There are so many great places to live in Fort Worth 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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Imagine strolling along tree-lined streets, waving to other families who are out with their strollers and dogs, yet still being close to Fort Worth's cultural offerings.

"This is such a vibrant community," says real estate agent Ashley Mooring, who has been working in the Monticello neighborhood for more than a decade.

A native Texan with a BBA from the University of Texas, Mooring cheers for both the Longhorns and her home team, the TCU Horned Frogs.

She is actively involved in her son’s school, Fort Worth Country Day, and supports many local organizations and philanthropies.

Mooring offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in Monticello. Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
Though Mooring loves to cook at home, she'll never turn down a meal at Michaels Cuisine (the tortilla soup is addictive, she says), the No. 12 Outdoorsman sandwich at The Great Outdoors, the El Capitan tacos at Salsa Limon, or kolaches and a "dynamite" burger from Pearl Snap Kolaches.

Head to Winslow's Wine Cafe for its patio or the bar at Eddie V's, where Mooring enjoys the live music while dining on the "wonderful steak and seafood — the crab fried rice is a must!"

Where to play
You'll always bump into someone you know at River Crest Country Club or the Westside Little League baseball field, which Mooring says is a happening spot.

The Monticello neighborhood park is also a great place for playdates and gatherings, and as an added bonus, "some of the area private schools have buses that pick up the neighborhood kids at the park for school," says Mooring.

What to see
Fort Worth is the epicenter of cowboy culture as well as fine arts, which is very apparent in the city's Cultural District. Pop into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

"All the museums have great gift shops," Mooring says, "and members often get invited to exclusive parties. The Kimbell hosts especially great workshops for kids."

"Dickies Arena is the place to be!" Mooring says. "The venue hosts the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, awesome concerts from a variety of music genres — Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, The Eagles, etc. — and a number of sports events like NCAA basketball tournaments, tennis, lacrosse, and more. The Avion Club at Dickies makes for a special evening before any event."

Where to live
"A lot of the traditional-style homes from the 1940s have been beautifully remodeled and added on to," says Mooring, "but there's also some new construction happening, with precautions being taken to preserve the traditional appeal of the neighborhood."

Some of the most popular architecture styles you'll see in Monticello include brick Tudor, traditional two-story, foursquare, Spanish Revival, and Colonial. But above all, residents can expect to enjoy lots of beautiful trees and peaceful, winding roads.

"The upcoming Crescent development on 7th Street will bring a hotel, shops, luxury residential units, and excitement to the area," says Mooring.

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Ashley Mooring works and plays in Monticello. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email amooring@briggsfreeman.com, or call 817-706-6344.