Stonewood/Stone Creek - Euless, TX

Euless was named after Tennessee native Elisha Euless, who migrated to Texas in 1867. He bought land in the area and started a cotton gin and community center. Euless was quite popular with the other settlers, and as the settlement began to grow, residents honored Elisha by naming the town after him. Over the years, the community has developed into a peaceful, residential suburb that maintains a small-town feel despite its location between two large urban centers.

Options for visual art in the area include the Dallas Museum of Art and the Arlington Museum of Art. For live theater, Onstage at Bedford hosts several productions throughout the year. The annual Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival commences every Labor Day weekend, providing locals the chance to hear great live bands and pig out on fantastic barbecue over three nights at summer's end.

A concentration of good restaurants and bars can be found just west of the convergence of Highway 10 and Airport Freeway. For Thai food, locals head to Thai Papaya Garden to sample dishes of massamun or panang curry and crispy Bangkok duck. Noodle dishes include classics such as pad Thai and pad woon sen. This place doesn't limit choices to just Thai food, however. Sushi and Chinese dishes, such as kung pao chicken and lo mein, round out the menu. Texans know their barbecue, and that certainly applies to the folks at North Main BBQ. In business since 1981, North Main BBQ stakes a claim as Home of the World's Best Ribs. Open Friday through Sunday only, North Main features an all-you-can-eat buffet of ribs, brisket, chicken, pork and plenty of sides. All of their meats get slow cooked for up to 12 hours. You have to love the name of the Crazy Cowboy. Located in Bedford, this friendly bar and grill serves great cocktails and bar food with plenty of weekly deals to keep customers coming back. Three-dollar bloody Marys and $2 pints make the perfect complement to their thick burgers and grilled chicken club sandwiches. If you'd rather watch sports than go to work, you can tell people you're going to The Office. The Office in this case is a laid-back bar where locals go to watch Texas sports teams and relax with a cold beer. Another option to watch the Cowboys, Mavericks or Rangers can be found at The Den. With activities of pool, darts and karaoke, The Den provides a great place to spend the evening with friends. To hear live music in the area, residents set sail for the Euless Yacht Club, which hosts live music acts on the weekends.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit System runs the Trinity Railway Express that provides rail travel between Dallas and Forth Worth. Stonewood/Stone Creek residents can access DART at the Richland Hills station. The Fort Worth Transportation Authority, known as the T, runs several bus routes throughout Tarrant County. Uber ride-sharing provides service throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Cab service exists as well, but calling rather than hailing a taxi in Stonewood/Stone Creek yields better results.

Walking and biking provide safe transportation options in the neighborhood, although few if any bike lanes exist. Most residents rely on their cars for transportation, and free public parking can be found on residential streets. Highway 121 (Airport Freeway) runs through Euless, allowing access to Interstate 820, which forms a loop around Fort Worth. Connections can be made from I-820 to I-20 for travel west to Abilene or east to Louisiana. I-45 takes you south to Houston.

The Parks at Texas Star provide opportunities for some serious amateur baseball playing and regularly host league and tournament games. Residents of Stonewood/Stone Creek head to nearby River Legacy Park for a number of outdoor activities. Kids love the skate park and playgrounds, and parents appreciate the picnic areas. Exercise options in this free public park include a workout area and two trails for hiking and jogging. The city-run parks of Euless regularly host educational and entertainment programs throughout the year. Dog owners take their mutts to Euless Dog Park, which provides separate enclosures for big and small dogs.

The cost of living in Stonewood/Stone Creek falls in line with the surrounding Dallas/Fort Worth area, which lies bellow the national average. Fuel prices fall about 7 percent below the national average. A bottle of domestic beer at a local bar costs $4.50, and a bottle of imported sells for about $6. The average rental price of a one-bedroom apartment falls just under $675 per month. A trip to the city center on a local bus costs $1.75.

While you won’t find a single concentration of shopping options in Stonewood/Stone Creek, several retail outlets exist throughout the area. The North East Mall, located a short distance west in Hurst, features a variety of larger chain stores such as Bath & Body Works, Best Buy and Baby Gap. Ooh La La, located to the northeast in Grapevine, provides a variety of clothing, shoes, bags and jewelry from a number of different brands and designers. Comics fans love the huge selection of games, toys and T-shirts at Generation X Comics and Games.

For groceries, both Kroger and Aldi have locations in Euless. Alternatives to these bigger stores include smaller supermarkets such as Albertsons, which features a deli and pharmacy in addition to great deals on groceries and everyday household products. The German Deli in Colleyville sells German food products, including meats, seafood, mustards, candy and dessert items. The North Richland Hills Farmers Market, open seven days a week, provides residents the chance to purchase produce from local farmers.