Woodbury - Irvine, CA

The city of Irvine grew out of several of great California ranches of the 1800s. The Irvine Ranch remained largely agricultural until the 1960s, when development began in earnest once the University of California, Irvine broke ground. Woodbury, however, did not exist until the 2000s, when development began on a planned community centered around a giant park.

While Woodbury itself does not house any museums, you can head nearby to the OC Great Park to check out the Farm and Food Lab, a 2-acre garden demonstrating urban agriculture techniques. In addition to the themed gardens, the local farmers market also takes place here weekly.

Also in the Great Park, the Palm Court Arts Complex holds exhibits supporting local artists, hosting regular conversations that allow members of the community to connect with the artists.

Almost all the restaurants in Woodbury sit near the Woodbury Town Center in the northeast corner of the community. Familiar names, such as The Counter, Chipotle and Panera Bread, all find a spot in this center, but a few unique eateries also exist to sate your hunger.

First Class Pizza bakes up zesty pizzas that balance the elements of dough, cheese and toppings expertly. Try the unusual Great White pizza with its Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken and Parmesan. If you like things spicy, go for the spicy Southwestern chicken pizza topped with bacon, cilantro and jalapeños. When you're not in the mood for pizza, order the meaty chicken wings or satisfying meatball sandwich, and save room for the cinnamon pizza for dessert.

Niko Niko Sushi serves up a tasty spicy tuna roll, and locals also love the garlic albacore roll, baked lobster roll and salmon tempura. Come at happy hour to take advantage of half-price discounts.

When you have a special occasion to celebrate, head down to the Irvine Spectrum Center to enjoy dinner at the Brio Tuscan Grille. Try the brick chicken, pork Porterhouse or grilled lamb chops with pistachio pesto for a tasty treat that complements the attentive service and impressive wine list.

For nightlife around Woodbury, head west to Culver Boulevard or south to the Irvine Spectrum Center. The Caspian Hookah Lounge strikes an intimate, sophisticated tone with its fruity flavors, constantly renewed coals and belly dancers. The Backstreet Brewery changes up its microbrews weekly, so you always have a new choice when you come to watch the game. Head to the Bacchus Bar and Bistro for live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and an immense wine list.

Public transportation does not serve Woodbury in any major way, with only one bus route running through the area to connect locals to Tustin and UC Irvine. Alternately, you can summon taxis, Uber and airport shuttles by phone.

Most people in Woodbury use their cars for basic transportation and commuting. Locals find public parking free and easy to come by. When you need to hop on a freeway, State Route 133 takes you straight to Laguna Beach, and Interstate 5 runs right by the edge of the neighborhood to connect you to Santa Ana, Los Angeles and San Diego.

The design of Woodbury makes it easy to walk or bike around the neighborhood, with paths in particular connecting the Woodbury Commons in the center of the community with the Woodbury Town Center. Irvine as a whole supports bicycling well with bike lanes and bike racks throughout the city.

At the heart of Woodbury lies Woodbury Community Park, also known as the Woodbury Commons. This 30-acre spot was designed specifically to serve as the heart of the community, and it includes Woodbury Elementary School as well as the park. Only Woodbury residents can use some of the facilities, including tennis courts, basketball courts and three swimming pools. Anyone can access the rest of the park, including soccer fields, baseball diamonds and playgrounds for the kids. Locals come here to walk their dogs and meet up with neighbors. The community holds major neighborhood events here for Halloween, Christmas, and the Fourth of July, as well as sponsoring a big summer kick-off event.

Along the west end of Woodbury runs the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, a unique feature of Woodbury that came about as a result of input from Irvine residents. This trail, open in Woodbury and eventually intended to run all the way to the ocean, allows visitors to walk or run either on pavement or gravel in an environment deliberately disconnected from the suburb all around it. Locals love its beauty and rustic nature.

The cost of living in Woodbury runs neck and neck with the general cost of living in Irvine. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment runs you about $1,834. While the cost of gas runs about 15 percent higher than the national average, you can hop on an Orange County Transportation Authority bus to UC Irvine for $2. When you decide to stop for a beer on your way home, be ready to plunk down $6 to $8 for a pint.

Woodbury Town Center sits in a corner of Woodbury, providing residents with easy access to practical shops and services. Stop in at the Town Center to get your artwork framed, upgrade your phone services, grab some fast food, get a haircut or pick up assorted necessities. Other services available at Woodbury Town Center include banks, an urgent care center, and dentistry and medical offices.

Unique Woodbury shops include JM Rugs, where you can choose high-quality area rugs for your new home, and Rock n' Road Cyclery, which features everything bicycle.

Woodbury Town Center also features Ralphs and Trader Joe's, where locals do their grocery shopping. Just west of Woodbury sits Smith's Farms, a working farm that sells fresh produce from its farm stand daily. Locals consider the farm stand to be the equivalent of having a permanent farmers market around the corner, and they head there regularly for farm-fresh pumpkins, grape tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, and strawberries.