West Sahara - Las Vegas, NV

The Lakes neighborhood of Las Vegas, with West Sahara on its eastern side, grew up in the 1980s as development spread westward from the Strip. With the entire master-planned community centered around the man-made Lake Sahara, the neighborhood grew quickly. Once Citibank established its main payment processing center here in 1990, the neighborhood received its own zip codes and a separate name, "The Lakes," rather than just "Las Vegas."

The nearby Springs Preserve provides West Sahara residents with a lovely botanical garden to explore. The permanent exhibits of the Origen Museum feature displays about flash floods, live animals and the Hoover Dam, while the Nevada State Museum focuses on the pre-history and natural history of the region. Come to celebrate festivals and special events year round, including Black History Month each February, Día del Niño, the Brews & Blues Festival and the Day of the Dead in November.

While residents of the West Sahara neighborhood enjoy its proximity to the Las Vegas Strip and the world-class culinary delights waiting there, locals also find plenty of casual eateries close to home when they don't want to brave the traffic of the Strip. Head to the shores of Lake Sahara or up and down Durango Boulevard for a wide range of choices.

Those Guys Pies at Lake Sahara makes Jersey style, thin-crust pizzas that's unlike any other. Try the Italian white pie with ricotta, mozzarella, broccoli rabe and sausage, or go for the surprising cheesesteak pie with its ribeye steak, mushrooms and peppers. East Coast transplants go crazy for the authentic cheesesteaks and hoagies. Pick up snacks for the game, grab an order of wings and enjoy unique dipping sauces, such as maple mustard, sriracha sweet chili aioli, Creole or honey wasabi.

The Lakes Lounge looks unassuming and, to some, a bit off-putting from the outside appearance. Perhaps that's the way West Sahara residents keep this great comfort-food spot to themselves, because inside you find a relaxing lounge and restaurant open 24 hours a day and serving up perfectly prepared chicken pot pie, fettuccine Alfredo, steak and eggs, and fish and chips. Ask about the homemade soup of the day so you don't miss the creamy wild rice or beef barley soup.

Go Raw Cafe, directly on Lake Sahara, features vegan delights, such as house salsa with flax crackers for an appetizer. Order the nutritious kale salad filled with greens and served alongside buckwheat bread. For a main course, enchiladas arrive at your table filled with rice, beans, guacamole and flax crackers.

Head to the Strip or downtown Las Vegas for every form of nightlife imaginable, from high-end Cirque du Soleil shows to comics to burlesque shows. Closer to the West Sahara neighborhood, several friendly neighborhood bars welcome you. The Durango Lodge, a hipster dive bar, includes a lounge area with relaxing sofas, a wall of big-screen TVs and pool tables. Stop in for great deals on Wing Wednesdays. Head to The Lion's Tail Tavern in Village Square to watch the game or when you just want to hang at a fun gaming bar with a terrific bartender.

The RTC runs plenty of bus routes all through the Las Vegas metropolitan area, including express routes to connect the West Sahara neighborhood directly to the Strip, making it easy for commuters to get to work without braving the Strip's traffic jams. While taxis are readily available at all major hotels and on the Strip, to get one in West Sahara, you'll have to place a call, or boot up the Uber app on your phone for personalized transportation as well.

You can walk and bike easily around the West Sahara neighborhood. While Las Vegas provides minimal bike lanes, the completely flat terrain makes it easy for pedestrians and cyclists to get around. However, extreme daytime temperatures during the summer and fall months often make this kind of transportation uncomfortable and even dangerous.

Those who choose to drive find excellent infrastructure, with easy access to the Summerlin Parkway, the Woodbury Beltway and Interstate 15. Away from the Strip, traffic moves smoothly, and parking all over Las Vegas typically costs nothing.

Within West Sahara, some homeowners own private shorefront property along Lake Sahara. They and other residents of the Lakes community within West Sahara can fish and boat along this 30-acre lake.

Desert Breeze Park just to the southeast of West Sahara proves a great favorite for dog-owners in the neighborhood, not only for its dedicated dog park that features different sections for large and small dogs, but also for its wide expanse allowing plenty of room for strolling and dog-walking. The overall park also features basketball courts, playgrounds, soccer fields, skateboard trails and walking paths. The aquatic center next door opens its Olympic-sized pool for lap swimmers as well as offering swim lessons at all levels. Bring your dogs at the end of the summer for the Dog Daze of Summer, in which dogs get to play in the pool all on their own for a small fee.

With the amenities and tranquil vibe of their neighborhood, West Sahara don't mind that their cost of living runs 17 percent higher than that of Las Vegas overall. Gas prices run about 11 percent above the national average, but you can hop a residential route bus line to get downtown or to the Strip for only $2.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in West Sahara runs $821 a month, and if you want to grab a beer while you watch the game at your local hangout, expect to spend about $5 for a pint.

West Sahara residents enjoy an abundance of shopping options surrounding them on all sides. The Sahara Center features big-box stores such as TJ Maxx, Petco and Sprouts Farmer's Market. Locals head to the Village Square to grab a quick bite to eat, pick up fish food, attend a yoga class, get their computer fixed or go to the movies. Tivoli Village to the north features plenty of events for young families, including stroller walks and story time for kids, as well as outdoor movies during the summer. Head to downtown Summerlin for many recognizable, name-brand retailers and restaurants.

While the local malls can satisfy most of your shopping needs, local shops also supply some one-of-a-kind services and products. Head to Performance Footwear to have your feet expertly measured for running or sports shoes. If you require extra wide shoes, this shop can also take care of you. Art at Your Door Gallery does a superb job of framing your personal art, photographs and souvenirs with a friendly vibe that appreciates return customers.

You have many supermarkets to choose from in the West Sahara neighborhood, including Albertsons, Fresh & Easy, Smith's and Vons all immediately available. The Las Vegas Farmers Market in South Summerlin opens up on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons as well as Saturday mornings. Pick up a shaved ice as you stroll this compact, friendly market featuring farm-fresh produce.