Central Hyde Park - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City served as a major stopping point for the pioneers who were heading west on the Santa Fe trail. The original Hyde Park neighborhood was developed in 1866 as one of the several subdivisions that popped up between Kansas City and Westport. The neighborhood maintains much of its original charm and remains a special place to live in Kansas City.

Just south of the neighborhood, you will find two of the city's best museums: the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. If you head north towards downtown, you will reach the National WWI Museum.

Each May, Kansas City hosts the Brookside Arts Annual to showcase the work of almost 200 artists. The festival attracts over 70,000 people, earning it the title of one of the top 25 art events in the United States.

With a location so close to downtown, Central Hyde Park offers residents access to a number of the city's best dining options. For special occasions or holidays, residents choose Capital Grille as their fine dining establishment. Diners flock here for the first-class service and classy vibe. Start off your meal with an order of its famous calamari. Serving filet mignon, lamb chops and dry aged sirloin, the restaurant specializes in red meat cooked to perfection. If you prefer seafood, try the world-famous lobster mac and cheese.

Kansas City is known for its barbecue, and Central Hyde Park shares its streets with one of the best joints in town. Q39 comes with a rustic, laid-back atmosphere and food you won't find anywhere else. The menu has the best dishes that smoked meat has to offer with spare ribs, chipotle sausage, sliced brisket and pulled pork. Don't miss out on this Kansas City favorite.

The neighborhood situates itself near some of the best local spots to grab a drink with friends. For an inviting atmosphere and a great selection of beers and cocktails, residents turn to The Foundry. The menu takes bar food to another level.

Right next door you will find Julep, a bar specializing in creative cocktails and spirits. While the drinks are expensive, you will feel classy and sophisticated while enjoying one of the Julep house specialities.

Located so close to downtown, residents of Central Hyde Park have access to convenient public transportation options. Several bus routes serve the area to provide a quick commute to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and communities. The base fare for more metro routes is $1.50 per ride.

Kansas City has gained national recognition for its efforts to make the city safe for cyclists. The plan has involved placing designated bike lanes on many of the city's major roads. Central Hyde Park features several bike-friendly roads, making it easy to commute to many destinations on two wheels. While there aren't many restaurants or businesses within walking distance, residents enjoy the surrounding park.

Sitting near the epicenter of the city, residents have access to the place in which all of the area's major highways converge. A short drive will put you on track to get anywhere you need to go in the area. Quite a few large parking garages in the vicinity provide free parking.

While you may not be able to step outside and hail a cab from the curb, a number of cab companies serve the community with prior service arrangements. For more immediate service, many people choose to take advantage of the reliable transportation provided by Uber.

Living in a neighborhood surrounded by parks, residents love to be active and take advantage of the outdoors. As the name suggests, Central Hyde Park, home to Hyde Park, houses one of the first parks in the city. Started in the 1880s, the park was originally a private park developed using the natural limestone outcroppings and ravine present in this neighborhood. Now, the park offers residents access to a serene open space and tennis courts.

Located on the south border is Gillham Park, a city park with many activities to offer. Visitors can take advantage of the baseball diamond, tennis courts, wading pool and 1-mile paved walking and biking trail. Kids love to visit Gillham Park and spend an afternoon on the playground.

The Penn Valley Park sits just a few blocks away and is full of popular area attractions. With a skate park, tennis courts, a playground, a picnic shelter and a 2-mile walking path, Penn Valley Park proves a great place to take your family on a sunny Sunday. You will also find an off-leash dog park for your pets to enjoy.

Every summer, the Kansas City Zoo hosts the Ethnic Enrichment Festival in Swope Park. This event is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The festival highlights over 60 cultures with ethnic food, crafts and entertainment native to each country being showcased.

The benefits and amenities that Central Hyde Park provides do not come without a higher price tag. The cost of living in this neighborhood is substantially higher than the Kansas City average. Average monthly rental rates run at $850 — higher than other neighborhoods in the area.

A neighborhood full of gastropubs and breweries, Central Hyde Park has a lot to offer in the libations department. When heading out for a beer, locals expect to pay around $5 for popular domestic beers and $8 for craft beers.

Gas prices in the area remain consistent with the city average, falling well below the national average.

Central Hyde Park lies just a few blocks away from one of the most desirable shopping centers in the area. Country Club Plaza presents shoppers with high-quality brands like Tiffany & Co., Lululemon, Burberry, and Michael Kors. Locals also stop by for home decor at West Elm.

If you prefer to shop at local boutiques, stop by Standard Style. This chic and trendy store specializes in both casual apparel and high-end styles. They carry men's and women's clothing, shoes and accessories following the latest fashion trends.

Normal Human hand prints T-shirts dedicated to paying tribute to Kansas City. The designs reflect the city's culture - a major reason for the store's popularity. In addition to selling apparel, Normal Human carries leather journals, jewelry, candles and soap - all handmade by local vendors.

The neighborhood's gourmet local markets include Sun Fresh Market, 39th Street Market, and Thriftway. For a great selection on locally-grown produce and handcrafted goods, head to the Ivanhoe Small Growers Farmers' Market.