Southern Hills Oklahoma City, OK

Southern Hills started as a bedroom community of Oklahoma City in the 1950s. As the city grew, the area focused its development on commercial and industrial plots. Expansions of the Will Rogers World Airport led to even more growth in the 1980s and 90s.

99's Museum of Women Pilots affords a fascinating look at the history of women in aviation, including rare photographs, artwork, and sculptures.

Oklahoma City hosts numerous annual events and festivals, most of which are hosted in the city itself. Check out the PBR Rodeo each January or lace up your shoes for the Oklahoma City Marathon in April, one of the best in the nation.

A thriving arts scene keeps galleries busy, and touring bands perform at the Chesapeake Energy Arena when the NBA's Thunder are not playing.

Southern Hills sports a wide variety of great restaurants that divert the diner from the usual chains and fast food joints. The Garage Burgers and Beer serves up gourmet burgers with inventive twists. Check out The Nutty Rooster, a burger inspired by Asian flavors and topped with peanut butter. A daily happy hour cuts beer prices in half and features small plates perfect for an afternoon snack.

Charleston's rates as the neighborhood's favorite restaurant, with classic American fare, friendly service and a clean, welcoming atmosphere. Order the classic Surf and Turf here or sample the restaurant's more specialized offerings such as the short-rib-smoked Salmon.

For a change of pace, try Panang Thai. Famous for curry dishes, Panang will customize most anything on the menu to match your desires and offers daily off-menu specials worth asking for.

Aside from a few bars, taverns and late night restaurants, you'll find the real nightlife to the north in Oklahoma City proper. Club One15 in downtown Oklahoma City draws locals and visitors for DJ music, dancing and cocktails. A more casual evening awaits at Whiskey Chicks Sports Bar.

Ringed by major highways, Southern Hills makes for relatively easy driving and easy connections to other parts of the city and beyond. Interstate 44 provides the main thoroughfare to and from the city and on to Tulsa, 100 miles to the northeast. Parking is readily available and free everywhere in the neighborhood, though downtown parking often comes with high prices, especially on event days.

Bus service by EMBARK connects residents to all corners of the city. Stops throughout Southern Hills link to local and express routes in the neighborhood and the city. The Green, Orange and Red lines provide direct access to the downtown transit center.

Uber serves the whole metro area. While hailing a cab is unlikely anywhere but in the city center, cab companies are on call throughout the city. Cycling and walking prove to be good options for short trips in good weather.

Residents enjoy quick, easy access to Will Rogers World Airport, a former military facility that now serves as the major commercial airport for the city.

Parks abound here, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to sports complexes. Lightning Creek Park features three baseball diamonds, picnic areas and playground equipment. Earlywine park draws visitors and locals for a round of golf, a splash in the water park, a picnic or a match on the tennis courts. Parks in the neighborhood are kid-friendly with a wide variety of playground toys and amenities to keep the whole family happy.

Lake Hefner Park in Oklahoma City caters to dog owners with an off-leash area called Paws Park.

Annual events in the area include the Red Earth Festival in June, which showcases Native American arts, crafts and performance from the whole country. Mid-September marks the opening of the Oklahoma State Fair, one of the country's largest and longest running fairs. Rodeo enthusiasts get not one but two annual rodeo events, and if you're into boats and camping, the annual OKC RV & Boat Show will get you excited for your next adventures.

Southern Hills attracts residents in large part because of its low cost of living compared to rest of Oklahoma City. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment sits around $480 a month. Southern Hills draws young people, students and families looking for an affordable place to live.

A one-way trip to the city center on an EMBARK bus costs $3, and an all-day pass runs $4 for the entire system.

Gas prices in this oil-rich region sit at 25 percent below the national average. A cold beer at the local pub will set you back $4.

Residents from everywhere in Oklahoma City come to Southern Hills for their shopping needs. Big box retail stores, car dealerships and shopping malls line the Interstate 240 corridor on the north side of the neighborhood. Chains like Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Best Buy and Barnes and Noble draw shoppers. Specialty shops like Isabela's Boutique and Grand Junction Clothing Company count as locally owned favorites. For the latest in western wear, the 4W Western boutique sells necklaces, boutique-style clothing and unique items designed especially for the western apparel lover. Walmart offers two locations in the neighborhood for affordable grocery shopping. Other grocery markets in the area include Saigon Taipei Asian Market, which provides specialty items and ethnic ingredients. The Oklahoma City Public Market hosts a year-round farmers market on Saturdays and other events throughout the year. The market first opened in 1928 and offers everything from fresh produce to craft beers. Vintage antiques and handcrafted items can also be found at the market.