Burning Tree - San Antonio, TX

The original inhabitants of the San Antonio area were a small Indian community called the Yanaguana who lived along the San Pedro Springs area. This region came into prominence after Spanish explorers landed here in 1709. The city of San Antonio was founded by Father Antonio Olivares in 1718.

This city prospered after the civil war due to its open spaces and warm weather that was ideal for cattle. Its military center serving the border areas also helped to fuel its growth.

For a look into the local culture, visit McNay Art museum on Terrell Heights or Inverarte Art Gallery on Stone Oak. An interesting place is the Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum on Alamo Heights.

To take part in local festivities, plan to visit Green Living Festival that takes place in October in NW Military Highway or the CC Jewish Film Festival that takes place in February on Embassy Row.

Burning Tree has several choices for formal dining as well as for a quick bite. Dresden Cafe on Thousand Oaks Dr serves good German and East European food — something that you do not come across often in this neighborhood. Its specialty dishes include Czech sausage, fresh sauerkraut and currywurst. Besides good food, this restaurant has good interiors and friendly staff to enhance the overall dining experience.

Another good dining option on Thousand Oaks is Thai Chili . The head chef of this restaurant is Chef Chai, a native of Thailand who prepares recipes handed down over the generations of his family. So, when you dine here, you can be sure of tasting authentic Thai food such as tod mun pla, satay, somtum, yum talay, poah taek, phad kra prao and phad khing. Vegetarians also have plenty to choose from the menu. If you have any preference or allergies, let the waiter know and the chef will adjust your dish according to your preferences.

To grab a quick bite of Mexican food, head to Tacos n Salsa located on Jones Maltsberger Road. Flavorful salsa and breakfast tacos make this place a favorite hangout for locals who want to grab a bite after their morning walk. Its homemade tortillas stuffed with fresh ingredients make this place a healthy choice. All sauces are made fresh daily, and this adds to the taste of food served here. All in all, this is a good place to sample authentic Mexican fare.

Burning Tree has good nightlife choices too, so you do not have to travel far. Bushwood Country Club on Jones Maltsberger Road has friendly and experienced bartenders who whip up great-tasting cocktails or pour local beers from the tap. For entertainment, this place has flat screen TVs, games, pools and darts. Overall, a nice and laid-back atmosphere that helps you to wind down after a long day at work.

Fans of live music and entertainment should visit Zombies on Thousand Oaks Road. This bar hosts live metal bands over the weekends. They also bring in stand-up comedians and various other bands through the week, so make sure you check the schedule so you know what you're in for. This bar has a horror-movie based theme that can spook anyone, and the interiors attract the locals in a big way.

VIA Transit buses connect Burning Tree to its neighboring communities. To reach downtown, walk to the Thousand Oaks and Jones Maltsberger intersection and take routes 502 or 14. To cover a distance of 13 miles, it takes about 90 minutes and costs $1.25 per ride. Because of the amount time it takes to travel by bus, most people prefer to take their cars, as it takes only 20 minutes to cover this distance. Moreover, proximity to I-410 and I-35 coupled with the availability of public parking spaces add to car usage. People rarely walk or bike on the roads because of large distances and lack of paved paths on all the roads. Other transportation options include cabs and Uber.

McAllister Park on Jones Maltsberger road has many paved trails that wind through natural woods. Amazing views and the chance to get a glimpse of wild deer add to the pleasure of exercising here, for both you and your dog. It also has a park for children, soccer fields, and lots of open green spaces.

Oak Haven Park on Parkstone Blvd also has good trails for walking or jogging. Its tennis and basketball courts help to get some exercise as well.

Burning Tree neighborhood sits at eight percent lower than national average cost of living. This affordability reflects on all walks of life as a single-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $664 a month while a pint of beer costs an average of $4 at the local pubs. Gas prices also sit at about 11 percent lower than the national average.

North Star Mall on San Pedro avenue houses many brand name shops like Saks, Banana Republic, Coach and Macy's. Along with shopping, the area around the mall has well-known chain restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory and LongHorn Steakhouse.

For used clothes, books and household items, head to Thrift Town on Thousand Oaks road. This place has neatly arranged shelves that have items in good conditions. Friendly staff and large interiors make this place a good stop to buy used things.

For the best jewelry and beads, visit Original Beads & Gems located inside the Alley on Bitters on W Bitters Road. This place has a variety of gems, minerals, crystals and beads using which you can make your own jewelry. It also sells beaded jewelry custom-made for you.

Grocery stores nearby include H-E-B and Sam's Club, although a number of convenience stores are in the neighborhood. Sprouts lies nearby for organic produce.