Columbia

With a name like Bedford Walk, it’s no surprise that people in this subdivision often take daily strolls with their neighbors. After all, “It's a walking community,” says Jane Boles, a Realtor with RE/MAX Boone Realty who lives in an adjacent subdivision. Boles says part of what attracts people to Bedford Walk is the area's quiet ambiance. Further adding to the appeal is the fact that homes here are newer than most found in neighboring communities like Cedar Lake. Homes in Bedford Walk were built in the mid-1990s to early 2000s and make up the majority of the community. The Alive In Christ Lutheran Church and the Village of Bedford Walk—a retirement community—are also located within the neighborhood. Offering residents a highly rated school district, coupled with nearby green spaces and a location less than 5 miles from the city center, or The District as locals call it, Bedford Walk combines convenience and a suburban lifestyle perfect for all age groups. In Bedford Walk, most streets stretch into cul-de-sacs, a feature that Boles says attracts many families to the area. “It’s a quiet subdivision as far as traffic goes,” Boles says, making the properties here particularly attractive to those in search of tranquility. As for housing options, they mostly consist of ranch-styles with New Traditional influences. Homes typically sit on quarter-acre lots and sell for anywhere between $350,000 to upwards of $500,000, with added monthly HOA fees normally ranging from ten to twenty dollars. This price point reflects what Boles says is “A little more expensive than surrounding communities." Also located within this subdivision is the Village of Bedford Walk, a luxury 55+ and over community. Complete with several amenities, including transportation services, a resistance pool and a schedule of community events and fitness classes, residents can even engage with the University of Missouri’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Prospective buyers will find both apartment homes and units within Bedford Walk, priced from upwards of $2,500 to $5,000 per month. Bedford Walk is districted for the Columbia School District, which receives an A-minus rating from Niche. Children can start off at A-minus-rated Mill Creek Elementary, which boasts partnerships with Hawthorn Bank and Columbia Insurance, among other companies. Then, it’s on to B-plus-rated Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle, where students can participate in extracurriculars, including the Science Olympiad and Math Counts programs. From there, students can head to A-rated Rock Bridge High, which features the Columbia Public Schools Planetarium. Here, students can take advantage of dual credit enrollment opportunities with nearby higher learning institutions, including Columbia College. The school also prides itself on offering electives like classic and medieval culture. Residents who want to pursue higher education opportunities will appreciate the community's proximity to the University of Missouri, which serves over 30,000 students, making it the largest university in the state. “The neat thing is that Bedford Walk has its own trail [that goes] through the subdivision,” Boles says, adding that she frequently sees people she knows walking around the community. The pathway connects to a small green space at the southeastern corner of the subdivision, offering a respite surrounded by trees. For other outdoor options, Boles says residents often head to Cosmo-Bethel Park. Here, locals can challenge their friends to tennis matches or enjoy a relaxing stroll around the local lake. Hikers and bikers within Bedford Walk will enjoy that the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is less than 5 miles away. Those who head out on the park’s most frequented trail — the Devil’s Icebox — can make their way through mature oak and maple trees before stopping to explore the 150-foot-long Connor’s Cave. The University of Missouri’s A. L. Gustin Golf Course is also nearby and is a public-use 18-hole course less than 5 miles away. For dining out, Boles recommends Murry’s, one of the eateries near the community. “It’s always busy,” she says, adding that people should make a reservation since “it’s so hard to get into." Here, patrons enjoy soulful jazz tunes, moody lighting and American fare. There are also a number of eateries slightly closer to the community. Locals can pick up breakfast at B&B Bagel Company, eat sushi at Osaka Japanese Restaurant or take a seat at Sophia’s to enjoy Italian classics. All of these establishments are near State Route 163, one of the area’s major thoroughfares. An Aldi location is located just off the route on Green Meadows Road, making grocery shopping easily accessible to Bedford Walk residents. Those wanting to hit the shops head to the Columbia Mall, which is just under 6 miles away. Bedford Walk’s location means that residents aren’t far from the many events that Columbia offers. In June, over 100 vendors sell their crafts at Art in the Park, which also features food vendors and creative activities for the kids. Each month, the North Village Arts District hosts First Fridays, giving locals a chance to listen to music while strolling in and out of local studios. When September rolls around, Columbia hosts the annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show. Here, bluegrass and Native American tunes entertain the crowds while traditional artisans showcase unique skills. And, of course, during football season, many people within the city dress up in gold and black, grab their friends and head to Missouri University’s home games. While Go COMO has public buses that serve the community, Cedar Lake is a car-dependent area. Conveniently, state Route 163 connects the subdivision to The District, which is less than 5 miles away. Residents can use this route to get to major employers, including the University of Missouri, MU Health Care and Boone Hospital Center. Residents can also take state Route 163 for about 12 miles to the Columbia Regional Airport. Some residents also commute to nearby cities. U.S. Route 63 connects the community to the state capital, Jefferson City, which is about 30 miles south. To get to Kansas City, residents head 130 miles west via I-71 and for commutes into St. Louis, they drive 130 miles east via Interstates 70 and 64.

As the sun glares down on the Cedar Lake subdivision, it creates a glittering reflection on the water. This scenic view has attracted many people to the Cedar Lake community, including Realtor Jane Boles with RE/MAX Boone Realty. While the neighborhood's lake contributes to the scenery here, it has also become a hub for year-round recreation. Boles says Cedar Lake provides insight into what people who move here are looking for: a relaxed retreat that feels far from the city center despite the fact that The District—or Columbia’s downtown—is only about 5 miles away. Unlike some of the newer, surrounding subdivisions, development in Cedar Lake started in the 1970s. And as such, Boles describes it as “An established community with larger trees and no busy streets.” Here, residents often walk outside with their families or, in the summertime, head over to Wilson's Beach Club to cool off by the pool. Cedar Lake also offers easy access to a number of green spaces, eateries and shops all within a short walk or car-ride away. The area's highly rated schools only add to the appeal. Split-levels and ranch-styles made up much of the development in the mid-70s, but continued construction into the 80s and 90s also brought some Cape Cods. In general, “On the south side of the lake, is where you'll find the community’s newer homes,” Boles says, adding that the older, or first developments, were built on the north side. Regardless of location, these homes typically sit on a third of an acre of land and flank curving, tree-lined streets that often spread into cul-de-sacs. While recently sold homes have gone for anywhere from $300,000 to upwards of $400,000, Boles says home values range from $250,000 to nearly $600,000, with “Anything backing-up to the lake is typically more expensive.” Buyers should expect a yearly HOA fee of around $95, according to Boles, who says the HOA here is “More involved than most of the ones in surrounding communities.” This is in part because it is resident-run instead of managed by an external company. Cedar Lake is also home to duplexes and apartment options.  Children can enroll in the Columbia School District, which Niche ranks as the No. 1 district in the area. To start, they can attend Mill Creek Elementary, which receives an A-minus rating from Niche. The school features Partners In Education, a program with connections to Columbia Insurance and Hawthorn Bank, which offer everything from lesson plans to funding for field trips. Then, it's on to B-plus-rated Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle, where students can participate in extracurriculars like robotics, drama and art clubs. From there, students head to A-rated Rock Bridge High. It boasts the Columbia Public Schools Planetarium, which attracts students from all over the area for field trips. For higher learning opportunities, Cedar Lake is just a few miles from the University of Missouri, the state's biggest university. "We see a lot of people walking," Boles says. The area south of the lake has sidewalks, but "People walk on the streets, and it's no problem," Boles affirms. As for activities on the lake, people can swim, fish and boat. However, "You can't have motor boats, so you don't see many people on the lake boating," Boles adds. For other options, Boles says many residents check out Cosmo-Bethel Park. Here, joggers can head along a lakefront path while anglers catch catfish. In the summer, many residents purchase swimming memberships to Wilson's Beach Club, which Boles calls "in walking distance to most of Cedar Lake." Those who'd rather spend their days hiking or biking head to the Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, which is less than 5 miles away. The park boasts a number of forested trails, including Devil's Icebox, frequented by those wanting to explore Connor's Cave, which is more than 150 feet long.  As for events, “we have a garage sale and annual picnics with the HOA,” Boles says. The picnic is held right by the lake and “is a smaller event that everyone’s invited to,” Boles adds, mentioning that “the HOA sends flyers out.” For other options, residents are not far from many of the city’s offerings, meaning Missouri University’s football games and events like the June festival Art in the Park are just a short drive away. Some of Columbia’s other events include the North Village Arts District’s First Fridays and the fall Heritage Festival & Craft Show.  Cedar Lake is conveniently near the establishments along and off the streets of state Route 163. Boles recommends The Grind Coffee House, which offers sandwiches, lattes and smoothies, among other cafe classics. Across the street at Las Margaritas Mexican Bar and Grill, patrons enjoy tacos and chimichangas with a lakefront view. For other options, Boles says she often makes a reservation at Murry's. Here, a dimly lit interior, elevated American fare and live music hint at why Boles says it's one of the most popular spots in the city. As for groceries, many residents swing by the nearby Aldi, while those wanting to get their retail shopping in can head to the Columbia Mall, which is less than 7 miles away.  While public buses are available through Go COMO's Black Route, Cedar Lake is a car-dependent area. State Route 163 connects the community to the Columbia Regional Airport, which is about 12 miles away, and to The District, which is approximately 5 miles away. State Route 163 can also get people here to two of the city’s largest employers: the University of Missouri and MU Health Care, both of which are about 4 miles away. To get to Jefferson City — the state’s capital — residents can take U.S. Route 63 south for about 30 miles. St. Louis is around 130 miles east via Interstates 70 and 64, while Kansas City is about 130 miles west via I-70.