strip. You'll find plenty of free parking throughout Silverado Ranch and the rest of Henderson.

While much of Henderson contains bike lanes to give cyclists easy access to the city, Silverado Ranch has very few. Substantial distances make it difficult to commute or run errands on foot.

Henderson's legendary parks system guarantees that residents of Silverado Ranch have plenty of options when it comes to outdoor recreation.

Head to Desert Bloom Park to run, ride your bike, walk your dog or participate in a yoga session under the trees. With baseball diamonds, basketball courts and beach volleyball courts, this park provides good opportunities for exercise in a team environment.

Hidden Palms Park provides playgrounds for your kids, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and a workout area for the fitness-minded. Duck Creek Park includes a skate park and a splash pad for water play on hot Vegas afternoons.

The Henderson Parks department keeps the events coming all year long. Keep your eyes open for concerts in local parks, art festivals and many walk/run events, including the Stroll 'n' Roll for parents with their strollers and the Zombie Run every October.

The cost of living in Silverado Ranch runs about 7 percent above that of Las Vegas overall, as does the general cost of living in Henderson. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment for about $864, and stopping at a local pub for a beer should cost you around $5.

When you're driving around the Las Vegas Valley, expect to pay about 10 percent more for a gallon of gasoline than the national average. Those who'd rather avoid driving and the gas prices associated with it can take the RTC bus up to the Strip for only $2.

While residents of Silverado Ranch usually head into Vegas to visit high-end designer shops or Town Square Las Vegas in Henderson to shop at the Container Store, Guitar Center, Old Navy, or H&M, the Silverado Ranch area also holds several intriguing specialty stores.

Fans of anime, Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli and all things Japanese should head straight to Tokyo Discount for an amazing supply of Japanese knickknacks, skin care products and memorabilia. Rhapsodielle sells trendy women's clothes that are cleverly arranged by color to help you find the perfect outfit.

Silverado Ranch residents have a remarkable array of grocery stores and supermarkets to choose from, including Vons, Albertsons, Food 4 Less, Smith's, and Smart & Final. The Japan Creek Market on Eastern Avenue sells Asian produce, bento boxes, rice balls and other traditional Japanese items. Head to Fresh52 when you want produce direct from the farm grown with no nitrates. This farmers market opens on Sunday mornings and features fun activities, such as face-painting for your kids.