Windham - Coral Springs, FL

Windham, part of the planned community of Coral Springs, started out as a marshy swampland. After it was purchased and drained, the Lyons family grew beans and grazed cattle on the land. The end of World War II brought a real estate boom to South Florida, and developers bought much of the Lyons estate to build subdivisions. The master plan for a 50,000 resident city seems modest by today's standards.

The addition of schools, a mall, shopping plazas and parks during the last three decades of the twentieth century was all necessary to keep up with the pace of growth. Once the Sawgrass Expressway came through the area, the Coral Springs Musum of Art and Coral Springs Center for the Arts were built, providing venues for annual festivals, events, and a vibrant arts scene to complete the picture.

A multitude of cuisine choices awaits residents, and while the area has no central restaurant location, many of the eateries deliver and cater. The Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar capitalizes on seasonal ingredients to enhance savory Mediterranean dishes reminiscent of exotic vacations. Enjoy vegan and gluten-free dining, or sink your teeth into a meaty dish. Try a quinoa salad followed by grilled lamb chops, a mahi beet wrap or a Portobello hummus plate.

At Lucky Inn Chinese restaurant, diners enjoy New York Chinatown-style cooking and meals made with top-quality white meat chicken. Start off with some vegetable dumplings or honey garlic wings as an appetizer, and choose from entrées such as cashew chicken and rainbow shrimp, Cantonese duck or char shui ding.

Local favorite Annie’s Pizza serves up a mixture of Italian and American foods for appetites large and small. Subs, salads, and, of course, pizza head up a menu loaded with traditional favorites and scrumptious deserts like the cannoli and zeppoli. Annie’s delivers and caters, too.

Concerts and sporting events at the nearby BB&T Center top the list for entertainment ideas. Smaller venues in this part of town also host live music and other events both publicly and privately. Upscale Paladium Nightclub has the big names, but if you’re looking for a sports bar, local bands or karaoke, try Bru’s Room, the Big Bear Brewing Company or Lefty’s Tavern & Grille.

Private vehicles reign here by the Everglades, on the very outskirts of the developed world. Broward County Transit buses run few and far between, so walking to bus stops is a bit of a hike. Taxicabs and Uber serve the area, but unless you’re heading to the airport, traveling around town in your own car makes the most sense. All public parking in the area costs nothing, but a SunPass makes life easier, with the Sawgrass (toll) Expressway being the nearest option to connect to Interstates 75 and 95 as well as Florida’s turnpike.

On any given day, residents here walk, run, ride bicycles, and enjoy countless other outdoor activities without leaving the neighborhood. Broad sidewalks and streets welcome everyone to enjoy South Florida’s alluring tropical weather.

Residents visit North Community Park's 38.06 acres for sporting activities such as basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis and volleyball. A path for walking and jogging winds through the park, which also has a picnic pavilion and children's playground. The 21-acre Betti Stradling Park also draws its share of locals thanks to its skate park, exercise stations and slide & glide playground.

Barkland, in nearby Parkland, has 2 acres for your pooch to roam, walking trails and separate areas for large and small dogs. Amenities include a dog-washing station, water fountains for both doggies and their owners, and covered pavilions with benches and picnic tables.

Coral Springs hosts Festival of the Arts & Crafts and Festival of the Flutes annually. Music, dancing, entertainment and great prizes punctuate this city’s fun events, making Windham a wonderful place to live.

Astonishingly, it does not cost an arm and a leg to live in this posh region. While the cost of living hovers slightly higher than the city average, the value reflected by the location exceeds the monetary considerations. For just under $1300, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, you can live stylishly and very comfortably.

Neighborhood bars serve a draft beer for $2 to $4, and a bottle runs $6 to $8 at most places. Taking public transportation to downtown Fort Lauderdale requires changing buses, and at almost $2 per bus, the cost adds up fast. If you must regularly travel using this means, purchase a weekly or monthly transit pass at a discount price. Gas in this neighborhood costs only about 1 percent more than the national average.

For major shopping trips, Sawgrass Mills has all the bargains, but numerous plazas tempt you in to investigate other local treasures. Due to the predominately high-end stores in this region, most boutiques and shops cater to an upscale clientele. Fannie’s Finds exemplifies this, providing customers with personal attention and offering unique jewelry items to accessorize classic, chic and trendy clothing selections.

Tunies may be a relative newcomer in the health food market, but the store has a loyal base of customers in the area, selling top brands of vitamins and supplements at great prices. Walmart and the Fresh Market provide groceries, and both Parkland and Coral Springs have excellent farmers markets. The Parkland farmers market opens from November through April, and the Coral Springs Mega Green Market only opens on Saturdays.