So we booked our trip to Austin and have to figure out everything we'll do and see

[ihavenobias]

As I explained in a thread previously, we're looking to move somewhere warmer within the next 1.5-3 years (preferably sooner but we'll see) and have narrowed it down to Austin or Phoenix: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=51602&mesg_id=51602

So later this month we'll have 4.5 days and 5 nights at the Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake which seems like a nice location.

I know one of those days we'll drive down to San Antonio, but the other days will be in and around Austin. We'll be checking out Buda and Kyle (recommended by another Austinite as more affordable and more progressive/down to earth than the north and west suburbs, no offense if you live north/west) but I'm not sure where else. Someone suggested San Marcos but it's a little further away from the city than I would like and I also heard it's a big college town which I'm not crazy about (yes, I'm aware that UT is in Austin).

Another person wrote me this: "The old airport is interesting. It has historically been pretty bad over there but it is being gentrified and it might turn out nice. It probably is not that expensive since it is not gentrified yet.

As for public transit, I don't know anything about a commuter rail but a light rail is opening later this year but only service to NW Austin at that time. It is coming to SE Austin next year I think."

PS---I know the list of attractions and things to do is a mile long. Barton springs, Zilker Park, botanical gardens, bike trails and on and on and on. And since my GF is a vegetarian, we'll want to check out some of the vegetarian restaurants. I just hope it doesn't rain the whole time!

[ceile]

1. Welcome!

Maybe us Austin DUers can plan a dinner. :hi:

[ihavenobias]

2. Thanks

I have to say, that sounds kind of intimidating. :)

Some drinks at the local pub on the other hand and we're having a conversation. ;)

[ceile]

6. That's what I meant-drinks...

Sorry, for the confusion. ;)

[GOPisEvil]

3. Area near the old airport not expensive?

Well inexpensive compared to some parts of town, but the days of getting bargains there are gone. A friend paid $135k for his house maybe 3 years ago. It's probably worth close to $200k now.

But yeah, if you're up for drinks or something, or if you need some suggestions on things to do, Austinites are up for it.

[ihavenobias]

4. 65K in appreciation in 3 years? That'd be astounding as a percentage increase! Also...

We're debating on if it'd be more affordable to have a condo at first rather than a house. This is especially because we don't have (and won't be having) any kids, meaning we only really need 2BR's (one guest room/office) and 1.5 bath.

There really aren't any houses with only 2 bedrooms, and we don't really *need* that much more space. I know there are association fees, but obviously owning a house means buying all sorts of things, like lawnmowers, many other expensive tools, possibly paying for pest control and on and on.

Of course we'll be getting a dog, so being close to a dog park is a consideration.

I actually saw a pretty nice condo online the other day and was really surprised about the fenced in dog line:

2BR, 2BA, Fenced Dog Park, Pool, only $115k ($23k at 20% downpayment) and 1,060sq ft which is a few hundred feed more than we have now. Granted, the association fee seemed high to me ($250 a month), but still.

The big issue I saw with it (the only I'm aware of, not living there or having seen the place of course) was that it was way too close to the University (I can only assume that means too much loud, obnoxiousness and super young crowds?).

2450 Wickersham Ln
City, State, Zip Code: Austin, TX 78741
Map and Directions

Neighborhood: Austin - Southeast
County: Travis

Listing Price: $115,000


Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.0
Total sq. ft.: 1060

Year Built: 1985
Association Fees: $250/Month
Taxes: $2,186/2007

[ceile]

5. Oh dear.

Ok, now maybe some other Austinites can help, but if the east side (78741) is anything like it was when I lived there-run far, far away. Anything in the '41 zip is (was) very crime ridden. Have you checked crime stats for the areas you're looking? I used to live a block west of Wickersham and it was pretty bad. And if you mean UT as the "university", it's a good 8-10 miles away, but it would be close to Austin Community College-Riverside.

[ihavenobias]

7. Ah. Well that would explain the low price

Another online Austinite did generically say "west is expensive and conservative, north is generally the same, east is bad, south is a good mix of price and people". I think he was more referring to the surrounding suburbs though, not the actual city.

I guess we should contact a real estate agent and explain what we want (likely in Buda/Kyle area for houses). I just feel strange considering we wouldn't be moving for *at least* 1.5 years. Maybe they don't mind? I have no experience with this sort of thing, obviously.

[ceile]

8. Well, I live south (78704) and love it.

But my fiance wants to do move to Kyle or Buda. Personally, I'd love to live in Manchaca. Smaller than K or B and still plenty of land out that way.

[ihavenobias]

12. Is that further away from Austin? Also, the top 10 cities for congestion

As I mentioned previously, I'd like to be pretty close the cit to make regular trips realistic. Right now I'm 45 minutes from Chicago (more with traffic), and that's way too long.

IMO, 15-30 minutes or so is ideal. Of course I know horrible traffic can change that, but you get the idea. I'm very curious about the traffic, because again, I just assume Chicago is worse and that "bad traffic" is context dependent. But who knows, it could be just as bad.

Two Texas cities made the recent list (Austin wasn't one of them), as did Chicago and other large cities:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/10/congested-commute-cities-forbeslife-cx_mw_0410realestate.html

[ceile]

20. It's a little closer.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=us&zoom=2&size=big&city=manchaca&state=TX&zip=78652

However, not sure how much real estate there is to be had. It is a very small "town".

[ihavenobias]

14. Do you have suggestions on how we should look at houses while we're there?

Just do a google search for Kyle/Buda open houses? Contact a real estate agent (I'd have no idea who)? Both?

It's tough because we booked this so short in advance, it's a new place for us and we have no experience looking for houses.

[crispini]

35. Just drive around and get a feel for the city.

Make a note of for sale signs and addresses and you can look them up later when you get home to get prices and amenities.

I think if you pay attention you'll be able to "read" neighborhoods pretty well. Since you won't be buying for two years there's no reason to get specific, but "exploring" is certainly a good way to go. Do you have a Sunday there? Most open houses are on the weekend. Those would be good to hit, but I wouldn't act like you're house hunting per se.... just sort of ramble around and let the neighborhoods speak to you. :D

[fudge stripe cookays]

43. Yeah, I'll second the Wickersham thing.

I looked at some apartments over there in the early 90s, and even then it was a little scary. It's probably worse now.

As a rule in Austin, east side is going to be more iffy than west (anything east of I-35 for me being EAST). When my family moved to Austin in 1971, everyone told my dad not to buy east of I-35, so we bought and lived in Quail Creek for most of my youth (the area roughly bounded by Burnet, Peyton Gin, North Lamar, and Kramer Lane, on Parkfield, a little south of GOPIsEvil's pad). It is now a lot worse for wear than when we lived there. I actually saw a hooker on the lower deck of 183 several years ago. So the EAST has actually moved further west every year, and the suburbs have moved west to compensate.

It used to be a lot worse, but in the early 90s when the job market went through the roof and the rents and mortgages got higher, people took risks and began buying just to the east side of I-35 because it was affordable. So GOPisEvil is right. The rates began going up there because it began gentrifying a bit.

But you probably want to avoid the East Riverside/Wickersham area and a little to the north of the lake. Midtown, in the 40s up to just north of the airport is better. North of 290 gets sketchy again. I've been away a few years, so some of the "still locals" can probably let you know if that still applies.

[GOPisEvil]

9. I live in north Austin and it's still fairly affordable here.

I reside in 78758. I can be downtown in 15 minutes or 30 minutes in traffic (depending on my route).

[ihavenobias]

13. Is that actually *in* the city?

Or do you mean north of the city?

Also, is it all condos around there or are there single family homes as well?

[Lithos]

18. He is most definitely in the city

Here is a map which should help you.

http://www.roundrockrealty.com/buyers/ZipCodeMap.php

He is in the area designated 2N (inset). I would concentrate mostly on the areas in the inset initially everything else being probably too far of a commute. (Though like anywhere else, the prices are better if you are willing to pay for the gas and time to commute).

L-

[GOPisEvil]

22. Single family homes.

Smallish, but not too bad.

[Paladin]

10. I Came Back To Austin Last Week---And Didn't Like It Much

I returned to Austin for a 40th high school reunion, and I have to say that I was disappointed with the city. The place is absolutely bursting at the seams---it's like everybody who ever wanted to get in on the "Austin Experience" is now living there; I-35 is a virtual parking lot most times of the day, and the streets are crammed with vehicles. The city's infrastructure development hasn't come close to keeping up with the city's needs. I'll tell you how bad it was: after Austin I traveled to Houston, and of the two cities, I found Houston easier to get around. I never, ever, ever thought I'd live to see that.

Now....obviously you need to discount all this to some degree as the grumblings of an old fart who was lucky enough to grow up in Austin in the 50's, 60's and 70's, somebody who remembers the town with great affection; believe me, there was plenty of such grumbling from my old high school friends. Has the city improved in certain respects? Undoubtedly---I just didn't see much evidence of it last week. I sincerely hope that your visit there is more pleasant than mine was.....

[ihavenobias]

11. Where do you live now?

It's all about context. Keep in mind I'm coming from Chicago, so if anyone is aware of crowded places, bad parking and traffic, it's me.

Although not ALL parts of Chicago are like that, it just depends. And I moved from the city just over a year ago and live in the burbs about 45 minutes away.

At any rate, I don't think we'll be living IN the city, but more likely, in a suburb close enough to make regular city trips realistic.

[Lithos]

15. A question for you

What type of work do ya'll do? Do you have an idea where or for whom you might work for? Austin is a large enough city now that it really does make some sense to try and live more or less in an area which is easy on the commute.

[ihavenobias]

16. I work for a non-profit involved with higher education (I can PM you for more details)

I here there are quite a few non-profits and government orgs down there. At an rate, while I mostly telecommute (and it's possible I could move and still continue with the same organization) it's not a lock that I'll stay with my current employer. While the pay is mediocre, the benefits are great. To give you an idea, my GF is covered under my insurance plan which is pretty rare. But that's one of the bonuses when working for a progressive organization.

She's in dental hygiene school, which is great because there's a shortage of hygienists so the demand and pay is high just about everywhere. And obviously there are dental offices all over the place.

The current plan (assuming we like it after our visit of course) is to move within 1.5-2 years or so and rent the first year. IMO, renting the first year makes a ton of sense, because it allows us to know just where we'll work, what parts of the area appeal to us based on our interests and situation and on and on.

The only downside is having to move again within a year, and the fact that we *might* miss out on a better housing market and or a better interest rate over that year. Still, I think it'd be pretty risky to move to an unfamiliar place and buy right away for a number of reasons.

[Lithos]

17. I think you have a sensible plan

Renting first will give you a sense of the lay of the land. Most of the commuting problems are those who have to travel either from the suburbs into downtown or who have to go cross town (North/South generally).

Go ahead and PM me though I am probably not as good of resource as several others here in the forum who have a lot of ties to that NPO sector.

[Paladin]

29. We're In Colorado Now....

....due to a job transfer. It's alright up here, but I'm pretty sure we'll return to Texas after retirement in a few years (that's what being a 5th generation Texan will do to you). Not sure what part of the state we'd end up in; the Hill Country is always a strong draw.

I think you're very wise to think in terms of living outside of Austin. The majority of my old school friends have remained in the area, but increasingly they've moved to the suburbs--Georgetown, Round Rock, Buda, Leander.

Best of luck in your relocation.

[bonzotex]

23. I've heard lots of similar complaints from prev residents.

The problems you list are real, but I still think Austin rocks.

I've lived here since 1998 in 78704. I love it. I think the growth has added to the city and made it more interesting. I used to visit a lot before I moved here. I lived here briefly in 1984-85. It is not the same place as it was. In many ways better, in some worse. The traffic is awful. Hopefully we'll get a robust rail/trolley system voted through this November. We are about 10 years behind the curve on that.

I hope your next visit isn't so sucky!

[Paladin]

28. Glad You're Happy (n/t)

[fudge stripe cookays]

44. I"m with you.

I just get depressed when I go home now.

[BlueGirlRedState]

19. I live in South Austin

I grew up in the 78704 zip code -- but it's harder to find affordable housing in that zip code -- people are buying up the older homes and putting up McMansions. I currently live in the 78748 zip code -- near Slaughter and Manchaca. We lived in Kyle, too -- it's grown up so much with developments and lots of traffic -- definitely a bedroom community. The Delwood II and French Place neighborhoods are nice -- just east of I35 -- just with close proximity to the city core they are getting pricey, too.

[ihavenobias]

21. How common are in-ground pools out there?

Around here that's more of a luxury items, but considering how hot is down there almost year round, I would think it's much more common. Or maybe not, I don't know. They can't be that cheap.

A lot of new construction communities have a community pool, but not private pools. We'd be just fine with a small house since we aren't having any kids and will just have a dog and cat. We're used to living in a small place, so 1,200sq ft is plenty honestly. Even 1,1000 could work, which obviously means we'd be paying much less for a house.

But my GF really, really wants a pool (trust me, she's very down to earth. I know the idea of wanting a pool might suggest otherwise, but it's more about how much she loves the sun, swimming and privacy). Personally, I'm iffy. Sure, it'd be nice but we're in no financial position to turn down a $123k house (give or take) because the pool would be public. Plus the maintenance costs and labor, etc. Oh well, I have to convince her of that...

[bonzotex]

25. not many...

The climate is perfect for it, but houses with lots big enough for pools are generally going to be further from Downtown and expensive. Further South, South of Ben White blvd, there are older tract developments with bigger yards and some in ground pools. It's not an impossible quest, but home pools aren't as common as you would think considering the climate.

On the other hand, because of the climate, people go to Barton Springs, Lake Travis, or tube/raft/kayak the rivers to the south year-round.

[ihavenobias]

26. I'm really trying to talk her down from the pool

primarily because of the financial situation. I'd rather live in a better area closer to Austin than have a pool, and like you said (and like I've tried to tell her), there are a TON of great places to swim.

Besides, a pool means less room for the dog to run around. And I imagine the maintenance costs add up? I have no idea what those would be, I just assume that's the case.

[bonzotex]

31. expense might talk her down.

When you look at real estate and see the premium you'll have to pay for a pool, that might do all the convincing. Maintaining pools does cost some time and money as well. Been there, done that. I wouldn't have one again personally, but some people LOVE them and that's cool.

[bonzotex]

24. Sounds like you are doing your homework!

I hope you have a great visit! This really is the Liberal Oasis of Texas. If you talk to realtors, find one the specializes int he area(s) you like. Look where their address is. Stay South of town lake (Lady Bird lake now) if you can.

There are still affordable houses and with pools or room for pools, but you will generally be looking further out. Close in to downtown the lots just don't have room for pools and the prices are nuts. My only caution about Kyle and Buda is that those areas are being grossly overbuilt with tract developments and traffic into and out of Austin will only get worse. I would still would second the recommendations of those locations over the Pflugerville/Round Rock areas. South Austin, Kyle/Buda/Manchaca is going to be closer to the places you really will want to go often. No offense to those that live up North -- Just my opinion.

The is no realistic rail proposal in the works that will bring commuter rail that far South anytime soon. There should be a high speed line between Austin and San Antonio stopping at all points in between, but that is a money spending thing that tax-hating Texans will not fund anytime soon.

East Austin is gentrifying fast. It's not anything like the crime zone it once was but prices are climbing fast there too. Expensive condos are being overbuilt all over. In a year or two some of the prices on those are going to be much better than they look now and house prices may come down to reality a little bit too.

The Holiday Inn Town Lake is a good spot to fan out from. Downtown has different districts with different options. Don't walk down 6th street and think it's all like that. Downtown shops and restaurants will generally be more expensive, but there are some great places there to eat and lounge. There's still dives too that are fun and cheap. Close by (2-3 blocks) is Esther's Follies, check it out. They do shows Thur-Sun. Call ahead to get tickets. Austin has good live theater too. You generally won't see or hear anything that sucks even if you choose entirely at random.

Plan a night at the Continental Club (my fav) and/or Antone's and /or any other spot that sounds good. There are no-cover places too. Check the Austin Chronicle. You have to do some live music venues.

Walk around Auditorium Shores by the lake. It's an off-leash Dog park and there are others in town.

There are good veggie/vegan places around town. You can find the whole list on:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/ Lots of restaurants offer veggie/vegan options. Austin is not a hard place for V's. The Veggie Burger or vegan enchiladas at Mr Natural on South Lamar are world class. Mother's on Duvall is an old favorite and often has live music too. Or try Wholefoods HQ downtown then ruin your healthy meal with ice cream at one of Amy's Ice Cream shops. (One on Congress just crawling distance from the Continental Club) For one breakfast you have to have Breakfast Tacos. Try Maria's Taco express on Lamar -- Classic! They have meatless and meat-full versions. It's all good. There are about 50 other places that do good breakfast tacos tho.

Obviously I love this place. I could go on. I hope you have a great visit!

[ihavenobias]

27. Thanks for the tips

Everyone has been incredibly friendly. Then again, this is a skewed sample considering I'm at DU and most people who bother to answer will be friendly, right? :)

We will clearly be checking out many of those places, especially since Cheryl is a vegetarian (I assume I mentioned that which is you mentioned those places). And honestly, I was never a big carnivore to begin with, so often times I opt for the veggie option anyway and we end up splitting entrees so that appetizers and desserts are more affordable (that and our stomachs don't explode).

With regard to the public transportation, I posted this is another thread but here it is again (my coworker's TX friend wrote this):

"The old airport is interesting. It has historically been pretty bad over there but it is being gentrified and it might turn out nice. It probably is not that expensive since it is not gentrified yet. As for public transit, I don't know anything about a commuter rail but a light rail is opening later this year but only service to NW Austin at that time. It is coming to SE Austin next year I think."

But other DUers have not necessarily agreed with this assessment, and you didn't seem to confident about the SE light rail. As for grossly overdeveloped places, it seems like any place worth living ends up in that situation. People from Phoenix (a place we've considered) say it's getting more and more congested. We considered SoCal (WAY too expensive) and that's much, much more crowded than Austin could ever be, or so it seems.

PS---Any good Mediterranean restaurants? And suggestions for animal lovers? We're already planning a trip to the Austin Zoo/animal sanctuary. We're probably scrapping the trip to the San Antonio Zoo because of the 3 hours round trip of driving, not to mention gas and time spent.

[bonzotex]

30. More stuff...

Austin is a friendly city. Despite the preponderance of conservatives outside a few enclaves, Texans generally are famously friendly.

Below are the current proposed light rail lines. It might give you a better idea. This or something very like it will likely pass this November. The North to South line is in progress and will start this year.

http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/04/23/6340645_0423CommuterRailFront.html

The purple line is about to open. The red line is the next phase awaiting approval and financing.

Kyle and Buda are quite a bit further South down IH-35.

It is possible to get to most of the places you will want to go by bus. Here's the Cap Metro site where you can get info. http://www.capmetro.org/ The bus lines are confusing and have odd schedules. It's very hard to figure out just looking at the signs at bus stops. If you do want to use the bus lines I highly recommend you go to the CapMetro site and check which lines go where you want and what times they run.

The Austin Zoo/animal sanctuary is pretty basic. Don't expect a big-city, state of the art Zoo. It's worth checking out and the drive out there will give you a good look at how the city is expanding out to the West and SW. Good call on not driving to SA for the zoo. Unless you have some reason to go to San Antonio, I'd suggest sticking around the Austin area. There are cool places to visit on the way and some attractions in SA, but you won't run out of things to do in Austin in the time you have.

The are "Mediterranean" restaurants that cover the full range of Med cuisines. Check the Austin Chronicle online for listings. For superb upscale go with Louie's 106 -- An easy walk from your hotel. For cheap but great, get in the car and go to Sarah's Mediterranean Grill or Tino's Greek Cafe. There are also great Middle Eastern places. They have their own listing on the Chronicle site.

[ihavenobias]

34. So there's a *chance* that public transportation will be decent compared to how it is now

At least within the next 5 years or so. Let's knock on wood because that'd be great. While people hate taxes, don't they hate insane gas prices more?

At some point you'd think they'd be fine with more taxes for less at the pump, but we'll see.

I know the Austin Zoo isn't an actual zoo, it's more like an animal sanctuary with some trails, right? We have a small version of that here too, in addition to the huge zoos.

There are pros and cons to us being there Sunday-Friday. The big pro is that I imagine the vast majority of places will be less crowded (except for Thursday night in the bar scene?). Then again that also means rush hour traffic. And the atmosphere and demographics probably change on Friday and Saturday too, like in any city.

Chery would love to go to the water-park, but it's also not exactly close and not exactly cheap. Besides, it makes more sense to go to say, Barton Springs. I'd be a much bigger fan of water parks (any water activity actually) if I didn't have such poor eyesight. I always have to choose between not wearing my closes and not being able to see OR wearing my contacts only to put eye drops in them every 5 minutes because the water/chlorine makes them so dry, uncomfortable and cloudy. I figure most people with glasses or contacts don't have eyes this bad, so they don't think about it as much. For the record, my prescription is -6.75 in each eye.

We'll have to check out those Mediterranean restaurants. There are some great ones in Chicago, but again we now live about 45 minutes away and haven't to them for some time.

PS---Apparently there are some nice bike trails next to our hotel at Town Lake?

[bonzotex]

36. Yes...

Future public transit plans keep changing but the City Govt is big-time committed and now I think a strong majority of citizens see it as a wise investment. With more and more republicans replaced by Dems at State and Fed level I think we will see more State and Fed grants and matching funds for this type of infrastructure.

Sunday thru Friday is a great block of days. You won't miss anything really. Fri-Sat are stupid busy downtown. Well worth missing.

Lady Bird Lake has a run/hike/bike trail all around. Right by your hotel and worth checking out.

Barton Springs of course is fresh spring water, no chlorine. You'll love it.

[ihavenobias]

37. That's good (and a swimming question)

For such a progressive/green city, I would have assumed there was more public transportation there, but I understand the overall state resistance. Hopefully you're right about the sea change. That is one thing I love about Chicago, the abundance of trains and buses. That and you can walk around, but most people I talk to seem to say you can't walk ANYWHERE down there which is a little sad.

I know the springs has no chlorine, but it still sucks to decide between water (of any type, but yes chlorinated is worse) splashing in my contacts or being unable to see 5 feet in front of me (no glasses on). :( I guess I could get prescription goggles, but not only are they expensive, they look extra nerdy. ;)

If we do decide to we love it and will move down there, I'll have to save up and get Lasik. I mean, it's a good investment considering how much I spend on disposable lenses and glasses, etc. The day that I could wake up in the middle of the night and actually see the alarm clock time will be a great one.

PS---I know some of the bodies of water down there can be a little tricky on the feet. In other words, there might be sharp rocks or foreign objects. Do people wear anything on their feet, or do they just avoid the bottom or...?

Which reminds me, I need to get some summer clothes as I really don't have many.

[bonzotex]

38. The downtown area is very walkable

You'll find it's not that hard to get around. You will want a car or cab to get certain places. Traffic is sucky for sure, but you can avoid the worst parts by just not participating in rush hours. From your hotel you can walk safely to anyplace from town lake all the way to the University of Texas area plus CapMetro has a trolley like bus called the "Dillo" that covers that whole area. If you weren't planning to go out of the central city area you wouldn't need a car at all. You will want a car to go to some of the more affordable neighborhood areas.

One other geeky thing I would recommend is to visit the Capitol Building. It's open to the public most of time and really is an amazing edifice. Trust me. Walk toward it down Congress Ave, hit a bar/restaurant or coffee shop on the way there or back. The Austin Museum of Art is on the way, plus some cool galleries. It's a perfectly great way to spend a morning or afternoon. In the evening you can go back and hit the Paramount or State Theater, comedy improv, Jazz at the Elephant Room...check it out.

For interesting movie options, look for an Alamo drafthouse (2 downtown) The serve decent food and drinks while you watch the flick and show first run movies as well as odd independents and even odder special film events.

Barton Springs is fine for barefoot. If you go to San Marcos or New Braunfels to play in the rivers, a pair of water shoes or secure sandals (like Tevas) are a good idea. You can get them pretty cheap here at any sporting goods-camping place. Same for summer clothes. Austinites are very casual dressers, maybe to a fault. One fashionista once said that Austin style consists of dressing down "aggressively".

Just be prepared for hot sunny weather and you'll be fine. There are more upscale places where people dress up a little more, but in general, shorts, t-shirts and sandals are standard for men and women during the day. A hat and sunscreen aren't bad ideas for any foot touring. At night, for men, jeans without obvious holes and a short sleeved collared shirt passes for dressed well and anything goes for women. Cold air conditioning indoors is ubiquitous, but lots of places have open air patios and outdoor areas. You'll only look like a tourist if you are wearing heavy clothes.

[ihavenobias]

39. I thought about the tourist thing

People *do* dress differently in other parts of the country, so for all I know the jeans that are normal here are strange over there. Granted, I don't care THAT much (if anything I'd prefer a certain, reasonable level of uniqueness) but still, who wants to stick out like a sore thumb?

A tough thing for me is that I'm terribly flat footed and have specially made (thankfully I have PPO health insurance) shoe inserts. But you can't really use those with open sandals and I never really thought about that until now. I mean, I can go for a period of time without them but a couple of days of walking around without them spells disaster (in the form of foot and possibly knee pain). Funny how I sound like an old man instead of someone very close to 30. :)

Thanks again for the walking distance attractions. I'm pretty sure our hotel has shuttle service within a mile, and if so, that'll be nice.

PS---I can't believe you didn't tell me to check out the bats! Aren't those really close by? Any tips on when and where to watch them from?

[Longhorn]

40. The bats come out at about 8:30 at the Congress Avenue Bridge.

You could walk over from your hotel. Many people just line up on the bridge to watch them. Some watch from the edge of the lake and others do special boat rides that stop at the bridge when it's time. They really are pretty amazing to watch!

[ihavenobias]

41. I'm sure it'll be beautiful, I can't wait

It's not too dark to see at that time?

I especially love the bats because I know they eat the surplus of bugs down there.

[fudge stripe cookays]

46. Another cool thing....

"The Oasis" on Lake Travis...great laidback restaurant.

the big thing to do is to go right before sunset. They have TONS of decks built up over the lake, and everyone watches the sunset and applauds.

It's cheesy, but a good local tradition, and fun.
http://www.oasis-austin.com/

You'll need a car for this part, cuz it's aways out west.

[ihavenobias]

47. That does sound nice...

The only issue is that since my GF is a vegetarian (and she won't want the veggie burger) the menu is pretty limited.

But who knows, it could be worth it anyway. Of course our hotel will be right next to Town Lake (I know, I know, not the same thing but still).

[bonzotex]

42. sandals not required...

People wear cowboy boots too in the middle of the summer. Really, you would truly have to dress oddly to stand out in this town. Go with whatever you find comfortable in hot weather and you'll be fine.

I figured everybody and every guide would give you the lowdown on the bats. See Lognorn's post -- exactly right

[Paladin]

32. By All Means, Check Out The San Antonio Zoo

It's the only establishment I can think of that hasn't gotten smaller or less impressive since my early childhood. The big outdoor exhibits are carved out of the natural limestone cliffs. Cool reptile house, too.....

[Longhorn]

33. I don't think you can say that any part of town is "bad" or "good" in general.

It's true that the west side from north to south is generally more expensive. But there are good and bad neighborhoods in the north, east, and south parts of town -- frankly, most of them good!

The advice to consult a Realtor is good. The gal who sold us our house (and sold our house in town) 12 years ago has lived in Austin forever and is well-versed on all parts of town. She was a friend who I've lost touch with but she still sends us business mailings so I know she's active with a top firm. PM me if you'd like her contact information.

I think it's too early to ask a Realtor to show you houses but not too early to gather information and there will be open houses you can attend to get an idea of what the houses and neighborhoods are like.

Everyone has their favorite part of town. I've lived north, west, south, and now, southwest and I could find a neighborhood I like in every part of town, including east. Personally, I couldn't stand to live in a neighborhood that didn't have trees and many of those new neighborhoods in Buda, Kyle, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and Georgetown were built on open land with few or no mature trees. However, some people prefer the amenities that a new home and/or neighborhood offer. You would definitely get more square footage for the money.

We've had a pool for eight years and even though we don't use it as much as we thought we would, we still love it. It has a connecting hot tub that we use frequently, even in the winter. Most pools these days are fairly low maintenance. We empty the skimmer baskets and the bag on the pool vacuum. We have to add chlorine and diatomaceous earth now and then. Our pool is flanked by big oak trees which helps keep it cool in the summer but also adds to the maintenance, especially from January to April when the oak trees are dropping leaves and other debris. Austin has some great public pools, some that are open year round, including the pool at Stacy Park in South Austin which is geothermally heated to 78 degrees.

If I was moving to Austin, based on my own personal preferences, I would find a small house in a close-in neighborhood full of trees where I could walk to the grocery, the library, the nearest park, and the nearest pool. I'd ride my bike to work or ride to the bus and put my bike on the bike carrier. Actually, some of the close-in neighborhoods have much larger lots than in the suburbs, partly because the houses have smaller footprints. My daughter and son-in-law have a huge backyard. They live near 55th Street and Guadalupe, about 35 blocks north of the University. It's a neighborhood of mostly young professionals and they know practically everyone around them in the two years since they moved there. The other night, four of the couples had a progressive dinner (one course at each house.) You'd have to spend about $200,000 for a small home in that neighborhood but the values are rising and there are rentals, too. Their neighborhood isn't unique, either.

I don't mean to sound like I'm trying to talk you into a certain lifestyle but just want you to know that there is something for everyone here. I think once you've had a chance to drive around and see what's available, you'll be able to narrow your focus and find what's right for you.

As an aside, yesterday I was on the way to my acupuncturist and I could see that there was an accident at the intersection where I needed to turn so I turned at the street before. Everyone else was doing that, too, so that this street that is normally quieter had a long line of cars on it waiting to turn at the next light. This lady comes out talking on the phone and looking us up and down. I figure she was shocked at seeing all of these cars on her street. I had the top down on my car so I could hear her -- all of a sudden she yells, "Get off my street!" I looked to see if she was laughing but she wasn't! Of course, I was. :rofl: Yes, we're pretty friendly but there are always a few. :D

It will be pretty hot when you get here. Stock up on water and maybe even a cheap ice chest and ice to carry around with you. Have a great trip! :hi:

[fudge stripe cookays]

45. Wow....

almost sounds like you were out in Manor, cause that woman would have been my mom. She's so warm and sensitive. :eyes:

[bonzotex]

48. How was your visit? n/t

[bmbmd]

49. Here's a great discussion board

just for browsing.

http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/postlist.php?Board=aroundaustin