Southeast Mill Creek - Salem, OR

As one of the oldest cities in the region, the city of Salem makes concerted efforts to preserve and share its history with the community. At the heart of the Salem Historic Preservation Program, the Historic Landmarks Commission works to preserve many of the old homes and buildings located throughout the city. Tour the living museum and historically accurate gardens at the Historic Deepwood Estate, or explore the 5 acres of Willamette Heritage Center. Here, 14 historic structures and exhibits present the rich stories of Oregon's past.

Salem also cultivates a vibrant local art culture. Every month, lively events known as First Wednesdays feature local artists and musicians, and attract bustling crowds to downtown Salem, just a few minutes north of Southeast Mill Creek. The city also hosts the Salem Art Fair & Festival every summer, the largest of its kind throughout Oregon.

When your stomach growls, check out the convenient selection of restaurants located in the north of the neighborhood. Fill your teriyaki craving at Teriyaki Diner in a friendly, quiet atmosphere that draws people from all over Salem. Bite into perfectly crispy gyozas, or try the finely crafted tofu yakisoba if you like to eat sans meat. Grab sushi off the conveyor belt at Sushi Kyo, or order one of the very affordable plates when you have a little more time on your hands. Get an early morning breakfast of biscuits and gravy at Bad Girls Coffee, and stick around to enjoy the cheerful and inviting atmosphere. The croissant sandwiches also rank as a popular choice at lunchtime. At night, stick around the north, and enjoy the rustic pub setting as you taste a fantastic selection of strong cask beers at Santiam Brewing. The regular craft beer doesn't disappoint either, and don't forget to supplement your drinks with the food truck that regularly parks nearby. For a fun night on the town while staying close to home, sing your heart out on Monday and Wednesday karaoke nights at the Southside Speakeasy Brew Pub, and come back to shake your booty on the popular DJ dance nights.

Thorough networks of bicycle-friendly roads, lanes and trails lace the city of Salem. In Southeast Mill Creek, major roads with dedicated biking lanes include Kuebbler Boulevard, Turner Road and Aumsburg Highway Southeast, all near the north of the neighborhood. This area also constitutes the most walkable part of the neighborhood, as shops and business gravitate towards Salem's city center toward the north.

Salem-Keizer Transit (also known as Cherriots) services the area with an extensive system of 24 bus routes that run Monday through Friday. Buy one ticket for $1.50, or purchase a day pass for $3.25.

For those who require a more intimate mode of travel, avoid the hassle of hailing a cab --instead, register with the membership-based taxi service Uber for fast, safe rides anytime and anywhere you need one. Just order and pay from the convenience of your smartphone.

When you're the one behind the wheel, hop on major roadways with ease. Highway 99E, Highway 22 and Interstate 5 all converge in Southeast Mill Creek. Salem's downtown parking district provides 3,500 free parking spots to customers and visitors to the downtown area, as well as nearly 2,000 metered spaces available for $1.50 per hour.

Besides the miles of pretty creek twisting through the neighborhood, residents of Southeast Mill Creek luxuriate in more than 100 acres of refreshing green spaces that make up Cascades Gateway Park.

Play a round of disc golf with a friend, cast your fishing line in one of the two lakes, and explore networks of interlocking trails on foot or by bike. Kayaks, canoes and fishing boats also frequently glide across the waters of Walter Wirth Lake. In the winter, be sure to bundle up, and consider participating in Cascades Gateway's annual Frosty Ironman disc golf tournament.

A little to the south, bring the kids to Bill Riegel Park to enjoy the playground or shoot some hoops. As in the rest of Salem, both of these parks happily welcome leashed dogs, and the parks' amenities are available to residents and visitors completely free of charge.

Get ready to save your pennies in this relatively remote neighborhood, while still enjoying prime access to the surrounding metro areas. With a cost of living 15 percent less than Portland's average cost of living, rent a one-bedroom residence for just $650 in the humble Southeast Mill Creek.

Pay $3 for a beer at a local pub and $1.50 to get to city center via public transportation. Reflecting the rest of Oregon's trend, neighborhood gas prices hover about 6 percent higher than national prices.

A collection of staple department stores service the neighborhood from the north, including Wal-Mart, Lowe's and Home Depot.

Also in the north, the nearest cluster of independent boutiques lies about a mile outside neighborhood borders on Commercial Street Southeast. Let the knowledgeable ladies at Debra Herring Studio advise your search for upscale clothing and accessories, or sift through the affordable selection of finely-kept, stylish clothing at Funky Munky Urban Consignment.

Neighborhood grocery stores include Costco and WinCo, with Trader Joe's and Safeway also located nearby on Commercial Street Southeast. In the spring through fall, several Salem Farmers Markets take place 6 minutes away near downtown Salem.