There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Southlake, a northern suburb located between Dallas and Fort Worth, often pops up on "best small city in America" lists, and for good reason.

Its small-town feel, close community, excellent schools, and easy commute to DFW make it especially attractive for homeowners, and real estate agent Christy McNew is one of them.

"Southlake offers a little bit of everything — you never need to leave the town," McNew says. "You can stay in the bubble if you need or want to."

She's lived there for nearly two decades, and has specialized in helping her clients buy and sell in the area for another 10.

"The town grew in the mid-1990s with the town square and Timarron neighborhood development," McNew shares. "Many new developments since have helped grow the city, which also has amazing parks, city activities, and Friday Night Lights football games that bring everyone together to cheer on the Dragons."

McNew, who is a licensed Realtor in both Texas and Florida, is also an investor, having flipped hundred of homes into long and short-term rental properties.

She offered up some of her personal favorites about life in Southlake. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
There's no shortage of good eats in Southlake, which boasts Mi Cocina, Moxies, Taverna, Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, Bonefish, Ra Sushi, Fajita Pete’s, Wildwood Grill, and Cava.

Where to play
Bicentennial Park and Bob Jones Park provide plenty of nature and fresh air for strolls and picnics.

Timarron Country Club offers 18 holes of championship golf, restaurants, a fitness center, and social events throughout the year.

What to see
Southlake is close to Dallas and Fort Worth for world-class museums, but most of the city can be found at Dragon Stadium on Friday nights, where McNew says "the tailgating is like none other."

Where to live
Here, you'll find traditional, modern, and transitional homes with an average price of $1.5 million.

"A city requirement is that neighborhoods must have a green space/common area for the subdivision," says McNew. "Many neighborhoods have ponds for kids to fish in, and you'll see kids outdoors playing and riding their bikes a lot. It's a very safe area."

McNew recently represented the buyer of 2652 Park Grove, a new-build custom home.

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Christy McNew works and plays in Southlake. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email cmcnew@briggsfreeman.com, or call 817-689-5764.