Sovana Las Vegas, NV

Sovana sits within Spring Valley, a larger neighborhood that grew up in the 1980s as residential developments began to spring up all around Las Vegas. Since 2000, the neighborhood has grown significantly. It consists primarily of residences with services and shopping available to support those living in the neighborhood.

Just east of Sovana before you reach the Strip, you'll find the Goldstrom Collection of Nostalgia Street Rods, a beautifully curated collection of mint hot rods and classic cars. Every November, the museum hosts a classic car show as a fundraiser to fight Parkinson's disease, inviting locals with classic cars to come show them off.

While you need to head to the Strip to catch concerts, Cirque performances and other theatrical performances, Spring Valley hosts several annual festivals, including the Las Vegas Greek Festival every September and the Las Vegas Balloon Festival, which sets hot-air balloons over the city each October.

While residents of the Sovana neighborhood have the fun and high-end restaurants of the Las Vegas Strip available to them just a couple of miles to the east, many in this comfortable part of town choose to eat casually a little closer to home. Find many national chain restaurants and unique, locally owned eateries here, especially lining Rainbow Boulevard.

Breakfast at The Cracked Egg gives locals a welcome respite from the tired steak and eggs deals near the Strip. Instead, settle down for a yummy meal featuring homemade coffee cake. Choose from eggs Benedict, fluffy omelets or a sweet potato and egg skillet. For an indulgent treat, go for the Nutella-s'mores French toast.

The dishes at Archi's Thai on Rainbow Boulevard burst with flavor. Panang chicken curry tingles with spice, while the pad Thai satisfies the pickiest fan. Grab a lunch special to get soup and an egg roll thrown into your meal, and choose just the heat level you want for each dish.

Teriyaki House provides great quick-serve food when you want a healthy lunch that lets you get back to work on time. Thai chicken, beef teriyaki and chicken katsu all win praise from local residents, and the bento box service adds some veggies with a little kick to the meal. Choose brown rice if you prefer, and add on some tempura as a delightful extra.

Nightlife of all kinds abounds all over Vegas, whether you're looking for a dive bar, hookah lounge, gambling joint or live music. In Sovana, check out the Lodge Coffee House & Tavern when you have a group that includes people who don't want liquor. Relax in the lounge, belly up to the video poker bar or order an Irish coffee for the perfect combination of the best this tavern serves. Head to Scooter's Pub to watch Seahawks games or UFC championships on the big screen with like-minded fans, then stick around for electronic darts or shuffleboard. Swing by the Jalisco Cantina on Durango Boulevard for excellent happy hour specials, live music on weekends and innovative Mexican food.

Although most Spring Valley residents rely on their own cars for commuting and running errands, the Las Vegas RTC runs bus routes down the major thoroughfares of Sovana to connect the neighborhood to the Strip, downtown Vegas, the airport and other parts of town as well. When you need late-night transportation or door-to-door convenience, boot up your Uber app or call a local taxi or car service company. Taxis can be hailed on the Strip and downtown and can be easily found at hotels.

If you choose to drive, Interstates 15 and 215 both sit close at hand, and traffic in Spring Valley tends to flow smoothly. You'll find ample free residential and business parking throughout Las Vegas, including in Sovana. Distances in Spring Valley tend to be too far to be pedestrian- or bicycle-friendly, especially in the summer and fall when the desert heat sets in.

Although Sovana itself doesn't hold any neighborhood parks, the greater Spring Valley area has significant park acreage scattered throughout, all of them free to access.

Red Ridge Park, just south of Sovana, provides plenty of recreational facilities, including Frisbee golf, baseball diamonds, playgrounds for the kids and a small water park. Bring your dog for a romp, or go for a run, knowing that one lap around the park equals one mile.

Nevada Trails Park lives up to its name by providing plenty of walking trails as well as basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts and exercise equipment.

Head a little further south to Exploration Peak Park, where you're far enough away from the Strip to see the night sky without much light pollution. Kids can climb, slide and play in the water, and every summer, the whole family can come to enjoy movies and concerts in the park.

The cost of living on Sovana runs only 1 percent higher than that of Las Vegas overall. A one-bedroom apartment costs $913 a month to rent, and hopping the bus to get to the Strip or downtown only sets you back $2. If you choose to drive, be prepared to pay 11 percent more than the national average for a gallon of gas. Meeting friends for a beer at a local pub only runs you $5 for a pint, and sometimes less if you arrange to meet at happy hour.

While shoppers in Spring Valley looking for high-end fashion tend to head to the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip or to some of the designer shops featured at various hotels, plenty of shopping options stand ready closer to home, including recognizable name-brand shops and unique specialty stores.

Stop at Seasons Floral Home & Gift when you need a special gift for a good friend or co-worker. You'll find not only flowers but candles, chocolates and a wide range of home decor items, including wonderful Christmas decor.

Count on the Dance Shoppe for expert fitting of your children's dance shoes. Patient employees make sure you get exactly the right pair, and you can pick up all your other dance and exercise gear while you visit.

Locals in Sovana tend to head to the Walmart Supercenter, Albertsons or Sam's Club for their basic grocery shopping needs, but you can find several smaller markets ready to help you stock the fridge and pantry as well. The Euro Market & Deli sells quality meats and cheeses, snacks and delicacies imported from Europe as well as wonderful baked goods. Stop in at the Las Vegas Farmers Market in South Summerlin to pick up farm-to-market produce.