Southern Oaks - Oklahoma City, OK

Beginning around 1958, Southern Oaks became a suburban mecca for baby boomers. In the 1960s, the library opened and gave the area a focal point. The northern section expanded in 1990 with the addition of upscale housing. A short distance away, you can visit museums and enjoy some of the local festivals.

The Civic Center Music Hall, 5.6 miles north off Western Avenue, boasts award-winning musicals, plays and concerts and is child-friendly, even providing booster seats for small children to improve their view of the show.

Film fanatics can get their fill at the deadCENTER Film Festival held yearly at multiple locations around the city. The festival features over 100 films, shorts and documentaries, and a celebrity even shows up on occasion. Pass holders also get to attend parties at the beginning and end of the film fest, with live music and food and drinks served.

Neighborhood restaurants include chains and locally owned eateries that serve everything from Southern food to Mexican dishes. The northern section of the development contains most of the restaurants.

Sherri’s Diner, styled in 1950s retro-chic, complete with vintage signs, vinyl booths, and photos of James Dean and Elvis, specializes in Southern cooking, soul food and American diner food. Serving homemade dishes and large portions, you may want to pop in to try out the signature chicken fried steak. Sherri’s is like stepping back in time.

Cocina de Mino Restaurante has become so popular over the years that the menu has grown to huge proportions. Locals rave about the fajitas, and the shrimp fajitas in particular merit a stop for lunch. Trendy Stevie’s Café displays the daily specials written on whiteboard, and you feel relaxed the minute you walk in the door. It serves typical American comfort food and favorite Oklahoma dishes in addition to sporting an entire pie case full of irresistible desserts. Check out the spicy homemade chili to try a staple of every Oklahoma diet.

Relax and have a beer at Henry Hudson’s Pub on the West Interstate Service Road while you nosh on some of the best pub grub in the area. For family fun, head to the Winchester Drive-In Theater on South Western Avenue for family entertainment. As Oklahoma City’s oldest drive-in theater, it still maintains the old 1950s traditions, and you can bring along your lawn chairs and blankets.

The neighborhood provides easy access to main routes around the city. Although hailing a taxi won't be easily accomplished, cab companies get to your location quickly when you call them, and Uber serves the area as well. In some areas, wide streets may lack sidewalks for pedestrians, but they still offer good visibility for those going on foot and on two wheels. When you venture out in your car, the neighborhood stores have plenty of parking and do not charge for the service. Heading into town, parking meters carry nominal fees, and plenty of spaces exist for parking. Parking garages make it easy to find a spot if all else fails. Embark buses all run from the terminal in downtown, and two bus lines connect with Southern Oaks. The green line runs along South Walker Avenue, where it makes a circuit of Southwest 104th Street and circles back north to the terminal. The orange line runs west along I-240 to the Oklahoma City Community College, east to South Santa Fe Avenue and back north on South Western Avenue to the terminal.

Area parks are free to visit and fun for the whole family. Southern Oaks Park holds scheduled programming year-round for children that includes sports, performing arts and other activities. You can also take your leashed dog along to enjoy the fresh air and exercise. Taylor Park contains an excellent playground, swimming pool, recreation center, sprayground, picnic areas and trails for walking, running or biking.

The cost of living in Southern Oaks comes in below the national average. The fare to take an express Embark bus to downtown Oklahoma City runs at $3 for an adult or $4 for an unlimited day pass. The median rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment sits at $538, but some apartments include paid utilities to sweeten the deal. A gallon of gas runs about 19 percent less than the national average, and that saves you a lot of money to spend on other things, such as a great meal or a beer, which costs about $3 on average.

At the Outlet Shoppes on West Reno Avenue, you can breeze your way into fashion heaven at stores such as Banana Republic to find that perfect high-end outfit at a discount price. For shopping binges, try Penn Square Mall on Northwest 23rd Street, about 14 miles north on I-44, to shop in the 140 specialty stores. Nearby boutiques to look over include Painted Door on East Sheridan, which carries everything from gourmet food to clothing, jewelry and accessories. For the latest in trendy clothing, you can search for that perfect ensemble at Bow and Arrow Boutique on North Broadway.

The Farmers Public Market on South Klein Avenue, in business since 1928, doubles as an event center. Fresh produce and flowers along with concerts, roller derby and other sporting events and antique shows make it a go-to spot for a lot more than a bag of carrots. Walmart operates a neighborhood market on Southwest 59th, as does Aldi, a discount grocery store. Both stores lie less than 2 miles from the neighborhood.