Baimer

Briarhaven is located in a more up-scale part of Fort Worth. The houses along this road are older, upper-middle class homes. They boast quiet streets and smaller plots, although many of the homes do have pools. There are some children that live in the neighborhood, but mostly they are Middle School and High School age; you will not see very many young families. The neighbors tend to keep to themselves which means either you will have to reach out to them or make friends elsewhere; there are definately no neighborhood BBQ's here. Finally, due to issues with speeding in the area, the Homes Owner's association put in several speed bumps a few years ago.

Because Fort Worth is so large, many people forget that it is also a College Town. University Drive, which runs right along the TCU Campus (Go Horned Frogs!), caters to the college students. There are places to eat, coffee shops and places to just 'hang out'. Towards the other end of this road you can find the zoo and the botanical gardens, both of which have more family-oriented activities. Only recommendation would be to STAY AWAY during a football game (unless you're going, of course), as traffic gets pretty bad.

Overton Park Drive is named for the park that it surrounds - Overton Park. The houses in this area are middle-class homes and older. The park is beautiful and frequently has people there jogging, walking their dogs, bicycling or playing with their children. The area is quiet and relatively safe (although I probably wouldn't go there by myself after dark) and there are some apartment buildings in the area for people who cannot afford the homes.

Camp Bowie, which still has the old brick paving in some areas, is a great place if you are looking for dining or shopping. This is a busy, noisy street that goes right into downtown, so those who are seeking a quiet place should go elsewhere. Additionally, traffic can be bad on this street, especially the closer you get to down town, so you should be prepared to endure a lot of cars (my mother HATES to drive on this street for that very reason).

Main Street Fort Worth is so unlike streets that I've seen in any other downtown. Along this street are shops and resturants and, ultimately the Fort Worth Stock yards. If you're looking for a great steak or some Texas BBQ, then you've come to the right place. Keep up to date on local festivals because many of them are held right down town - anything from Music to art. And, of course, at all of them you can browse the downtown shops while eating a Turkey Leg.

Arborlawn Drive is a good connector between S. Hulen and Bryant Irvin North. There are no homes along this stretch of road, but there is a Jewish Synogog at one end and a few businesses along the way. On the other side of Hulen, however, there are some very nice, quiet neighborhoods with middle-class homes.

South of 820, Bryant Irvin is the place to be! Located not to far from the Hulen Mall, it boasts movie theaters, eating establishments and shopping. It also boasts quite a bit of traffic, so be prepared, especially during rush hour. There are several strip malls that have both well-known chains and more obscure eating establishments, so there is something to be found for everyone.

Overton Ridge is a connecting road between S. Hulen and Bryant Irvin Road. While there are some apartments located along the road (probably middle to upper class apartments), it mainly has eating and shopping areas. And, of course, it boasts one of the four Costco's located in Texas. Additionally, if you're looking for a good place to eat, I recommend Roasa's - great Mexican food, or Steake and Shake - great fries! Further down from the Costco, there is also a Target and a strip mall for additional shopping.

S Hulen Street is home to the Hulen Shopping Center, a decent place to shop, see a movie or eat. Also, in recent years, new shopping and eating areas have been added, making this a good place to go if you're in search of something and you don't have anything specific in mind. Since there is so much along this street, it can get very busy and traffic can be pretty bad right around rush hour.

Black Canyon Road is a nice, quiet street. The homes are fairly large and there is an active Home Owners Association that ensures that the neighborhood is kept clean. Several years ago, speed bumps were added to keep people from speeding through the complex. The neighbors are nice but tend to keep to themselves and there are a few children, but you will rarely see them playing outside. The homes are for a higher income bracket and tend to have smaller yards. In all, was a nice quiet place to live, but could get lonely if you're looking for companionship from neighbors.

400 South is the place to be! Trolley Square, a popular place to visit, is located along this street and has great places to shop and eat. You can find anything from fast food to more 'happening' places like Hard Rock Cafe. Since this is down town, there are a lot of homeless people in the area, particularly in the evenings, so would be advisable to not wander around by yourself in the evenings.

State Street stretched through most of the Utah Valley. In Salt Lake City, it has some of the best, and worst, places to dine and shop. In the past, it has been a popular hang-out for High School kids who like to drag race. While the police have been cracking down on this in recent years, it is probably best to avoid this street in the evenings, if at all possible.

NW Temple, like the other streets around Temple Square, is a busy street and can be a difficult place to find parking. However, once you are out of your car, it is a nice place to walk. The LDS Family History Libray is right across the street from the LDS Temple and Visitor's center. Further down the street, you can visit the 'new' LDS Conference Center which has beautiful gardens. Unlike many downtown streets, this one is clean and there is a feeling of safety (at least, I didn't feel like I was going to get mugged). Since this is right downtown AND the center of the Mormon faith, there are frequently a lot of visitors to this area, so watch out for crowds, particularly in the Summer and around the Christmas Holiday.

The homes in this neighborhood are older homes where mainly empty-nesters now live. The neighborhood is well established and clean and is typical of a Utah neighborhood (i.e. children on bikes, well-kept yards, etc). The street is quiet and small (i.e. 2 lanes) so there isn't a lot of noise pollution from cars and the people are friendly. Since this is a housing complex, there are no resturants or shopping along this street, but those are available near-by.

This area is newer (within the last 10 - 15 years) and the houses are middle class homes, catering mainly to families. As there are so many families, children do not want for friends and parents do not want for babysitters. As the homes are fairly new, most of the families are younger couples who have younger children (Middle-school and lower). Since this is not a very busy area, children can play outside without fear of being hit by a car. Additionally, it is not very far from either an LDS chapel building or a grocery store.

Sunnyside Ave is a fairly quiet road that ultimately ends at the Hogle Zoo. While there is housing in the area, most of the houses are either down side streets or facing away from this fairly large and busy road. At one point along the road, there is a rather steep hill with a stop light at the top, so be wary if you are driving a manual (I killed the car and sat through three lights before I finally made it up). Traffic can be busy in the mornings and evenings as this road passes by the University of Utah at the other end.

The Bangerter Hwy (also called State Route 154) runs from Draper to the SLC airport and is a good way to go to avoid some of the heavier traffic that is downtown and along I15 and I80. While it is a good alternative to getting to the airport (especially for those college kids who are trying to get to and from BYU), it does not stretch across the entire valley, so you will still have to take I80 to get around the Point of the Mount.

E S Temple goes right by both the Joseph Smith Memorial Building as well as the Brigham Young Beehive house. For a spectacular view of Temple Square and a pretty decent meal, go up to the top floors of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to the 'Rooftop Resturant'; it looks out over the city and is a great place to rest your feet.
As East South Temple is right down down and passes so many LDS Historical sites, it can be a very busy street and finding parking can be difficult. Once you find a parking spot, best to just leave the car there and explore the area on your feet.

W N Temple is a busy downtown street that changes names several times as you are traveling down it. It passes right by the LDS Conference Center and north of the LDS Temple. Beware this street twice a year when the LDS church holds their annual conference (in April and October on weekends) as streets are packed wtih people and cars either going to the conference center or visiting Temple square.

W S Temple is a busy street in down town Salt Lake. It goes right past Temple Square and is across from a fairly large shopping center. As it goes right past the Mormon Temple (a place of worship for people of the Mormon faith), you are bound to see Mormon missionaries as well as people dressed in Sunday clothes. If you're in the mood for some peaceful time, stop and take a look around and then go shopping at the mall across the street. Beware, however, parking can be expensive.

Poplar is a nice, long street that goes all the way into down-town Memphis. There are relatively few houses along it, but many businesses and you definately need to stop in and eat at Corky's BBQ. I would avoid Poplar during rush hour, it is a narrow street and traffic tends to get congested the closer you get to either German Town or down town Memphis. Also, if you are trying to get to German Town, I would recommend taking the freeway as opposed to driving all the way down Poplar.

Prentiss Place is in a nice, quiet area of town and is where the Memphis Zoo & Aquarium is located. The homes in this area are older, more expensive homes and there is a very nice golf course in the area. The times that I was there, there was not a lot of traffic but it can get busy on the weekends and when new exhibits are opening. There places to eat further away from the Zoo and the Art School is nearby.

2nd Street is more of an alleyway, really. But, it is the location for the famous Rendevouz resturant - the Best BBQ in Memphis. You'll have to walk past several dumpsters to get to the door and the resturant doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is incredible and the resturant is a fun place to visit, don't shrug it off based on appearances.
There are other shops and resturants along the road, but none that I ever visited. The only real reason to go down the road is to get the BBQ - then you should head to Beale street for the atmosphere.

Memphis is a strange city where you can be driving along in a perfectly safe part of town and then, all of a sudden, everything changes and you start fearing for your life. Lamar Ave is one of those places. There are some houses and business along the road, but nothing that you can't find a nicer, safer part of town. Also, most residents (and hotels for that matter) will tell you to avoid the area and find another way to get to where you are going.

Auction Ave runs from Mud Island to the Danny Thomas Freeway and goes right past the Pyramid (the old convention center). It is one of the two roads that can be used to get from the Island to the 'main land'. While there traffic in the morning and afternoon, it tends to move along at a good clip. Auction has mainly business along it and there is a good gas station just as you are coming off of the island.
Be careful in the winter. Although Memphis has a temporate climate, they will get some snow/ice every year. Unfortunately, Auction is 'uphill both ways' as it comes from/to Mud Island and that makes it difficult to get across when icy.

Union Ave, which runs from the Mississippi River down to the Medical District, is full of things to do. Since it is close to Beale, as well as the Peabody Motel and runs down into the 'art' district, there is always something you can find. Be sure to watch the ducks at the Peabody (they ride in an elevator and EVERYTHING!). Also, there are a lot of resturants around down town, so you will be able to find something for everyone. As you travel up Union, you'll eventually see Sun Studios, where Elvis recorded his records. It is a museum now and well worth a visit.
With so many things to do along Union, it is understandable that it is a busy street. Watch out for the horse-drawn carriages, they tend to cause a lot of conjestion. Also, the buses in Memphis will just suddenly stop and idle in a lane for long periods of time (I saw one bus driver stop the bus and run into the gas station to do some quick shopping - blocking traffic and leaving his passengers in the bus). My recommendation would be to find park in the parking garage at Peabody Place and walk around the area, particularly if you are just there for some sight seeing. Also, avoid Union if at all possible during rush hour.

Harbor Town Square is located on Mud Island, right in the middle of the Mississippi and not far from the Pyramid (the old convention center). There are a few apartments and many beautiful, but expensive homes. There is also a small shopping area (pizza place/video rental store, hair salon, etc) as well as a small but well-stocked grocery store. This is a nice, quiet street in a safe neighborhood where children can ride their bikes and play. Also, just across the way is Mud Island Park where during the summer, you can run, walk your dog, play or just sit and watch the river as it rushes by. During the winter, when the river rises, it tends to cover the park almost completely, so access is limited. If you are looking for night life, you aren't going to find it here, but you are not far from down town and Beale Street.
You are not far from down town and, just down Mud Island Drive is another nice park which has a too-scale miniture 'fountain' of the Mississippi river that you can follow and play in. Watch for activities at the park - we stumbled upon a Blue Grass Festival that we enjoyed for HOURS!

St Elmo Ave is a quiet neighborhood street with middle to lower-class homes. It is an older neighborhood in Memphis and the yards boast very large trees (some of them Magnolias). On Sundays, many of the families are selling newspapers on the corners and children are out riding their bikes. The LDS Church is located on this street as well as Shelby State Community College. No 'happening' night life here, but a nice quiet place for families.

No trip to Memphis is complete without a pilgrimage to Graceland. This street named, obviously, for the fact that it is where Graceland is located, also boasts the Heartbreak Hotel as well as buy 'official' Elvis items in the surrounding shops. I would recommend visiting the street around Christmas time when Graceland and the surrounding areas are covered in lights. The only down side is that the street is now a pretty busy throughway, so be careful when crossing.

Island Drive is located on Mud Island and bosts having beautiful houses on one side and Mud Island park (and the Mississippi River) on the other. There are several apartment complexes on the island as well as tall (usually 3 story) homes with small, but nicely maintained yards. Island Drive runs the length of Mud Island and has very little traffic. Additionally, it is close to downtown while still offering the feeling of being further away from the action. Other than a small shopping area that has a pizza place, some other small shops and a small, but expensive grocery store, there are not many places to either eat out or go shopping. You can expect to pay a premium to live on Island Drive.

Beale Street, in the heart of Memphis, is a street full of history, food and fun. If you're looking for a good place to listen to Jazz, then Beale street is the place to be. Also, Beale is located close to the FedEx Forum (where they play basketball) as well as the Gibson guitar factory. Go there during Memphis in May, and the streets are alive with music and people.

Memphis beautifully located on the Mississippi River. It boasts that it is the birth place of Rock & Roll and houses the famouse Graceland Mansion. For those who are seeking good blues or bar-b-que, there is Beal Street right down town. Also, in the past few years, there has been a lot of growth out in German Town and the areas away from down town. That being said, downtown is still a dangerous place to be after dark if you are not on the main streets. Additionally, you can be driving along and suddenly find yourself in a 'bad' part of town without any warning.

Blanco is a VERY busy street in San Antonio and, unfortunately, as it crosses Huebner, it goes from 4 lanes to 2, making it even busier. It has many good resturants and grocery shopping (a new Super HEB has just been upgraded on Blanco and 1604) and it will ultimately take you out to the National Park and winds up through the Hill Country. However, since it is one of the only roads that goes into that area, the traffic gets to be very bad. So, although the area is nice and growing, the street remains a problem on weekdays.

Stone Oak Parkway used to be a small road on the North side of town. Now, that area has exploded and Stone Oak has seen a lot of construction in the last few years. It is nicely situated and has MANY new residential areas as well as medical (North Central Baptist Hospital), shopping and resturants. It does have its downside, though. Since it is so close to 281 and 1604 and has so many new neighborhoods, traffic has become increasingly worse where it can take an hour to go a couple of miles. In recent years, San Antonio has discussed making some of the highways toll roads, if this happens, then you can expect Stone Oak to become even more crowded.

Broadway street is in a nice, but expensive, part of town. It has many residential areas and some commercial ones; there is a nice park and it borders the San Antonio Zoo. It also has the added bonus of being close to down town without actually living there and traffic is moderate. This area is close to The Quarry, a great place for shopping, eating and watching movies. Also, The Quarry has a HUGE Border's bookstore, a big plus! This area of town caters more toward the single and families without children - those looking for more of a nightlife.

La Cantera Parkway is right in the middle of things. Apart from Six Flags, it also has the outdoor shopping mall (aptly named La Cantera). It is close to the freeway, so it is easy to access VERY close to a new movie theater and resturants. This street is busy and wouldn't be a good place to live, however there are some apartments located there.

This street is right in the heart of San Antonio and is ALWAYS busy. It is close to the River Walk and you always have tourists visiting the Alamo, or just wandering around. It is a great place to see the sites, find a good place to eat and really get a feel for San Antonio. HOWEVER, driving on this street is a pain (a lot of traffic) and parking can be expensive.

Tranquil Park Drive is in a nice area of town and is in a good school district. Additionally, for those who are Medical students or residents, it is VERY close to UTHSCSA (University of Texas Heath Science Center at San Antonio). The street is in a nice neighborhood and the homes are fairly new (less than 15 years old). Also, since it is an older neighborhood, the trees and yards have more growth, giving those so inclined, some good climbing trees.

Knights Cross is a nice, fast-growing area in northern San Antonio. Many of the communities along the road are gated communities, but there are also some single homes. This area has been growning quite a bit over the last few years and many of the homes are either brand-new or only 2 - 3 years old. The neighborhood is nice and it is not far from grocery stores (HEB, Super Target and Walmart are all within a 10 minute drive) or from the Elementary school.

Huebner (pronounced 'Hebner) road is a busy road that will take you from the north area of San Antonio clear down to the Medical School. There are MANY shops and resturants along the way and, during rush hour, is a good alternative to using 1604. However, as San Antonio continues to grow, the traffic on this street continues to get worse.

Camino Ridge is the main street in the gated community 'The Hills of Sonterra'. The community is has many nice people and there are MANY families that live there, making it a nice place for children to meet friends. However, since Camino Ridge is the main road, cars tend to drive fast. The addition of speed bumps 2 years ago has helped the problem, but children do not always pay attention and, therefore, parents need to be careful with smaller children.

Roble Fino is a quiet cul de sac in a gated community. There are several families with children, which makes it a great place for kids to play without the fear of them being hurt. The street is not far from shopping and eating areas (there is a new mall off of 281 that is just 15 minutes away) and is in a very good school system. Additionally, the street is very close to the Baptist Hospital as well as MANY other specialized and family doctors.