River Oaks Neighborhood, Houston, One of the Best Little Places to Live in Texas

River Oaks neighborhood, Houston, is only a 10 minute drive from the downtown area, making for an easy commute to work or a fast trip to spend a night out on the town. For families, this exclusive neighborhood is highly attractive as the school system has programs for the gifted and talented in both elementary and Middle School and leading university entry courses at the High School level. More than 25 colleges and universities can be found without leaving the Houston area.

Buying a home in River Oaks starts at $400,000 and goes upwards from there. After being initially developed in the 1920's, the neighborhood rapidly turned into one of the more exclusive areas of the inner loop. Practically since the first homes were built, the luxurious River Oaks Country Club also opened its doors. The country club, which is adjacent to Memorial park, features tennis and golf facilities. In 2008 it began hosting the annual Men's Clay Court Championship. This club is extremely exclusive.

For golfers that do not like the country club environment, River Oaks neighborhood, Houston, is at the edge of Memorial Park, which is home to a 600 -acre golf course. Memorial Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, with 1,400-acres in total. There are jogging and bike trails as well as a swimming pool, fitness center, fields for softball, soccer and rugby and courts for volleyball and tennis. There are also picnic areas and acres upon acres of luscious greenery. The Houston Arboretum Nature Center is also located here.

"This 155-acre non-profit urban nature sanctuary provides education about the natural environment to Houstonians of all ages. It plays a vital role in protecting native plants and animals in the heart of the city where development threatens their survival,'' according to the Center's description of itself that is found on the Arboretum's web page.

Canoe trips, concerts, learning hikes and yoga classes are just some of the activities easily accessible to residents of the River Oaks neighborhood, Houston, from the Arboretum.

Both a movie theater, the Landmark, as well as a live theater, the Stages Repertory can be found here as well as the Museum of Fine Arts of Houston, which is also located at Memorial Park.

Several taverns are in the neighborhood as well as the Houston Laff Stop comedy club, a major stand-up comedy venue for the Houston area.

Many activities area available, yet peace and quiet also abound in the River Oaks neighborhood, Houston. It is no wonder that is considered to be one of the best little neighborhoods in Houston, Texas.