The Suburban Tourist

A neighbor and I recently took a walk through the nearby neighborhood of Highland Park.

A fountain in the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas, Texas.

She loves the mansions.

Some serious landscaping in front of a home in Highland Park, Dallas, Texas.

A brick Highland Park Mansion with a beautiful entryway.

A mansion in Highland Park. Mediterranean style.

Highland Park is incredibly beautiful, and incredibly rich.

It is known for being one of the wealthiest neighborhoods (technically town) in Dallas County, with the average couple making north of $250,000.

Income Statistics for Highland Park, Texas.

A house in Highland Park with the coolest owl above the doorway.

My neighbor has a few favorite houses picked out.

I don’t understand the appeal – there is not much to actually do in Highland Park.
Neighbor: “I’ll definitely live here once my husband and I make enough.”
Me: “Why?”
Neighbor: “Look at these gorgeous houses!”
Me: “What exactly are you going to do in a mansion surrounded by nothing but mansions?”

Another mansion in Highland Park that reminds me a lot of the homes in Coral Gables, Florida.

Highland Park – Fresh Prince of Bel Aire Style.

Although I frequently covet beautiful condos, I can’t see myself in a neighborhood like Highland Park.

Perhaps this is because I’m a single male without children. Or maybe it is because I don’t have an extra $1.2 million to drop on a new pad (that’s the average home price.)

Or maybe it’s because of this:

The Racial / Ethnic data for Highland Park, Texas. 2013 Census.

I won’t always live in Melrose Place right by all the gay bars.

But a suburban existence seems unspeakably dull.

Maybe that will change, but I’m content with playing tourist for now.

The strangest house in Highland Park. It looks like Hobbits designed it.

Yet another Highland Park Mansion. They all seem to have those lanterns outside.

A dramatically lit mansion in Highland Park.