Highview Estates - Kansas City, MO

Highview Estates, in central Jackson County, traces its history back to the pioneers who settled the West. Raytown, just to the west, once served as a stopping point before wagon trains moved west along the Santa Fe Trail in the early 1820s. Jackson County incorporated in 1826. Settlers from Virginia named the Little Blue River, the main waterway that juts through the eastern edge of Highview Estates. Agriculture and farming occurred from the 1870s to the 1930s.

Many homes in the area sprang up in the 1950s when people moved to the suburbs and away from downtown areas. Construction continues on houses where vacant farmland once stood.

Nearby Raytown and Lee's Summit contain the arts, cultural and festival scenes near Highview Estates. Harry S. Truman's farm, a national historic site, sits 8 miles to the southwest.

Find restaurants in adjoining neighborhoods such as Robandee to the west, Raytown to the north, and Lee's Summit to the south. Bars and nightlife also appear in these locales just outside Highview Estates.

Olive Café and Bakery serves classic Halal dishes, including mounds of fresh pita bread, gyro sandwiches, falafel and hummus. Other Mediterranean flavors at the restaurant include honey, beans, lentils and rice. The simple menu shows about two dozen selections, most of which run $10 or less. Every plate contains heaping amounts of food, and the side of french fries almost seems out of the place in this tiny, out-of-the-way café. A plate of chicken kabobs arrives at your table on top of saffron rice, fried onions and green peppers. A side of falafel includes hot chili paste, tzatziki sauce and a vegetable mixture to spread over the deep-fried concoctions. If you cannot decide what to eat, a daily buffet provides your ticket to some of the best Middle Eastern food in the area.

Fun House Pizza & Pub in Raytown features the daily special of the house — grilled chicken. This pizza place has its "famous" grilled chicken on a huge plate for hearty appetites. Buy a half a chicken with garlic toast and fries for a heaping plate of food. Order the grilled chicken Parmesan sandwich if you need less food. All hamburgers are 1/2-pound for a reasonable price. Try the Big Daddy pizza, which includes mounds of ham, pepperoni, Italian sausage and ground beef to go along with fresh vegetable selections such as green peppers, onions, tomatoes and black olives. Build your own pizza by choosing from 17 toppings, the more unusual ones being oysters, shrimp and sauerkraut. Fun House Pizza & Pub also has karaoke, kid's rides, a birthday party room, and video games for wholesome family entertainment.

China Town may look tucked away among other retailers in its shopping center, but the food comes to you fast, hot and fresh. Order a gigantic plate of sweet-and-sour chicken with a side of rice, an egg roll and two crab rangoons for lunch that won't empty your pocket book. Food takes about five to 10 minutes to prepare in the kitchen because the staff makes your food when you order it. Vegetarians should try Szechuan tofu as a substitute for meat. Sauces taste great on whatever you decide to eat. Owners draw patrons to the place by providing daily lunch specials for less money than normal platters.

For live music, Fun House Pizza in Lee's Summit has regular shows with local bands. Enjoy the music while you eat, as bands play close to dinner tables rather than on a special stage.

You definitely need a car to get around Highview Estates. Select areas have sidewalks for pedestrians, such as residences near Teetering Rocks Golf Course and surrounding Bent Tree Park. Homes have driveways for cars to park, and public-use facilities provide plenty of public parking spots. Bicycles easily navigate the roads due to cars parked in driveways rather than on the streets. Bicycles can easily travel on Bannister Road in the south and Brickyard Road in the north.

Drive down Bannister Road to get to other areas, such as Raytown and Lee's Summit. Raytown Road goes south to I-470, which intersects Blue Parkway to the east. Take Blue Parkway south to get to retail shops in Lee's Summit. Several taxis service Jackson County, and Uber services the area as well.

For public transportation, both Raytown and Lee's Summit have MetroFlex options with KCATA. Call 24 hours ahead of time, and a KCATA vehicle picks you up at your curb and takes you to a destination, all for regular KCATA transit rates.

Bent Tree Park, in the southwest section of the Highview Estates, provides walkers with a trail that circles near a thick forest of trees. A playscape near the entrance welcomes children to the park, and visitors can feel free to bring their leashed pooch for puppy play time. An exercise area lets residents stretch and work out before hitting the short trail.

Most annual events near Highview Estates occur in downtown Lee's Summit or in downtown Raytown. The Fishing Derby in Raytown draws fishing enthusiasts to the city's parks every summer. Oktoberfest in Lee's Summit brings 70,000 people into the city for fall-time revelry.

The cost of living runs a little higher in Highview Estates than in downtown Kansas City due to the high-end properties near the golf course and Brent Tree Park. Despite the higher cost of living, a typical one-bedroom apartment rents for around just $620 per month.

Locals can purchase a day pass on KCATA for only $3. A gallon of gas typically stays around 16 percent lower than the national average. A pint of beer on tap normally costs between $3 and $3.50.

Summit Woods Crossing, located in northern Lee's Summit, marks the closest retail shopping center to Highview Estates. Summit Woods contains national chain retailers similar to a shopping mall, albeit one in an outdoor setting. Hy-Vee and a Walmart Supercenter denote the closest grocery stores to the area, both in Raytown to the north along Blue Parkway. The closest farmers markets are in Lee's Summit and Raytown.

A few local businesses in Highview Estates provide unique services to the area. Members of Pioneer Gun Club trace its origins back to 1940, when residents of Jackson County wanted a safe place to practice shooting firearms. The venue hosts events such as the NRA Junior Olympics smallbore competition at an indoor facility. Instructors frequently host concealed carry classes here.

Teetering Rocks Golf Course caters to formal recreational activities and real estate services for high-end homes. Golf season runs April through October at the 18-hole, par-66 course. The clubhouse serves as a banquet facility that hosts hundreds of guests for meetings, parties, dances and weddings. The heart-shaped green of the third hole marks the most unique aspect of this course.