Braeburn - Houston, TX

Throughout Houston’s long history, Braeburn has managed to remain a thriving, inviting environment where all are truly welcome. Before the construction of Highway 59, Farm-to-Market Road (which would later become Bisset Avenue) fed traffic from farmland to the city. Two major post-WWII population booms occurred in the 1950s and the 1970s, pushing the rural area into hyper-development to keep up with the growing number of settlers.

After surviving multiple supercell thunderstorms and a recession, Braeburn bounced back with the help of community leaders and residents, and was even able to lend a hand more than 150,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina. Magnificent buildings like The Houston Fine Arts Museum and Braeburn Country Club stand as a testament to the resilience and determination of the people who make the city great.

Caribbean Cuisine, centered in a plaza on Bisset Avenue, has introduced many a Houstonian to a fusion of styles from around the world. Locked in a head-to-head battle with Cool Runnings (Houston's other highly popular Caribbean food restaurant), this local haunt serves an island getaway on a plate. While you might not recognize every item on the menu, the friendly, knowledgeable staff can help you decide. You can't go wrong with an order of beef patties, or choose the Round da' Yard, which allows you to sample three different meats.

Saba's Restaurant, a family-owned Kosher restaurant, serves up delicious pizza, sushi, pasta, sandwiches and Israeli dishes. Popular breakfast items include an American breakfast, an Israeli breakfast and a variety of tasty omelettes. As the oldest Kosher restaurant located in the Houston area, Saba's Restaurant remains committed to offering the highest quality foods to the community.

For homemade corned beef and cabbage, try the Shamrock Inn Pub, an Irish sports bar on South Gessner Road. The humble brick and the campy green Shamrocks on the sign let you know this neighborhood bar features no muss, no frills and no fuss. This establishment makes a great place to cool down with a $1.50 Guinness and some karaoke. Regulars love the no-nonsense bartenders who make stiff cocktails. This place gets packed to the brim with Irish dancers and bagpipers every St. Patrick's Day.

When you feel daring and want to try something new, visit the aptly named DeLight Hookah Lounge. Atmospheric and cozy, the building off Highway 6 remains big on comfort and space. Plush leather chairs and communal dark wood tables make it easy to strike up a conversation or kick back and watch one of the mounted TVs. This place proves worth the trip for the experience alone, whether you smoke and need to blow off some steam or don't smoke but still want a kabob and Turkish coffee.

Houston’s MetroRail, an electric train that runs from downtown through many neighborhoods (including Braeburn), is a fun way to see a lot of the city for a nominal fee. You can hop on at the Texas Medical Center and ride all the way to Houston Community College. The MetroBus has stops along major roads and helps locals span short distances in record time. Ride sharing services like Uber are huge, as Houston was the first city in Texas to approve these cab alternatives. Many of the retail and shopping centers are located in strip malls with ample parking, which makes finding a space simple and convenient. I-69, located at the west end of the neighborhood's boundary, allows residents quick access to Houston Baptist University and other major landmarks north and south of the city.

With over 15 miles of hiking and biking trails running along Bray's Bayou, the neighborhood of Braeburn is very walkable. Dedicated bike lanes on Braeswood Boulevard ensure it's a safe place to ride.

The 250 acres of rolling green that make up Brays Bayou Hike and Bike Trail are as scenic as the blue waters they follow. A favorite of early morning joggers, families with strollers, bikers, dog walkers and commuters, this narrow cement walkway will take you past Braeburn Country Club and over a footbridge. Take in the amazing views while getting in some exercise in. Bring your music device of choice, as the city and highway can be heard from the trail. Parking is difficult to navigate, so most people opt to leave their cars in neighborhoods nearby.

Harris County's Bayland Park on Bissonnet Street has nearly 70 acres of well-maintained baseball and soccer fields, open to the public. Functioning as a training spot for sports enthusiasts, this park also includes a playground, a football field, tennis courts, a jogging trail, and a community center that stays lit until 10 p.m.

Hermann Park, nearer to the city, makes for a fantastic place to visit if you’re willing to make the drive. Complete with a playground, a bright red kiddie train, multiple gardens, pedal boats, and bicycles to rent, Hermann Park can be can be summed up in one word: Beautiful. Couples take engagement photos near Sam Houston monument and friends relax on the grass, taking a moment to stop and smell the roses wafting from the garden center. Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts concerts and plays, and the Houston Zoo attached to the park attracts crowds of happy children.

The average rent in Braeburn lies just under Houston’s average, with one-bedroom apartments around $512 per month. Expect to spend between $2 to $3 on a beer, $1.25 on a MetroRail pass, and $1.25 per MetroBus ride. The cost of gas runs around 8 percent below the national average.

There’s no missing the Galleria — Houston’s uptown skyscraper mall on Westheimer Road. With four floors, an ice skating rink, two Westin hotels, office space and a private health club, this massive retail center has been named the 8th largest mall in the world. The Galleria’s giant glass skylight shines down on a whopping 2.4 million square feet, and you can see every inch of the mall yourself with a 15-minute drive from the center of Braeburn.

The 400 or so stores provide shoppers a healthy mix of high and low end, from Gucci to The Gap to everything in between. A bevy of clothing, cosmetics, accessories, electronics, and home goods means you can knock out a lot of shopping in a single trip, all without having to move your car When you get hungry, make the trek to one of the food courts on either end of the mall. Or end your hard day of shopping with a stop at the Cheesecake Factory. Get there early on the weekends as this place draws huge crowds.

For groceries, most locals can find what they need at the H-E-B on Braeswood Boulevard. But the neighborhood of Braeburn has so much more to explore, like the Russian General Store and La Michoacana, a meat market and Hispanic food store. Southwest Farmers Market off Bissonnet Street offers an exciting eco-friendly way to choose both local and international products. Largely considered an African market, shoppers frequent the market to find fresh exotic meat and produce like beef tongue, cow feet, and tripe. The close proximity of so much international merchandise speaks to the diversity of the city’s population.

Children’s Collection, a boutique consignment store, specializes in children’s and maternity clothes, but it also has tons of gently-used baby toys and furniture. About 16 minutes out of Braeburn via Highway 59, the rapidly changing selection at Children’s Collection is organized by gender and size to make searching for specific items easy. The store only takes on pre-used clothes and furniture in good condition, and often, Children’s Collection has bigger discounts than moms could find at regular retailers.