Country Club - Hialeah, FL

Established in 1961 in northwest Miami-Dade County, Country Club never incorporated as a city or town. A proliferation of row homes built from the 70s to the late 90s gives this neighborhood a unique continuity in terms of appearance that imbues it with a homey, welcoming ambiance. Nearby museums include the Miami Springs Historical Museum and the popular Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. The arts scene prospers most in the design district of Miami, but you can find festivals like the annual Carnaval Miami on Calle Ocho throughout the year in almost all of Miami's neighborhoods. Calle Ocho has delighted the residents of South Florida for decades, with great food and entertainment all day long in one magnificent street party.

Weekends jump at the Ciboney Cuban Restaurant in Miami Lakes, with live Latin music and karaoke after dark. But day or night, the tantalizing Cuban-American cuisine beckons with the mingled aromas of such dishes as traditional vaca frita, arroz con pollo, ropa vieja, and palomilla steak. Diners enjoy cocktails and follow their meals with desserts, such as flan and several other delightfully decadent selections, paired with a nice, fresh cup of cafe Cubano. From its barbecued spare ribs and lo mein to moo shoo and pepper steak, Toy Shan Chinese Restaurant's take-out pleases the palate and doesn't cost you a king's ransom. Located in the heart of the Country Club neighborhood, this establishment's hot, fresh food deliveries arrive quickly, allowing you to take the night off from cooking while still eating at home.

If you haven't tasted Nicaraguan food, you can't choose a better place to start than the El Novillo restaurant. Take your time and begin with a big plate of ceviche or one of the sampler platters. Then try the churrasco, lobster, or a juicy steak, and top off your meal with a choice of numerous desserts and after-dinner drinks.

This neighborhood doesn't really have a central restaurant location, but plenty of bars and clubs, including those with music venues like Ciboney, make their homes here. A popular British-themed establishment, the Pub serves as a popular spot where locals unwind with a pint or two. Locals also visit downtown Miami's design district and the famous South Beach area for clubbing and concerts.

Most residents drive private vehicles, but with buses common and frequent throughout the Country Club area, public transportation also gets you where you need to go. In Hialeah, the nearest Metro Rail station connects to the Tri Rail further north. Cabs and Uber, available by phone or through your computer, serve this area well.

Access this neighborhood via the Palmetto Expressway to the south, which connects to both Interstate 75 to the west and 95 going east. Plentiful free public parking awaits you, no matter where you need to go in this region. When you get to downtown Miami or Fort Lauderdale, however, parking fees rise as the availability of spaces diminishes.

The nearest recreational facility, a 9,000-square-foot outdoor concrete skate park called Country Village Park, welcomes skateboarders, inline skaters, BMX bikers, and scooter riders. Skaters here enjoy a wide variety of both traditional skate park flow and street-plaza type obstacles. Open 365 days a year when weather allows, this well-lit park charges admission fees of $2 on weekdays and $5 on weekends, holidays, and days when schools close. Rent helmets, mandatory for all park patrons, for $2 at the park's pro shop.

Nearby Amelia Earhart Park's 515 acres in Hialeah features five lakes and contains the Bill Graham Farm Village for hands-on education of local children. Weekend parking runs $7 and fees apply for certain activities here, such as the state-of-the-art soccer facilities for both youth and adults with available leagues, tournaments, and other activities. Wakeboarding activities in Amelia Earhart Park range from $10 up to $185 or more, depending upon the size of your party and other factors. From sunrise to sunset, the park provides year-round free access to the mountain bike trails, which challenge the skills of beginners, intermediate, and even advanced riders. Rent high-end mountain bikes with helmet included on weekends. Local residents enjoy the free and completely fenced five-acre bark park, with its separate section for smaller dogs.

Numerous activities and events such as outdoor summer movies and music festivals fill the schedule throughout the year, but none prove as fabulous or exciting as Calle Ocho.

Living in Country Club costs less than in many other nearby areas. It costs about $5 to $10 for a round-trip to visit downtown Miami or Fort Lauderdale via public transportation, making it more practical to buy a transit pass or have a car if you need to go into the city often. A one-bedroom apartment in Country Club sets you back around $1,080 per month, and beer costs an average of $5 to $7 for a bottle. Gas prices hover within 1 percent of the national average.

Country Club Plaza and Gardens Square provide the majority of convenience shopping, and the high-end stores cluster in Aventura and downtown Miami. A number of chain stores, including bargain outlets, line the highways in this region.

Husband-and-wife team Jose and Geidy Rodriguez make Geidy's Closet Boutique in Palm Springs North a very special place: a dream that grew from online sales and in-home fashion parties. The couple's focus on customer service, selection, quality, and affordability keeps their loyal customers coming back. Whether shopping for casual outfits to wear around the house, date-night sizzle, or girls-night-out funwear, Geidy's has what you seek.

When you need exquisite formal wear such as prom and quinceaera dresses, military ball gowns, tuxedos, or wedding garments, Leslye's Boutique and Dress Rehearsal has you covered. Considering its nearly three decades of experience dressing South Florida for special occasions, this establishment stands as the place to shop when you need an absolutely picture-perfect look.

Publix or Sedano's in Country Club Plaza and Publix at Gardens Square provide groceries to this neighborhood. Just north of Miramar, the Southwest Ranches Farmer's Market sells organic, locally sourced produce.