Cordova, TN

Starting out as a cluster of 10 or so farms back in 1835, Cordova has seen several name changes over the year, having been known at various times as Allentown, Marysville and Dexter. The neighborhood was one of the many railroad stops along the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway route to Memphis, causing it to grow from a hamlet of just 150 people at the turn of the 20th century to one of Memphis's most thriving communities. Retail growth then exploded thanks to the Wolfchase Galleria.

Visit the Cordova Museum in an annex of the community center to find out more about the neighborhood's history and see a model classroom from the first half of the 20th century. Watch out for several annual events, including the Hope Presbyterian Church Fall Fun Festival, the Delta Fair and Music Festival and the Cordova Festival, showcasing work from 200 local artisans.

Find most of the nightlife and restaurants within Cordova to the west of the neighborhood along North Germantown Parkway. A reasonable range of cuisine styles from down-home American to Mediterranean, Thai and Japanese lie within this area.

If you want real Memphis BBQ, visit Corky’s BBQ. The restaurant truly helped put the city on the map as both a culinary capital and BBQ haven. Voted the #1 BBQ joint in Memphis 22 times and counting, this establishment has spent over three decades pleasing locals and visitors from far and wide. Order online for pickup, delivery or catering, and don't forget to buy some gift cards for various special occasions. Order a combo and try a variety of Corky's award-winning meats and sides in one convenient bundle of beef, chicken, pork, ribs — all with the restaurant's signature sauces.

Visit the Tannoor Grill to gorge your appetite on an all-you-can-eat Mediterranean grill for a reasonable price. Eat as much as you like of the eight kinds of meat hand-selected by the chefs and grilled on charcoal, including chicken legs, shish kabob, lamb chops, roast beef, smoked salmon and vegetarian alternatives. Pair these meats with your choice of appetizers, including hummus, baba ghanoush and hot salsa.

For Thai cuisine, try out Emerald Thai Cuisine, a family-owned restaurant open throughout the day except on Sundays. Choose from noodle dishes, such as pad Thai and kao pad, or select a chef's special, such as the cashew chicken and spicy salt shrimp.

Take your pick from the thriving nightlife options within Cordova as evening falls, again concentrated around North Germantown Parkway. Try the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium for live music and enormous pretzels or Tj Mulligans to grab a beer and catch the game on one of its many overhead screens.

Though the Memphis Area Transit Authority does operate the 82 bus route through the Cordova neighborhood, running from the Wolfchase Galleria to the Germantown Village Square Mall, most locals rely on their personal vehicles to travel around the neighborhood or reach the Memphis city center. With the majority of commercial businesses located along the same route, there's good reason to walk or cycle between shopping stops or nightlife activities, especially with the Greater Memphis Greenline running through the neighborhood, a multi-use trail network that's perfect for cyclists and pedestrians.

Find limited on-street parking and a few parking lots within the neighborhood, particularly for use by the customers of local businesses and shopping malls. Cordova lies to the south of the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and to the east of the Avron B. Fogelman Expressway, with Route 64 running along its northern border.

Ride share-services such as Uber operate throughout Memphis and the surrounding area, while several taxi companies can be found near the neighborhood, each of which can be called for a pickup.

Locals treasure Shelby Farms Park, 4,500 acres of green space protected by a conservation easement with a master plan for the ongoing future. Rent a bike, hire a boat to spend time on the lake, visit the iconic herd of buffalo, play on the 18-hole disc golf course or go horseback riding at the stables. Kids enjoy the laser tag and paintball, giant playground and BMX race track, while dog owners may let their animals off the leash within the 100-acre dog park, known as The Outback. Plenty of trail systems run through the park for exercise enthusiasts, while the park hosts regular events ranging from Earth Day Celebrations to the Greenline Half Marathon and Spooky Nights during the Halloween season. While visitors may enter the park for free, certain activities and events have associated fees.

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, the Fletcher Creek Park features a playground for the kids, as well as picnic tables, a pavilion and an observation deck overlooking the creek. Perfect for fitness fans and sports enthusiasts, the Bert Ferguson Park features a dance studio, gymnasium, baseball diamond, basketball court, soccer field, outdoor tennis courts, racquetball courts and a fitness center, as well as an art studio, playground and walking trail. Rent the banquet hall to entertain up to 225 people at a wedding, reception or meeting, or take part in one of the many health and fitness programs, such as flag football, cheerleading and Zumba.

The cost of living in Cordova sits around 8 percent below the national average. The median cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment hovers around $850 a month, while a pint of beer at a local bar will set you back approximately $8 and the cost of gasoline sits around 8 percent lower than the national average.

The major shopping district within Cordova is to be found at the Wolfchase Galleria, featuring a wide range of national brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy. Other shopping opportunities can be found on North Germantown Parkway, such as Chou's, a gift and import store unique to Memphis that sells semi-precious stone and sterling silver jewelry. Plato's Closet, a small Memphis-based chain, accepts lightly-used clothing and accessories in return for a selection of designer and basic clothing styles. Visit Dowdle Sports & Outdoors, the only physical location for the well-known online sporting goods outlet, for your athletic apparel or the Tres Elite Boutique for sophisticated women's fashion.

Grabbing a few groceries is no hard task in Cordova, with grocery options ranging from Kroger Food Stores and ALDI to smaller convenience stores including the Gabe’s Market. Visit the Cordova International Farmer's Market to find everything from fresh local fruits and vegetables to herbs and spices, imported goods from such places as Italy and Asia and eggs, milk and yogurt.