There’s a lot to love about this area of North Dallas tucked inside the LBJ Freeway. Just north of White Rock Lake, hills and valleys shaded by mature oaks, pecans, and cedar elms create a lovely backdrop for comfortable, affordable homes that draw young families, first-time homebuyers and people eager to downsize. Outdoor enthusiasts love the miles of paved biking and jogging trails—including one that leads all the way to the jewel in this neighborhood’s crown, White Rock Lake—along with the hidden creeks and ponds that aren’t often found in the ‘burbs.  

Uncommon, too, is the sense of community that’s part of Lake Highland’s DNA. Here, block parties are probably more common than cocktail parties and draw hundreds of parents and kids for fun. The most notable—the Buzz Party—is an annual last-day-of-school celebration that features bounce houses, games, an outdoor movie, sno-cone truck for the kids, beer kegs for adults, and a barber tent that gives buzz cuts to anyone who wants to start the summer with a cooler summer do.

In fact, Lake Highland schools are a big part of its appeal. As part of the Richardson Independent School District, they are known for their academic excellence and highly involved parents. Many parents happily skip the carpool scene to walk their kids to school—it’s a simple pleasure you don’t see in many neighborhoods in modern America.

With a new YMCA, the beloved Royal Oak County Club, snow-day sledding at Flag Pole Hill and a home-grown Fourth of July parade that winds its way through the neighborhood, Lake Highlands might be the 21st-century equivalent of a Norman Rockwall neighborhood—the kind of place where residents really are neighbors in the truest sense of the word. While it might not be known as an epicenter of glamour, it is appreciated for its relaxed, unpretentious style. Even Hollywood heart throb Own Wilson has been known to play a game of shuffleboard or pool with NBA legend Don Nelson at the beloved hole-in-wall known as the King’s X Club.

That isn’t to say Lake Highlands doesn’t have its fair share of popular shops and eateries. Local favorites include the taproom at Oak Highlands Brewery, Resident Taqueria’s made-to-order tacos featuring an imaginative mix of local produce and slow-braised meats, and Zato’s fresh home-style dishes made with impeccably fresh ingredients. Add to all of this the amazing proximity to White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum, and world-class dining, shopping, sports, entertainment, and commerce for which Dallas is known, and Lake Highlands delivers the best of both worlds—close-knit community charm with easy access to big-city amenities.