Falcon Estates - Colorado Springs, CO

European settlers arrived in the Colorado Springs area during the Colorado Gold Rush in the 1850s. A century later in 1959, the U.S. military chose Colorado Springs over 582 other contenders to be the site of the U.S. Air Force Academy. After the 18,500-acre campus was completed, Falcon Estates popped up as one of the neighborhoods around the academy.

Locals can learn about the Air Force Academy by visiting it. Free admission includes access to the visitor's center, the academy's museum, and its iconic chapel.

Other area museums include the Space Foundation Discovery Center, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy, and the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. For culture and arts, locals enjoy plays at Theatreworks at the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater, or they attend annual festivals such as the Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival.

In Falcon Estates, most of the restaurants are located along Academy Boulevard. The area has a huge selection of chains and a few independent restaurants or representatives of small Colorado-based chains.

A lunchtime favorite, Which Wich features a huge range of interesting sandwich ingredients, ranging from candied pecans and sauerkraut to a hot pepper mix. Locals enjoy classic sandwiches such as Philly cheese steak sandwiches, or they order their favorites with a twist -- for example, people who enjoy their cheese out of a can order the South Philly sandwich with Cheese Whiz substituted for melted provolone.

For burgers, Falcon Estates locals dine at Crave Real Burgers. This Colorado restaurant has a huge menu of burgers, including the Luther Burger served with bacon and onions on a glazed doughnut. If you feel brave, try the Big Wolf Special. If you can finish three little piggy burgers in 45 minutes, you win a free T-shirt and get your photo on the wall of fame.

To enjoy a sophisticated night out, locals visit Falcon's Bar and Grill. The interior features splashing fountains and lush greenery, and the menu at this family-friendly establishment offers pizzas, burgers, wings, prime rib, and other hearty fare. Locals in search of clubs often drive to Denver. An hour to the north, this city hosts everything from electronica dancing to western music.

Residents of Falcon Estates find free parking spots throughout their neighborhoods and around the businesses in the area. They live in close proximity to Interstate 25, which runs conveniently north and south through the city.

Buses link Falcon Estates to the rest of the city, but they don't run on Sundays. During the week and on Saturday, most routes only run hourly. Bicycle paths run through the area, and many of the major roads have bicycle lanes as well. Although safe, walking doesn't prove a convenient option for most residents due to the infamous sprawling nature of the entire Colorado Springs metro area.

Although you can't usually hail a cab in the street, both cabs and Uber serve the area. Just call in advance or book a ride using the Uber app.

Its location in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains gives Falcon Estates locals access to great hiking and rugged natural spaces. A local favorite, Pulpit Rock Park beckons climbers with its towering rocks. To get a workout and enjoy a great view of the city, hikers head to the trails at this park, which provide a relatively easy hike with some strenuous free climbing to reach the very top of the area boulders.

In addition to natural areas, Falcon Estates also hosts suburban parks such as Cottonwood Creek Park. The park has a disc golf course, a playground, a sledding hill, an enclosed hockey rink, and several types of sport courts. It also adjoins a recreation center with a pool you can use if you pay the daily admission fee.

Dog owners take their pups to the off-leash play area at Palmer Park. This park has a separate fenced-in play area for large and small dogs, and it also has hiking trails that allow dogs to hike off-leash with their owners.

Residents of Falcon Estates experience a slightly higher cost of living than residents of the metro area in general. While one-bedroom apartments in Colorado Springs rent for an average of $749 per month, one-bedroom apartments in Falcon Estates rent for $886 per month.

Beer at local pubs costs between $3 and $7 for a pint. Gas stations charge 13 percent less than the national average for a gallon of gas, and if you opt to take public transit, you can reach anywhere in Colorado Springs for less than $2, or you can purchase a day pass for $4.

Falcon Estates has two major shopping centers. Chapel Hills Mall provides an indoor shopping mall experience, or locals can head to the Promenade Shops at Briargate, an outdoor shopping mall with upscale shops and views of the Rocky Mountains.

Most of the shops in the area represent major nationwide chains, but shoppers can find a few unique gems in the mix as well. Fashion lovers browse the racks at Lillians. This boutique sells clothing and jewelry, perfect for staying fashionable in casual Colorado.

If you want furniture, check out Uniquely Yours. This locally-owned furniture shop sells upscale lighting fixtures, art, tables, and other accents discerning decorators want in their homes.

For groceries, Falcon Estates locals have access to a large King Soopers, or they can shop at organic-focused chains such as Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market. If you want to check out the local produce and artisan foods at a Colorado Springs farmers market, head to the Colorado Farm and Art Market held on Saturdays throughout the summer at Margarita at Pine Creek, or visit the farmers market in the parking lots of the Shops at Briargate.