Victory Hills - Kansas City, KS

Wyandotte County derives its name from the Wyandot Indians, who moved from Ohio to the area in 1843. They farmed the land, planted orchards, built roads and set up a constitutional form of government. After the Civil War, the population in the area grew rapidly. In 1929, developers built Victory Hill Country Club, and the surrounding neighborhood became a residential area with a rural atmosphere. Urban development gradually occured over the 20th century.

Residents generally look outside this neighborhood to explore culture and the arts or participate in annual events. There are several art museums nearby in downtown Kansas City.

Residents of this neighborhood benefit from plenty of restaurants within a 10-minute drive. From those serving traditional Kansas City Barbecue to Mexican food, many restaurants can be found along State Avenue. Locals tend to go to downtown for a night on the town or special occasion; only a few small bars, a bowling alley and a roller rink provide nightlife in the area.

Italian Delight restaurant features a family atmosphere for dining and lots of Italian favorites on the menu. Regulars recommend the eggplant Parmesan and the excellent New-York-style pizza. Tech-savvy consumers appreciate that this place accepts Bitcoin digital currency for food purchases.

Locals go to Wyandot BBQ for ribs, smoked turkey and "burnt ends." Ask for the well-done crispy French fries to accompany your order, or enjoy baked beans and coleslaw. Customers praise the unique barbecue sauce - be sure to pick up a jar for your backyard grill on your way out the door.

Taqueria Arandas offers authentic Mexican food at reasonable prices in a casual setting. Try the comforting chicken soup with vegetables or the revered Alambres Arandas, a beef fajita marinated with bacon and veggies.

Enjoy great Cajun food, drinks and live music when you spend an evening at Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen. Jazz specializes in Cajun and Creole and dishes out friendly service along with the food. Come for the fresh crayfish, and stay for the soothing sounds.

Other local bars include the Dotte Spot Bar & Grill. For lively fun, go to Skate City Legends roller rink, which hosts public skating on the weekends. Hang with friends or family at KC Bowl, and enjoy cosmic bowling with super-cool nightclub music and lighting.

Residents of Victory Hill depend heavily on cars for transportation. The average household has two cars, and people travel about 20 minutes to get to work. Drivers find ample free parking in private lots at area businesses; no public lots or garages serve the area. Eisenhower Memorial Hwy (I- 70) provides limited access to this neighborhood. Other highways include State Route 5 and State Avenue.

Walking in Victory Hills for anything other than leisure is typically not realistic, and no bike lanes exist, though low-traffic streets are generally safe for cyclists to travel. KCATA bus routes 101, 113 and 116 run here seven days a week – route 101 runs approximately every half hour. Uber operates in the area, and about a dozen cab companies service the neighborhood.

At Stony Point Park, bicycle trails wind through 13 acres of open and wooded spaces. This park also has a softball field, two tennis courts and a playground for the kids to enjoy. Eisenhower Park encompasses 65 acres of woods and fields, including one lighted baseball diamond, two softball diamonds and football and soccer fields. Four tennis courts have lights for evening play, making it easy to get a game together with your buddies after work.

Painted Hills Golf Club, an 18-hole public course, features a beautiful landscape on which to play and perfect your game. Greens fees range from $20 to $30 depending on the day and time of your play.

When you feel like getting exercise with your pooch, bring it to the off-leash area at Wyandotte County Lake. This neighborhood canine stomping ground is an unfenced, allocated area of the public park.

The cost of living in the Victory Hills neighborhood sits about 5 percent less than the Kansas City average, and the average monthly rental for an apartment is about $574. You can expect to pay about $3 for a draft beer at the local bar. Bus fare to get to the city center costs $1.50 for a one-way ticket, and gas prices hover at about 92 percent of the national average.

The major shopping in Victory Hills lies near the intersection of State Avenue and 78th Street. The West State Plaza strip mall hosts a large Salvation Army thrift store and several outlet stores. Westfield Shopping Center has a pharmacy, a grocery store and other small retail shops. Residents drive to Country Club Plaza about 20 minutes away for high-end chain retailers, such as Williams-Sonoma.

Make a trip to Home Rooms Furniture when you're ready to replace your lumpy couch or upgrade to a bigger dining room table. Visit the showroom on State Avenue to meet up with helpful sales staff who can guide you to a bedroom set or coffee table in your budget, or check the website in advance for cash-saving deals when you're furnishing an entire apartment.

Conveniently located about 10 minutes east of Victory Hill, The Garment District boutique presents a unique selection of innovative fashions for men and women. While you shop for the latest in fashion, enjoy a refreshing vodka martini or other cocktail from the full-service bar.

Grocery stores serving the area include Hen House Market, Price Chopper and Save-a-lot, and neighborhood residents attend City Market, one of the largest public farmers markets in the Midwest located about 15 minutes away, for fresh produce. All year long, more than 40 full-time dealers provide specialty foods, fresh meats and seafood in this venue. This market opens every weekend.