Parkway - Sacramento, CA

Murals covering the walls of the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum depict the history and struggles of black people in America. The museum houses an extensive gallery of artwork from around the world and artifacts from the era of slavery, like a collection of dolls owned by slaves. Proceeds from the annual Banana Festival support the museum. At this event, visitors can sample dishes made with bananas and view artwork from local artists. Live music and a series of cultural performances also take place throughout the day.

For more museums, people make the short drive to downtown Sacramento. Visit the days of the Gold Rush with a trip to Old Sacramento State Historic Park where historic buildings have been preserved and covered wagons line the streets. The Crocker Museum of Art houses several galleries of artwork and rotating exhibitions. People also visit the museum to see concerts and performances.

Most restaurants in Parkway lie along Florin road, and encompass all varieties of cuisine. Locals head to La Soga Taqueria for authentic Mexican food. The carnitas burrito and hand-rolled corn tortillas have garnered a loyal following for this restaurant. Speedy service makes this a popular place for a quick lunch.

Stagecoach Restaurant specializes in comfort food like fried chicken and waffles. A plate of country fried steak topped with gravy makes a hearty start to the day. The restaurant also serves Southern dishes that can be hard to find in the area like grits and oxtail stew. Specials change frequently, so the menu is different each day of the week.

The tri-tip plate with a side of macaroni salad remains one of the favorite options at Water'z Wing'z. People stop by for heaping plates of barbecued food items like ribs and wings at affordable prices. A slice of caramel pecan cake finishes off the meal on a sweet note. The restaurant also has family specials that allow people to cheaply feed a crowd.

Nightlife options consist of just a few bars in Parkway. At Sharky's Billiards, people shoot pool on the many tables and enjoy cheap pitchers of beer. Arcade games like Street Fighter remain a popular activity as well. For more nightlife options, residents head a few miles north to the Parkway-South Sacramento neighborhood.

Because most residents use a car to get around Parkway, businesses usually provide plenty of free parking. The lack of bike lanes on some major roads can make biking through the neighborhood tricky and potentially unsafe. Many roads have sidewalks, but residents use them more often for recreational walking than as a reliable mode of transportation. Uber services the area and people can also call a taxi to arrange a cab ride. The Sacramento Regional Transit operates multiple routes through the neighborhood.

Residents find leaving town a breeze because State Route 99 runs through Parkway. To travel to other areas using public transportation, people take a bus to the Amtrak Station in Sacramento. From there, Amtrak trains provide service to the Bay area and to numerous cities like Denver, Portland and Seattle.

Residents enjoy recreational opportunities at several parks throughout the neighborhood. Nielsen Park contains courts for basketball and four square, as well as ball diamonds, tennis courts and soccer fields. Children enjoy playing on the playground and in the many open spaces. Trails through the park for walking and jogging attract many people as well.

Nearby William Land park also provides many activities for the family. People enjoy jogging and taking dogs for walks around the shady gardens and lakes with fountains. Equipment at the park includes playgrounds, baseball fields and a golf course. Several other distinct areas exist within the park like Fairytale Town, which has play equipment inspired by fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Funderland caters to small children with several carnival rides. William Land Park also houses The Sacramento Zoo, which contains animals from all over the world. Stop by to see otters playing in the water, a python slithering along a tree, or lions resting among the rocks. Entrance to William Land park does not cost, but entering the parks within it requires a small fee. The park hosts a number of events throughout the year, including Food Truck Mania where food trucks congregate to serve their dishes to patrons.

To delve into nature, residents head a few miles south to Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The many acres of marshes create a bird watcher's paradise because migrating waterfowl and shorebirds stopover in the refuge. This makes a great place to explore nature because the trails cross through different habitats and signs detail information about the refuge's wildlife.

Residents of Parkway enjoy living costs 11 percent lower than the Sacramento average. Gas prices remain 6 percent higher than the national average and a pint of beer at a local cub typically costs about $5. Going from Parkway to downtown Sacramento on the Sacramento Regional Transit bus costs $2.50. The median rent for a one-bedroom residence runs about $677 per month.

Residents of Parkway have access to many nearby shopping opportunities, mostly located along Florin Road. Florin Towne Centre contains Walmart and Sears while a farmers market takes place every Thursday in the parking lot. Southgate Plaza Shopping Center also has high-value retailers like Ross and Payless Shoes. Locals shop for groceries at 99 Ranch Market, Raley's and Safeway.

Joyce's Beauty Supply sells a selection of hair products like wigs, extensions, and flat irons. The large store has a huge inventory, but the knowledgeable staff helps customers quickly find what they need and provides helpful product advice.