Woodstone - San Antonio, TX

Woodstone sits within the northeast part of San Antonio, a city which began as a Spanish Mexican settlement. To settle in the area, Americans traveled El Camino Real, now known as Nacogdoches Road. This testament to the frontier days passes through Woodstone on the north end. The United States took possession of San Antonio, amongst other cities, after the Mexican-American War. It developed quickly in both industry and population, and has continued its growth into the 21st century.

The small community doesn't have any museums or art galleries, but you can find them a short drive away throughout the rest of San Antonio. The city features a variety of annual events, but none take place within this neighborhood.

Woodstone features inexpensive to moderately priced restaurants along Nacogdoches Road, with cuisines from many different cultures represented.

Those looking for authentic Italian food should try MAAR's Pizza & More. MAAR's gets its name from the family that owns the restaurant, and the style reflects its commitment to family, with a casual atmosphere and a kids menu full of affordable meals. Make sure to get a side of deep-fried green beans, known here as "alien fingers."

Thai food lovers in the neighborhood head to Bangkok 54 to get their fix. Pair a cup of soup, dumplings and a spring roll as an appetizer before indulging in crispy duck or pad won sen with tofu for dinner. The restaurant offers a selection of bottled beer and wine, to round out the night.

Salsalito Cantina Mexican Restaurant brings a taste south of the border to San Antonio. Expect fast service and generous portions at a reasonable price. Latin music, chips, salsa and well-made margaritas all combine for a lively, traditional Mexican dining experience. For Mexican style seafood, try the Pescado Del Rio, a fish filet topped with Salsalito's Del Rio sauce.

As far as nightlife goes, the neighborhood has a few bars and nightclubs to keep residents entertained. Swing by Easy Street Night Club for a good time that doesn't break the bank. Also on Nacogdoches, this local bar brings in an unpretentious crowd who like to drink, shoot pool or just play some cards. If you'd rather just listen to music, you can play whatever you like on the jukebox, or come by during one of the live performances Easy Street books.

Most residents of Woodstone travel by car, but other options may be available depending on your commute.

You can handle short trips by taking local roads, and for longer commutes, Interstate 35 lies a short drive south of the community. The highway runs north and south, and connects with Interstate 410 if you take it south a couple miles. Interstate 410 loops around the inner section of San Antonio, earning it the nickname Loop 410. It has connections with several highways, making it useful for longer trips. Feel free to park on the street in Woodstone, but be sure to read the signs first.

VIA Metropolitan Transit buses service the city, with route 641 passing through the neighborhood. Taxis and ride share companies such as Uber also service the area. Pick up times vary.

Recreational walks or bike rides can be an enjoyable part of life in Woodstone, but commutes and errands tend to be too far to handle without another form of transportation. The area and the surrounding neighborhoods don't have many bike lanes, so bikers have to be careful when riding.

The neighborhood has a couple of unique nearby parks for residents to enjoy free of charge.

Friesenhahn Park keeps it simple, with almost 12 acres of space focused on nature trails and a pond. You can run on the side walk around the park, but after seeing the beauty here you may just want to sit down on a bench and relax with a nice book. Tables and benches throughout the park make this an ideal place to take the kids for a picnic on the weekends. Dogs can come too, just make sure to keep them on leashes.

Named in honor of a college student who passed away, Bryan McClain Park focuses on outdoor activities with an 18 hole disc golf course. With two possible starting points on each hole, this course allows players of all experience levels to compete and have fun. The Bryan Mcclain Open, a disc golf tournament, occurs here annually.

Life in Woodstone carries a slightly lower cost than the city average. Leasing a house or apartment tends to be affordable, with a one bedroom unit typically renting for about $580.

A Metro ride to the city center costs $1.20 for a one-way ticket, and gas prices come in around 13 percent lower than the national average. A pint at the local pub usually costs about $3.

Woodstone's shopping scene focuses on independent boutiques and specialty shops, with shopping centers concentrated throughout the rest of the city. Salty Fish Aquariums serves as your full-service fish store when you want to equip your aquarium with all kinds of sea life. Start with underwater plants, live shrimp or colorful starfish before adding tropical species of fish. Purchase supplies here, such as water conditioners, thermometers and tanks to ensure your fish have a great place to live.

Those into electronics, particularly cellphones, may want to visit MintCell. It stocks components for all the major cellphone brands and even has free workshops on phone repairs twice a week. If you just want your phone repaired quickly, MintCell can handle that for you too.

For grocery shopping, go to the nearby H-E-B or a Walmart Supercenter just west of the area. Woodstone doesn't have any farmers markets, but head out to the Windcrest Farmers Market as the nearest one to this neighborhood.