Austin A Way of Life

If you asked Austinites what is special about their city, you would get a potpourri of answers. For those who like live music, Austin calls itself the “Live Music Capital of the World. There is more live music here than in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. In early spring, musicians and independent film makers come from all over the world to be a part of South by Southwest Music and Film Festival. The festival has gained international attention and is a fun place to see new talent as well as seasoned performers. Even if you miss getting a badge to the fifty stages for live music performances, you can still be part of the fun by walking around the downtown area and hearing the music wafting from the different clubs.

Austin is also known as “Silicon Hills” because of the many major technology corporations that have located here. Many new residents have moved here because of the job opportunities associated with these high-tech companies.

New arrivals to Austin have fun exploring the different areas of town. Just south of the River is called SoCo for South Congress. It is an eclectic collection of antique and artsy shops and places to eat and listen to music. It’s not unusual to see bumper stickers that promote ‘Keep Austin Weird’ in this part of town. The residents consist of politicians, old hippies, cowboys, bubbas, and tekkies. They all seem to get along just fine.

A little West is an area known as Barton Hills. Zilker Metropolitan Park is Austin’s most beloved park and is located here. It consists of 351 acres and offers a variety of recreational opportunities and family events. Barton Springs pool is a natural spring fed pool with a year round temperature of 68 degrees. It also contains the Zilker Botanical Gardens and Austin Nature and Science Center. Every spring kids of all ages gather for the Zilker Park Kite Festival. Zilker Park also has a miniature train ride and canoe rentals. There are also many hiking trails throughout the park. In the summer, the Zilker Hillside Theater hosts concerts ranging from Jazz to Country. Also, it is the site of the Zilker Summer Musical and Shakespeare in the Park. Pack a picnic dinner and bring a blanket to sit on the hillside and enjoy the show.

The Downtown District stretches from the Texas State Capitol to the Congress Avenue bridge. Each evening from March through November, you can watch a million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the bridge. It’s quite the social event every evening. You can watch from the Four Seasons Hotel or Shoreline Grill or join the crowd on and under the bridge.

Austin has a couple of campaigns, one for supporting local businesses and the other for keeping Austin beautiful. Don’t be caught throwing your trash on these streets. They mean it here when they say ‘Don’t Mess with Texas.’ Believe me when I tell you that it will cost you if you get caught.

Living in the Austin Texas area can be fun and Avery Ranch is close enough to enjoy the city's activities.