Once a modest Northwest neighborhood, Berkeley has undergone a major transformation in recent years, mirroring the red-hot development of other communities nearby, such as the Highlands. Today, Berkeley offers an eclectic collection of apartment buildings and homes, everything from old-style brick bungalows and cottages to ultra-modern houses that have replaced more modest fare. Scrape offs are part of the landscape, giving the feel of a neighborhood in exciting transition. Residents, including many young families, enjoy walking to popular long-time restaurants such as Parisi’s and Café Brazil. And Tennyson Street offers a gathering spot, filled with funky boutiques and other cafes and restaurants. Those who like art—or just a night rubbing elbows with others— enjoy First Friday Art Walk, which invites participants into neighborhood art galleries. And if it’s nature you crave, the area boasts three major parks, including Berkeley Lake, Césàr Chavez and Rocky Mountain Lake parks—as well as easy access to I-70, which delivers the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains in less than an hour.