Austin's booming economy has always been a draw for restaurateurs and bar owners, offering tantalizing new opportunities and a constant desire for something new and different. The latest craze to hit the hip Texas capitol is wine bars "both older, established places that have been around for years, and newer, funkier alternatives are drawing in crowds like never before. This trend is particularly noticeable in Austin's popular downtown warehouse district, where several new wine bars and restaurants have cropped up in the past year, and have found success and popularity among Austin's young professionals and older patrons alike.

But downtown isn't the only place you'll find excellent wine and gourmet food. Neighborhoods like Hyde Park and North Austin's Domain are home to their own wine-enthusiast hot spots, and south Austin is now home to a bright new star on the scene: The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen.

Situated on Bee Caves Road (also known as Highway 2244), The Grove sits, unassumingly, in a small shopping center along the winding highway heading West of downtown. The interior of the bar/restaurant has a lovely ambiance, but the outside seating area and raised deck offer their own appeal. Overtaken by a massive tree, winding and bending its many large branches over, under, and throughout the outside deck and patio, The Grove's outdoor seating area is its own unique attraction. Water features subtly block the sound from the roadway, and a massive industrial fan bolted to one of the high, thick branches offers relief from the blazing sun which can be a problem for outdoor dining so many months of the year.

Tucked away under the branches of the massive tree, diners enjoy a delicious menu and wonderful wines at relatively inexpensive prices. With ten flights to choose from, and dozens more wines by the glass or bottle, The Grove offers a wide range of palette-pleasing options. But don't stop there pair your favorite wine with one of the many gourmet menu items, like an order of the chef's incredible bruschetta, which includes three different samplings from their nine delicious options like fresh mozzarella with tomato, garlic and basil; or grilled asparagus with crescenza cheese and prosciutto. And each portion is cut in half for easy sharing (although they're so tasty, you may not want to).

Another favorite appetizer is the traditional cheese plate dubbed "Wine's B.F.F." on the menu or the delectable Sampler Platter, featuring several cheeses, cured meats, roasted peppers and fruit.

The tempting food options aren't confined to the appetizer menu; The Grove Wine Bar & Kitchen also offers a variety of entrees that are sure to please. Their pizzas are exquisite, with fresh, exotic ingredients and wonderfully unique combinations. They also offer large, lush salads with fresh greens and homemade dressings, as well as mouthwatering pastas and paninis.

The Grove's charm lies in its lack of pretension with so many delicious menu options and excellent wines at such reasonable prices, it's no wonder this little wine bar and kitchen has quickly become Austin's newest wine bar hot spot, drawing patrons from across the city and throughout the surrounding areas. All it takes is one visit to understand the appeal of this cozy, unique little wine bar and why people keep coming back.

Escapeso Realty operates in central Austin. They provide visitors a search of the Austin MLS along with statistics on Austin real estate and Cedar Park Texas real estate.

Johnson City is a Texas Hill Country town 48 miles west of Austin and 60 miles north of San Antonio. Johnson City is 25 miles south of the Highland Lakes community of Marble Falls and 30 miles east of Fredericksburg, so Johnson City is very centrally located and easily accessible from two large metropolitan areas, as well as numerous Hill Country resort destinations.

Johnson City was established on the site of the Johnson Ranch on Town Creek, and in 1879, three sites were considered for settling a community on the shores of the Pedernales River, one being the site of the Johnson Ranch. The site submitted by James Polk Johnson, a 320 acre plot of land owned by the Johnson Family, was chosen at the gathering and accepted by a vote of the first settlers during a celebration and meal held alongside the creek. James Polk Johnson was a nephew of Sam Ealy Johnson and Tom Johnson, both of whom had originally been cattlemen who drove herds on the Chisholm Trail until it became unprofitable, and Sam Ealy Johnson was Lyndon Baines Johnson's grandfather as well.

James Polk Johnson was a natural organizer, and after changing from a ranching career to a career in business, his organizational talents served him and the community well. James Polk Johnson died prematurely at the age of forty in 1885, but prior to his death, he built a gristmill on the creek as well as a hotel, named the Pearl Hotel, and another project was under construction at the time of his demise which later became the Johnson City Bank.

There were a substantial number of farmers in the early days of Johnson City, most of which raised corn and cotton, and the mill continued operation until the 1970s, producing cotton after being bought by George Croft after James Polk Johnson's death.

The population of Johnson City during the census of 2000 was just over 1990, and the city is the county seat of Blanco County. There are many schools, libraries, museums, and other attractions in Johnson City today, including the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and the Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch. In addition, there is a newly remodeled historical museum called the Captain Perry Texas Ranger Museum which was just reopened after extensive renovations. There is also an exotic animal zoo and refuge a few miles north of Johnson City on Highway 281, and the establishment on 137 wooded acres of land which include educational facilities, replete with lakes, hiking trails, and creeks, offers various school programs, petting zoos, guided tours, and luxury safari-style accommodations for visitors.

Pedernales Falls State Park with its 5,212 acres of woodlands, waterfalls, campsites, shorelines and water sports opportunities is also very accessible, and is just a few miles east of the city, as well as Reimer's Ranch, a pristine nature preserve on the shores of the Pedernales, which offers 2,427 acres of recreational facilities and parklands, and is one of the largest nature preserves in Texas.
Some of the accommodations for visitors to the town include Chantilly Lace Bed and Breakfast and Country Cabins Bed and Breakfast, and a few notable restaurants and bars include the Friendly Bar Bistro and the Armadillo Icehouse, as well as the El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, among others.

Johnson City is centrally located and offers so many scenic recreational as well as historic attractions that it is a must-see for visitors to central Texas and the Hill Country, and considering its proximity to Austin, it is well worth the drive, so be sure to visit this jewel of central Texas when planning a day trip to the Hill Country!

Escapeso Realty is a group of central Texas realtors. Their site has a search for Austin homes along with general statistics on the Austin real estate market. Their site also provides information on current mortgage rates.

San Marcos, Texas, which is 29 miles south of Austin and 47 miles northwest of San Antonio, is a beautiful, small city with a rich history. The San Marcos area is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited site in the Northern Hemisphere, although the descendants of today's residents settled the area in the 1800s.

In 1689, the San Marcos River was named for St. Mark after Alonso de Leon's men discovered the river on the celebration of St. Mark's Day, and named the river in his honor. Later, in April of 1808, a group of Mexican families settled in the area, and an agricultural community was established shortly thereafter.

In 1812, after numerous floods and raids by local Indians, the settlement was disbanded, but in November of 1848 a group of Anglo settlers tried to establish a community on the site again, and in 1851, the town center was laid out. The county of Hays was established in 1848 by the Texas Legislature, and the city of San Marcos was named county seat a short time later.

The small city was primarily a gin milling and agricultural community until the early 1880s, when the railroad arrived and the cattle and cotton industries flourished, which caused the city to become a commercial center with easy access to transportation for businessmen and travelers.

In 1899, a college for school teachers opened, and was called the Southwest Texas State Normal School, which is known today as Texas State University. In 1907, another school was established in the area, the San Marcos Baptist Academy, which was a private institution, and which is still open today. In the following years, Texas State University, which was known as Southwest Texas State at the time, became an important regional school, and after other educational facilities opened over the years, including the Gary Job Corps Training Center in the 1960s, education became the largest industry in San Marcos.

Today, San Marcos has a population of just over 50,000 inhabitants, and there are many other exciting establishments and facilities in the city, including Aquarena Springs and Wonder World, both of which were established in the 1960s. The spring-fed San Marcos River meanders through the University campus and the city itself, and San Marcos is proud of the beautiful and historic town square, which was recently renovated. Both Wonder World and Aquarena Springs are popular tourist attractions, and visitors to Aquarena Springs can charter glass bottom boats for rides through the city on the San Marcos River.

The tourist trade has become an important industry in San Marcos as well as education, and downtown visitors can stroll through the Belvin Street Historic District and view 18th century homes, or walk along the San Marcos River Walkway, which unites three city parks along the river, and is graced with scenic and lush landscaping. Wonder World, which is an earthquake-formed cavern and wildlife park with an observation tower and petting zoo, is open daily for visitors, with longer hours in the summer.

Another well known attraction in San Marcos is the San Marcos Outlet Mall, which is on Interstate 35, and includes hotels, restaurants, spas, movie theaters, and clubs along with discount stores and factory outlet stores, such as Tanger Outlet Store and Prime Outlet, along with many well known specialty stores.

San Marcos is a very scenic town, and the San Marcos River is bordered by green belts and hiking trails, as well as parks and stately homes. With so many amenities, including the University, San Marcos is a great place to visit, earn a living, or settle down and raise a family, or even retire, so head south on Interstate 35 and come to San Marcos!

Ki works as a realtor in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site provides info on San Marcos real estate market along with a map search of the Austin MLS.

These days a stroll through the Zilker Botanical Gardens could lead to an encounter with a small herd of Bambiraptors, dinosaurs with feathered wings similar to a turkey. The word "raptor" means thief and these little creatures, named after the Disney character, were known to steal the babies of other dinosaurs. The usually sedate gardens are full of all kinds of life-size dinosaurs, like the ferocious cousin to T- Rex, a Daspletosaur, standing at 33 feet tall. The 30 creatures from the DinoLand traveling exhibit will continue to have a temporary residence among the flora and fauna of the Botanical Gardens until November 30, 2008.

The scientifically-accurate exhibit, created by Lost World Studio founder Guy Darrough, is a terrific reason to visit one of Austin's great outdoor venues. The Zilker Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization established in 1955, with the gardens making a home in Barton Hills since 1962.

It takes an average of eight months for one of the dinosaurs to be created out of wire, foam and wood frames covered with clay, silicone rubber, plastic and fiberglass. The result is an incredibly life-like creature, further enhanced by the outdoor display of plants, nests with eggs and large bones scattered about the exhibits. Little ones can stand in awe of the 30 feet tall Kritosaurus, a gentle plant-eating giant whose name means "Noble Lizard."

As visitors wander from one period of the Mesozoic Era to the next, they will also come across small wooden dinosaurs decorated by local elementary schools. There is the Hip-Hoposaurus complete with gold chain and sunglasses. These clever colorful creatures are a big hit with small children, as they are just their size and close to the trail.

Another attraction is the Zoo of Ferns, representing some of the more than 12,000 species of ferns that exist today. The origins of the fern can be traced back 450 million years, making it a perfect prehistoric companion to the DinoLand exhibit. Put together by members of the Garden Club of Austin known as the Fern Team, this exhibit gives kids an eye-level introduction into the world of ferns.

After seeing all the dinosaurs, visitors should take the time to explore the rest of the gardens, such as the Mabel Davis Rose Garden, Isamu Taniguchil Japanese Garden or the take a walk along the Butterfly Trail. It's worth a visit to the Chrysalis Gift Shop for all things dinosaur. The admission to the DinoLand exhibit is $5 for adults and $3 for children (3-13).

Escapeso Real Estate is a small company located in central Austin. Their site has information on Austin real estate along with providing a map search of the Austin MLS and stats on current mortgage interest rates.

Round Rock, Texas was founded around the year 1851 on the banks of a local creek called Brushy Creek, and the city was named for a large, circular rock which was situated in the middle of the creek. Wagon Wheel tracks can still be seen on the rock today, and the rock was in the middle of a low water crossing on Brushy Creek, which at the time was part of the famous Chisholm Trail which was used to herd cattle from Texas to Kansas. The town was originally called Brushy Creek, but changed its name in 1854 to Round Rock in honor of the rock and the stories surrounding it. Round rock was the reputed birthplace of Sam Bass, an infamous train robber of the day, as well as Soapy Smith, an old west con man who made Round Rock his home in the mid-1800s.

The city, which has a current population of around 75,000 inhabitants, has a rich and colorful history. The area northwest of downtown on Sam Bass Road is still referred to as "Old Town", a reference to the shootout between Sam Bass and the Texas Rangers in 1878, an event which is re-enacted every year in downtown Round Rock during the yearly Frontier Days festival which is held on the fourth of July.

Round Rock is also known as the Sports Capital of Texas, and is home of the Round Rock Express, a minor league baseball team that plays in the Dell Diamond, which is a local sports arena and concert venue built by the Dell Corporation, which has its corporate headquarters in Round Rock and is one of Round Rock's most well known employers.

Round Rock is about 17 miles north of Austin and 10 miles south of Georgetown, and has around 21,000 households, and an area of just over 26.3 square miles, a small percentage of which is water. Round Rock is considered to be a very safe community, and has been named one of the best communities for young people by The Alliance for Youth, which attributes this fact to a program called New Horizons, which encourages students to remain in school and development the life skills necessary for success.

Along with the Dell Corporation, there are numerous large employers in the Round Rock area, including Toppan, Sears, and TECO/Westinghouse. The median household income in Round Rock is around $70,000, and Round Rock has a very diverse population, with roughly 47% of the population having children in the household under the age of 18 and 65% of the households including married couples. The median price for a house in Round Rock in 2006 was about $150,000, and round Rock offers various choices of accommodations from luxury homes to smaller starter homes, as well as apartments, duplexes, and condominium projects.

The Round Rock School District Schools are also considered excellent, and over 85% of graduating seniors take the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and the city has an excellent library that offers children's programs and a summer reading program for kids too. There are many recreational facilities including the Clay Madsen Recreation Center, which includes a 14,000 square foot skate park, summer camps and day camps for school students on break. The center also offers swimming lessons, a game room, and two basketball courts, as well as a T.V. room for children to safely recreate all year round.

Round Rock also has quite a few well known hotels, restaurants, and opportunities for nightlife, along with excellent medical facilities, including Round Rock Hospital and the new Dell Children's Hospital, which is associated with the Seton Hospital system.

Round Rock is an excellent place to visit and catch a ball game, or enjoy the natural beauty and scenery, and learn about Texas history. The city is also an excellent place to consider when choosing a location to raise a family and settle down, or retire in a safe community with close proximity to big cities yet all the advantages of small town living. Come on over to Round Rock and take a look at its many advantages, and you might just want to stay a while!

Escapeso Realty provides real estate services in Central Texas. Their site provides a quick search for Austin homes. They also have analysis of the Austin real estate market and the Round Rock real estate market.

Unlike childhood birthday parties of yesteryear, which revolved around a birthday cake and a small gathering of mostly family and a friend or two, today's parties require a bit more. Generally, all of your child's acquaintances from school are invited to the party, which should at the very least have a theme if not an exotic locale. What is a parent to do when faced with the monolithic task of planning the party of the century for their toddler, without the time or even energy to begin thinking about doing so? Fear not, Austin offers plenty of kiddie-party options.

If your kid is under the age of 10, Kiddie Acres makes a fun spot for birthday celebrating. Located on Howard Lane in Northern Austin, Kiddie Acres is a small amusement park with only age appropriate rides, all seemingly vintage and well maintained and colorful. The park includes a mini ferris wheel, boats, planes, cars, a carousel, a train, as well as a real pony ride. They sell packages of tickets that you can dispense to your guests and provide large picnic tables where you can set up the cake and lemonade.

If your party occurs in the heat of the summer, you could consider some of the excellent indoor options. Pump It Up, located in central Austin, boasts a wide variety of inflatables. Kids are ushered from room to room to try out all of the offerings before returning to a party room you can serve the requisite pizza and cake.

In the same vein, Inflatable Wonderland in Lakeline Mall provides a smaller scale selection of inflatables. While the party is less intimate, the space provides discounts during the week for the budget conscious as well as inflatables appropriate for kids under 3. Picnic tables are available to accomdate cake serving and present collection.

The Austin Park and Pizza also rents out private rooms for parties. Your room overlooks the arcade area, and included with the package are armbands for your guests that give them access to their arcade, laser tag, and outdoor attractions, including bumper boats, a teacup ride, and miniature golf. Guests can also help themselves to all-you-can eat pizza, salad, and dessert.

For a less pizza intensive gathering, RadiJazz Playnasium in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center is a good choice. The indoor playscape features a riverscape, volcano, lavascape, and a lounge area where you can prepare your party and later enjoy cake.

If you prefer a more active birthday, the Crenshaw Athletic Club on Fairview Drive can be rented for several hours, with facilitators leading children through age appropriate activities in the gym, such as an obstacle course, trampolines, swinging on ropes across a pool filled with balls, and other similar activities. A small cottage can be used to host the cake eating and includes bathrooms and a small jungle gym outdoors. There is even a handy tree for stringing up the ubiquitous piñata.

If you are willing to go a bit further afield, the Little Buckaroo Ranch, located about 30 minutes outside of Austin on Hamilton Pool Road, offers a variety of party themes, pony riding, painting a pony, barnyard buddies, and a square dance party. Party participants can ride miniature ponies, pet farm animals, and then dig into cake. The ranch chuckwagon offers hot dogs, chips, punch and bottled water.

Ki helps buyers and sellers interested in the Austin Texas real estate market. They provide a search of the Austin MLS along with statistics on suburbs of Austin like the Cedar Park real estate market.

Dripping Springs is a small city in Hays County which is located 21 miles west of Austin. In the census of 2000, Dripping Springs reported a population of 1,548 inhabitants and 554 households, and among them 418 families. The population density of Dripping Springs was 468.07 people per square mile at the time of the census, and the city currently has an area of 3.3 square miles, all of it land. 41% of the households in Dripping Springs have children under the age of 18 living at home, and 61% include married couples. The median income in the small city is roughly $47,000, and the populace is primarily White, with about 86% reporting Caucasian heritage, and various other ethnicities comprising the difference, including a Hispanic population of 18%, along with many citizens reporting mixed ancestry.

There are a slightly higher percentage of women than men in the city of Dripping Springs, and the average household size is 2.79 people, with families reporting roughly 3.24 members on average. In 2005, the population had expanded and the figure of 1,666 occupants was reported for the city of Dripping Springs.

Dripping Springs is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, and the city offers majestic views of the hill country, rolling hills, abundant foliage and wildlife, and clear water creeks, most with rock bottoms. The rural areas outside of the city limits are also highly populated, and with these residents included, the area claims over 20,000 inhabitants. The students of Dripping Springs attend schools in the Dripping Springs Independent School District, and there are many noteworthy attractions in or near the city, including Hamilton Pool, which is a scenic natural pool, grotto, and waterfall formed from the collapse of an underground river due to erosion thousands of years ago.

The park is now considered to be a nature preserve, and swimming is allowed when the water quality meets safe standards. Nature study, hiking and picnicking are permitted on the numerous trails and grounds alongside the pool and 45 foot waterfall year round, and the park is open from 9:00am to 5:30pm daily, although pets are prohibited at all times, even on leashes. The waters of Hamilton Pool eventually flow into the waters of the Pedernales River, and all of the Highland Lakes are reasonably close to Hamilton Pool and Dripping Springs, along with Canyon Lake and many other nearby lakes, creeks, and streams.

Two more nearby attractions are the Pound House Museum and the Westcave Preserve. The Pound House Museum is the oldest structure in Dripping Springs, and it was originally the home of Dr. Pound, the first doctor to practice in the area, and the home was built in 1855 and is located in Founder's Park. The Westcave Preserve is a limestone grotto and natural terrarium, and the lush, green canyon is shaded by a canopy of cypress trees, and offers tours, birding, and programs for local school children.

HDr. Pound and his family came to the Dripping Springs area from Mississippi in 1854, along with the Moss and Wallace families, and descendants of the Pound family lived in the original Pound home, which is now the Pound House Museum, until 1893. Many early settlers to the area gravitated to Dripping Springs due to the abundance of trees and water, and the city wasn't incorporated until 1981, when the residents feared being annexed by the city of Austin.

In 1998, Dripping Springs opened a community library, and the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce is currently active in preserving the historic elements of the community with library exhibits and other displays of memorabilia. An interesting bit of trivia about the city is the fact that cyclist Lance Armstrong was born and raised in the small community, and he is now one of the area's most well-known and respected native sons.

There are many resorts, R.V. parks, bed and breakfast inns and restaurants in or near Dripping Springs, including restaurants such as the Canyon Grill, Bert's Barbecue Roadhouse, the Cafe Lago, and the Salt Lick, as well as the Cypress Springs Ranch Bed and Breakfast, and the Exotic Sunset Bed and Breakfast in nearby Wimberley, among choices for lodging. Dripping Springs is frequently referred to as the Gateway to the Hill Country, and with its natural beauty, many attractions, and proximity to both San Antonio and Austin, it is a must-see community for those interested in rural, peaceful living.

Ki helps buyers and sellers in Austin Texas. His site provides visitors a graphical search of the Austin MLS. He also provides details and statistics on the Austin real estate market and the Dripping Springs real estate market.

Early voting began on Monday, October 20th and ran until Friday, October 31st. Travis County alone is expected to see nearly 450,000 people take advantage of casting their ballot early.

In the last presidential election, about 62% of registered voters in Travis County voted early. At the time this was a near record turnout since early voting began in Travis County in 1988. The expectation is that this years numbers will be much higher than 2004. Why? The primary had a 51% turnout which was well above the average of 35% that we tend to see for primaries and gubernatorial elections. While election officials are excited to see such a turnout they are putting in long hours to deal with the flood of early voters. While official numbers will not be released for a little why early evidence points to pretty high numbers of early voters. The question remains whether more people are simply choosing to vote early instead of waiting until election day or the high number of early voters is simply an indication of a general increase in turnout.

Why do so many people vote early? For one thing, Iit eliminates having to wait in line on Election Day, when lines are sure to be long, especially in a heated race as this one. Voters are allowed to vote outside of their precinct, which makes voting much more convenient. Also by voting early if there are any problems with identification or problems with your registration you have a chance to fix these problems before the election.

The north early voting location, which is located at 5501 Airport Blvd. is a "Mega" voting center. Travis County allocated $150,000 this year for the Mega voting centers to deal with increased demand. They have up to 50 voting machines and four check-in stations. The south location at 4534 Westgate Blvd. will start with 35 and expand to 50. They also have four check-in stations. These Mega voting centers are a good idea but they will probably be underutilized during this election due to lack of awareness. But election officials expect to see increased turnout in these locations in future elections.

There are several other places to vote early in Travis County. Many H-E-B and Randall's grocery stores have early voting stations. Travis County also makes it easy for senior citizens to cast their ballot. There are nearly 50 mobile early voting sites that allow nursing homes, senior assisted living residents and the employees and families cast their ballot without having the hassle to locate an early voting site.

Early voting began during the presidential election in 1988 and has taken off since then. Early voters are allowed to vote at any early voting location within their county. Voters can vote with a voters registration card, driver's license or any official photo ID, birth certificate, United States citizenship papers, passport or any recent utility bill or bank statement that shows the name and address of the voter. And for voters that do not take advantage of early voting can at least reap the benefits of a shorter lines on election day compared to what they would have been like without early voting.

Ki works as a real estate agent in central Texas. His website has information about round rock real estate and cedar park real estate. The website also has a free mortgage calculator.

Trying to come up with things to do with out of town visitors in the height of summer? The Austin area offers a wide variety of activities to entertain even the most difficult audience. During the summer months, your primary goal will be trying to stay cool, and Austin and the surrounding area offers swimming holes a-plenty.

The iconic Barton Springs near the Barton Hills neighborhood is open from early spring to late autumn. Sometimes called the soul of Austin, this spring fed pool maintains a steady 68 degrees in all seasons. And don't forget to impress your visitors with a promise of seeing the extremely rare salamander that is only found in the spring and pool at Barton Creek.

The Deep Eddy Pool, near downtown in west Austin, boasts a huge wading area for the tiny people and water temperatures that never rise above 72 degrees. Throughout the summer, they host Splash Party Movie Nights, where family pleasing movies are played on a big screen while viewers float in the pool.

If you are willing to go a bit further afield, then you really should make a visit to Hamilton Pool, about 40 minutes outside of Austin off of Highway 71. The natural spring is found in a grotto that was formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed thousand of years ago. The result is a very family friendly and secluded swimming spot that seems like a fairy wonderland. Because the ecosystem around the springs is fragile, the park closes when the 100-car parking lot is full, so you must call ahead.

Further impress your guests by stopping off at the Salt Lick on your way home, renowned for what some would argue is the best barbeque in Texas. It definitely provides the proper atmosphere, located as it is in the middle of nowhere about 12 miles south of US 290 West. The menu includes brisket, chicken, ribs, sausage, and the ubiquitous peach and berry cobblers. Take note, however, that it is located in a dry spot in Hays County, so you have to bring your own alcoholic beverages.

Blue Hole, located in Wimberly, Texas, has been named one of the top ten swimming holes in Texas. The land was privately owned, but in 2005 was purchased by the village of Wimberly and is being developed into a regional park. Another spot appropriate for fairies, the Blue Hole is surrounded by old growth cypress trees and boasts a rare ecosystem of natural grasses, wildflowers, birds, reptiles and insects. And its proximity to downtown Wimberly means that after cooling off in the springs, you can proceed to shop `til you drop in one of the towns dozens of specialty stores and art galleries. Shops are open Monday, Thursday, Friday and on the weekends. Market Day takes place the first Saturday of the month from April through December, when more than 400 vendors put antiques, collectibles, arts and crafts up for sale.

Krause Springs, another stunning swimming hole great for families, boasts clear and shallow waters. Located about 30 miles from Austin off of Highway 71, the pool is listed on the National Register of historic places and is also shaded by large cypress tress. You can picnic and camp at the pool, and there are admissions fees.

Ki is a realtor in Austin Texas. He helps buyers looking in the Austin real estate market. His site has a graphical search for Austin homes along with information on recent mortgage rate trends.

Taylor, Texas, is a small city about a half hour's drive north of Austin near Interstate 35 and Highway 79, and the city was originally named Taylorville, in honor of Edward Moses Taylor, who was a well known railroad official. Taylor was founded in 1876 when the Texas Land Company auctioned lots in anticipation of the arrival of the railroad. The town was founded primarily by Czechoslovakian immigrants, along with mostly German and Austrian immigrants who purchased the land, most of which was being used by the railroad since the city was becoming a shipping point for cattle, grain and cotton.

In 1882, the town was incorporated, and a public school system was built, and in the same year, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway reached the small community, allowing for more trade. The city had about 1,000 residents at the time, although today, the population is estimated to be over 15,000 residents. In 1890, there were two banks in Taylor, along with a cotton compress, electric company, and a savings and loan, which was the first in Texas.

There were around 3,400 families in the city of Taylor Texas in the census of 2000, and just over 4,700 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18, and 52.6% were married couples living together. The median income for a household in Taylor was about $38,000, and the median income for an individual was around $17,000 in the census of 2000. Taylor is in the county of Williamson, and the railroad still traverses through the city, although now it is passenger rail, Amtrak.

Taylor is located at the intersection of Highway 79 and Highway 95, and is dotted with numerous quaint, historic buildings, such as the St. James Episcopal Church and the Immanuel Lutheran Church, although many of the 19th century structures were destroyed in a fire in 1879. Some of these historic structures were renovated and restored, such as the Victorian House, which was the birthplace of Governor Dan Moody. Moody was well known for prosecuting the Ku Klux Klan and restoring honesty to state government after Ma and Pa Ferguson had both been governor and accused of corruption, and his re-structuring of government saved the state hundreds of thousands of dollars by eliminating the corrupt.

Nowadays, Taylor has many popular events and attractions, and one such well known event is the yearly Taylor Rattlesnake Sacking Championships, which are held every March. There is also the Moody Museum on 9th, formerly the Victorian House, which is the site of the home of former Governor Dan Moody. The downtown area of Taylor, especially Main Street, is replete with historical structures, including Taylor City Hall, which is on Porter Street, as well as the city library, which is on Vance.

Lodging in Taylor includes the Talbot Street Bed and Breakfast, the Hidden Cove Cabin, and the Rodeway Inn at Silver Creek, as well as the Blackland Farms RV Park and the Best Western Taylor, among others. For dining out, Louie Mueller's Barbecue,Bob's Backyard Cafe, and Snuffy's Grill and Bar all offer a choice of good eats, and golfers can choose between the Mustang Creek Golf Course in Taylor, or the Golf Club at Star Ranch in nearby Hutto, or even the Blackhawk Golf Club in nearby Pflugerville.

For a night out on the town, those interested in libations can try the Cactus Rose, the Brushy Creek Bar and Grill, or Randy's Ice House, along with the Over the Hill Beer Joint and Casper's. There are many fun things to do and interesting, scenic, and historic sights to see in Taylor, so drive the short trip and visit Taylor, Texas!

Ki is a realtor helping clients interested in Austin real estate. His website provides a graphical search of the Austin MLS along with free mortgage calculator

Most visitors to Austin notice the unusual streetlights strategically located throughout the city known as the moonlight towers, but most are not aware of the history of the towers. Probably the most well known of the moonlight towers is the one in Zilker Park which is used every year to represent a huge Christmas tree, when it is encircled with multi-colored lights and can be seen from miles away.

There are actually 17 moonlight towers in and around Austin, including the Zilker tower, and these lights have been in use since the late 1800s, when Austin purchased the lights from the city of Detroit. In 1894, 31 used mercury vapor lamps were installed throughout Austin, and at the time, these types of lights were used in many cities across the country, but Austin is the only city still using them today.

The lamps, which are perched atop wrought iron posts, give off a distinctive pinkish-yellow light, and the lamps illuminate a 3000 foot circle of ground. Even thought the lights appear to be one large lamp, they are actually made up of 6 carbon arc lamps, and the lamp poles are actually 165 feet triangular posts made of cast and wrought iron.

The 100 year anniversary of the moonlight towers was celebrated in Zilker Park in 1995, and some of those who attended the anniversary event still have the custom made shirts which were available for purchase at the event, with an original artist's rendition of the lamps on the front and back of the shirts, including the date of the commemoration of the lights. These shirts are considered collector's items now, and the lamps themselves are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Most of the moonlight towers are situated in or around the older residential neighborhoods which encircle the downtown area, such as Clarksville, Speedway, Travis Heights, and the Zilker Park neighborhoods, but some are actually located in the downtown area itself, such as the one that is located at Guadalupe Street and West 9th. During the time of the 100 year anniversary of the lights, all of them were taken down and restored one at a time and then replaced in their original location, and even though there were originally 31 lamps, there are now only 17 in operation.

Each moonlight tower is held up by a fifteen foot pedestal which is encircled with guy wires and a network of cables, and the lights are changed and maintained by the use of a ladder which is affixed to the towers. Each tower has a commemorative plaque as well, with a brief history of the lights engraved on the plaque. The lights have been in continuous operation for over 100 years, and during that time, the lights have only been turned off twice.

The first time they were turned off was in 1905 when the lights were unlit for week during a dispute between the members of the city council and the Water and Light Commission. The second time they were turned off was in 1973, when the national energy crisis required the city to turn them off to conserve energy.

The moonlight towers are another example of the uniqueness of Austin, as well as Austin's intention of preserving our heritage and honoring its historical significance. Many people travel to Austin to see the annual lighting of the Zilker Tree, which includes a yearly celebration of the Zilker Moonlight Tower, so be sure to visit Zilker during the holidays and check out the beautiful, tall, lighted tower, which is lit to resemble a tree, or drive through the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and take a look for yourself at these legendary lights!

Escapeso Realty helps buyers and sellers in Austin Texas. Their site is filled with stats on the Austin Texas real estate market. Additionally their site has a free mortgage calculator and a search for Austin homes.

Travis Heights is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in Austin, and has a rich history. The neighborhood was originally an exclusive suburb south of the Colorado River, now known as Lady Bird Lake, and the neighborhood was established in 1913 by the Newning and Swisher families, along with General Stacy, for whom the parks in the area are named. The neighborhood was actually originally settled in the late 1900s, informally, but did not really expand or become fashionable until the early twentieth century, when it grew rapidly. The neighborhood's borders are generally considered to be I.H. 35 to the east and the lake to the north, and Oltorf to the south and Congress Avenue to the west, so the area is very accessible to the downtown area and the freeway, as well as the recently developed shopping and nightlife area referred to as "SoCo" for its location on South Congress Avenue.

Travis Heights is part of the well-known 78704 zip code in Austin, one that is considered liberal and artistic, and Travis Heights reflects these ideas with its numerous styles of architecture, and its whimsical neighborhood charm. Travis Heights is replete with twenties-style bungalows, among other styles of home-building, and the residents have fiercely objected to the demolition of this characteristic style, vehemently refusing to allow them to be replaced with "McMansions", or newly built, generic luxury homes.

This neighborhood is also very family-friendly, and the students of the area attend Travis Heights Elementary School and Fulmore Middle School, with high-schoolers attending Travis High School, or one of numerous parochial schools in the area which offer a diverse choice to residents. There are many restaurants on the borders of Travis Heights or in close proximity, including those on Riverside and Congress, as well as the "restaurant row" area of Barton Springs Road, just a few miles east of Travis Heights. Some of these restaurants include Vinny's, Guerro's Taco Bar, Vespaio, and less formal restaurants such as Thundercloud Subs and Freebird's, which are well known for sandwiches and burritos, respectively.

When Travis Heights was first settled, in the late 1800's, the only way to travel from the north side of the river to the south was by ferry, and originally, the large homes with detached garages, intended for carriages at the time, were considered country homes, and the homeowners now have frequently converted the original garages into garage apartments, many rented by U.T. students, which adds to the funky flavor of Travis Heights. The Art Deco style is also prominently reflected in the styles and colors of the homes, with a plethora of bright and pastel colors and glass bricks being featured, along with many other quirky details. Many homes are also built of brick and stone, and the streets meander through the gentle hills of the neighborhood, most of which are tree-lined and offer shade to the homes and streets, and also offer great views of downtown and the lake, as well as the trees and abundant foliage in the area.

There are two well known parks in Travis Heights, called Big Stacy and Little Stacy, and Big Stacy is home to a large, tree shaded pool, while Little Stacy has a wading pool, hike and bike trails, picnic tables and sports facilities, both being close to the Blunn Creek greenbelt which winds through the Travis Heights neighborhood.

The Stacy parks were named for General William H. Stacy, who bought 200 acres of land with his partner, George Warner, and began settlement of the neighborhood in the late 1800s around what is now called Blunn Creek, which was originally called Fowder's Creek. The area expanded rapidly after a stone bridge was built across the river, and residents had more convenient access to the neighborhood. Another park in Travis Heights is the Norwood Estates Park at Riverside and I.H. 35, and the park is primarily used as a place for residents to walk their dogs and allow their dogs to safely recreate with their owners.

Travis Heights is one of the most highly regarded neighborhoods in the Austin real estate market for a variety of reasons, including its proximity to various popular areas, its eclectic history, and its natural beauty and serenity. It is a great neighborhood to visit or settle down and raise a family, so keep Travis Heights in mind when considering a visit to central Austin.

Escapeso real estate is a small company in central Texas that helps people interested in Austin real estate. Their site provides visitors a search of the Austin MLS along with information on Travis Heights real estate.

Marble Falls is a small city on the shores of the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country. The city was founded in 1887 by General Adam R. Johnson, and incorporated in May of 1907. Marble Falls is located 47 miles northwest of Austin and 85 miles north of San Antonio, so it is centrally located and accessible from two large metropolitan areas. Marble Falls is in the middle of the Highland Lakes chain, and after the construction of the dam which created Lake Marble Falls, the marble falls themselves were no longer visible, unless the lake levels were lowered by the Lower Colorado River Authority, which caused them to be visible in certain locations.

Marble Falls, frequently referred to as the Gateway to the Hill Country, was originally founded when Adam Rankin Johnson traveled down the Colorado from Fort Mason to see the "great falls", as they were called at the time, and obtained land grants with the intention of settling near the falls, until he discovered the certificates were worthless and settled instead in Burnet with his wife Josephine, in 1861. Johnson had intended to help build a great manufacturing community, powered by energy from the falls, but after settling with his wife in Burnet, joined the Confederate army, and was later blinded by a rifle ball in combat.

Johnson later was employed by the land office in Burnet for years, where his reputed excellent memory and his son's help allowed him to overcome the limitations caused by his blindness and succeed in making land deals. In 1887, he finally purchased land in the Marble Falls area, and built a home for his family there. The home faced south, directly toward the majestic falls, and his family members gave him daily reports of their beauty so he could visualize them as he remembered them.

The community later thrived and became a cotton center, known as "The Blindman's Town", and Johnson's home, named Liberty Hall, was later purchased by Orphelia "Birdie" Harwood and her husband George, in the early 1900s, and was later named Harwood house, but is still referred to as Liberty Hall or Liberty House by some. The house was bought in 1946 by Bill and Eunice Hall, and their son, and is now a commercial building, but prior to their purchase of the home, "Birdie", as Mrs. Harwood was called, was elected mayor of the community, and while teaching at the local school, loaned supplies to one of her students, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who later went on the fame as a political force in Texas and later the president of the United States. Johnson along with his family, is one of the most notable early residents of Marble Falls.

In 1970, home mail service began in Marble Falls, and Horseshoe Bay, a beautiful lakeside resort replete with a golf course and various water sports, restaurants, and other facilities and activities, was built on the shores of the lake. Lake Marble Falls itself was created in the forties by the construction of Buchanan Dam, along with Starke and Wirtz Dams, and the other Highland Lakes were created around the same time, by damming the waters of the Colorado River. Lake LBJ is also very close to the city of Marble Falls, and two of the dams used to partially create Lake Marble Falls were rebuilt in the year 2000. Earlier, in 1980, a new high school was built to improve the academic performance of the area students, and ten years later, the internet was introduced in Marble Falls, allowing even more access to reference materials for the residents of the growing community.

Today, Marble Falls is an established community. The yearly Lakefest in August draws throngs of visitors, as do various attractions including numerous restaurants, a movie theater, many R.V. parks, a public golf course called Meadowlakes, and a plethora of gift shops, antique stores, bed and breakfast inns, and a variety of unique local attractions. Marble Falls has a large community of retirees, as well as residents who spend their winters in the town, due to its mild climate. Some of the popular local restaurants include the Blue Bonnet Cafe and Russo's Texitally Cafe, and Rockhopper's Family Fun Center offers miniature golf and other games and sports.

If peaceful, rural living, as well as scenic beauty and numerous amenities are your cup of tea, come to Marble Falls and experience the best Texas has to offer!

Ki is a real estate agent working in the Austin Texas real estate market. He provides information on his site about Marble Falls real estate along with a search of the Austin MLS.

The small city of Mustang Ridge was incorporated in 1985 by Alton Brooks Laws Jr. and Charles Laws, and Alton Brooks Laws was also the first mayor of the city, as well as municipal judge. There are 256 households in Mustang Ridge, and 40.6% of them had children under the age of eighteen at the time of the census. Of those households, 64.8% were married couples living together, and the average household size was 3.07 people. The median age of the inhabitants of Mustang Ridge is about average for Texas at 33.2 years, and the median household income is also about average, at $42,900 yearly in 2005. There are a slightly higher percentage of males than females in Mustang Ridge, with the ratio being 51.5% male compared to 48.5% female, which translates to 404 males compared to 381 females living in Mustang Ridge.

Only a small area of the city is located in Bastrop County, and those residents who are of school age attend Bastrop Independent School District Schools, whereas most of the students in the Travis County portion of the city attend Del Valle I.S.D. schools and the students in Caldwell County attend Lockhart I.S.D. schools. The city has its own police force, with additional law enforcement provided by the Travis County Sheriff's Department as well as the Bastrop and Caldwell County Sheriff's Departments when the small city police department is not available.

Most of the inhabitants in Mustang Ridge are of Mexican-American descent, and there are also a large percentage of residents who claim German or Irish ancestry, and many other ethnicities comprise the remainder of various ethnicities among the other inhabitants of the small community.

Mustang Ridge is very close to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Del Valle, so it is very accessible for out of town travelers. There are numerous hotels near the airport, which is in the Del Valle area, that provide lodging to visitors near Mustang Ridge, including the relatively new Airport Hilton, which was built on the site of the original military airport terminal and is very unique in that the entire hotel is round, with circular walls and other unusual designs that are reminiscent of the old military base. There is also a Comfort Suites and Clarion Hotel near the airport and Mustang Ridge, among others, and the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near Bastrop is also very convenient to visitors in the area looking for a relaxing yet well-appointed place to stay.

For recreation, McKinney Falls State Park is very close, and offers swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and many other activities, as is Onion Creek and the many recreational opportunities it offers, which are similar to those offered at McKinney Falls, including camping, bicycling, and nature watching, as well as golf at the Onion Creek Golf Course and Country Club. San Marcos is also reasonably close to Mustang Ridge, and there are numerous recreational activities in or near San Marcos, including Aquarena Springs State Park and other recreational facilities and parks on the San Marcos River, as well as the Guadalupe River, which is also nearby and considered an excellent locale for rafting, canoeing, and swimming.

Two nearby communities include Niederwald and Creedmoor, both of which are about five miles from Mustang Ridge, and since Mustang Ridge is situated very close to the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and Highway 21, it is convenient to both Austin, which is 17 miles north of Mustang Ridge, and San Antonio, which is 69 miles southwest of Mustang Ridge.

Mustang Ridge is a rapidly growing community, and has experienced a 16% increase in population since the 2000 census, and the population is now estimated to be over 915 residents. The housing market is expanding too, and in recent years the average number of new homes was higher than Texas on average. There are apartments, duplexes, and other available housing as well, and the biggest percentage of homes are in the price range of $70,000 to $79,000, with the second largest percentage being in the range of $100,000 to $124,000. The most expensive home in the area is valued at around $500,000 and the least expensive is priced at around $25,000, and most of the homes available in Mustang Ridge are priced in between these amounts.

If rural living with access to two large cities appeals to you, as well as the rolling hills and plains of south-central Texas, be sure to visit Mustang Ridge!

Escapeso Realty helps buyers in the austin real estate market. Their site has information on Austin MLS areas along with a blog covering Austin real estate. Their site also provides a map based Austin MLS search for Austin area homes.

The historic community of Gruene, Texas was founded by German immigrants Ernst and Antoinette Gruene in 1849. The Gruene family, including their two sons had immigrated to New Braunfels in 1845, but land was scarce, so Ernst Gruene moved his family down the river and built them a home in the German style of fach werk, and the city of Gruene got its start.

The Gruene family planted cotton on their land, and a few years later, twenty to thirty more families arrived in Gruene, to help farm the fields and build homes for their families. The settlers built homes in a variety of styles, including wooden frame homes, Victorian cottages, and large, brick homes. A mercantile store was opened in 1878, called the Gruene General Store, and a cotton mill which was powered by the Guadalupe River was built around the same time, in the late 1800s.

The town prospered, and shortly thereafter, a restaurant and dance hall was built, and is still in operation today, known widely as Gruene Hall, the centerpiece of the community of Gruene. A new mercantile company opened its doors in 1904, but Ernst Gruene's son Henry B. Gruene's death in 1920 spurred the decline of prosperity in the small city of in Gruene, since he had become a prominent civic leader and farmer, with his father and brother.

In 1922, the cotton gin burned to the ground and was replaced by an electric model, called Adobe Verde, but the depression hastened the decline of most of the family-run businesses, and all of them closed except Gruene Hall. The advent of the boll weevil had taken a toll on the community as well, and most of the farms suffered immensely as a result of boll weevil infestation.

The town was reduced to the state of a ghost town until 1974, when Pat Molak moved to town and bought Gruene Hall. The dance hall needed a few repairs, but shortly after Molak purchased to hall and restored it, the 6,000 square foot dance hall and outdoor pavilion became a magnet for local musicians and free spirits. Molak purchased and restored various other historic structures with his friend Mary Jane Nalley, and life was breathed back into the town of Gruene.

Subsequently, the town of Gruene was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and many other structures restored by Gruene were awarded the Medallion from the Texas Historical Commission, as well as recognized by the travel industry as an authentic historic Texas town. Today, Gruene is a mecca for antique aficionados, and included among the numerous antique shops are the Black Swan, Hampe House, the Gruene Antique Company.

There are also quite a few gift shops, pottery stores, and art galleries, including Buck Pottery, and the Dancing Bear, as well as Gallerie at Gruene, Grandmother Moons, and the Grapevine. For candy lovers, visitors can satisfy their sweet tooth at the Great Texas Pecan Candy Shop with some pralines or pecan fudge.

For a more substantial meal, visitors can tempt their palates at the Grist Mill River Restaurant and Bar, the River House Tearoom, or the Gruene Coffee House, or the Adobe Verde, which was originally a gin mill and has been transformed into a cantina with an outside deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

For lodging in Gruene, visitors can stay in Henry Gruene's original home, the Gruene Mansion Inn, which has been converted into a rustic Victorian bed and breakfast, replete with southern style breakfast items, barns, and a carriage house.

Gruene is truly a jewel in the heart of the hill country, so come on over to hear authentic Texas music in a historic Texas dance hall, and grab a bite while you're there. The only problem is: you might not want to leave!!

Escapeso Real Estate is a small company in Austin Texas. Their website provides information on Austin real estate and a free map search of the Austin MLS. They also have updated graphs on mortgage interest rates.

Austin, Texas, has always boasted a highly active populace, and is often listed among the nation's healthiest and most active cities. Cycling plays a huge role in this fitness-focused city, with an abundance of resources available to cyclists of every age and experience level. Austin's unique landscape and close proximity to the rolling Texas hill country make it uniquely suited to both mountain biking and road biking alike, and enthusiasts of both sports flock to the city as a result.

Road biking is an extremely popular sport in Austin. Hundreds of cyclists pedal their way through Austin and its surrounding areas, taking in the scenery and the challenging, rolling hills that run for miles upon miles. Highway 360, which runs in a semicircle west of the city, is one of the most popular routes for road bikers, with its picturesque views, wide shoulders and bike lanes, and seemingly endless rolling hills. Within the city itself, there are a wide variety of beautiful, challenging road ways and routes that are dotted daily with road bikers. Mount Bonnel, located in the southwest central Austin, is a popular destination for cyclists and hikers alike, with stunning views, winding roads and steep climbs.

South Austin's Veloway is another haven for road bikers (a paved loop several miles long that's off limit to cars and runners); it offers unobstructed, safe riding, making it an ideal place for beginners to practice and families with young children to ride safely. Hundreds of Austin cyclists flock to the Veloway each weekend, and it's often used as a starting point for group rides, classes and other cycling events.

Mountain bikers don't have to look far to find a wealth of great riding throughout the city and its surrounding areas. The Greenbelt, which runs right through the middle of south-central Austin, boasts extensive networks of trails in all degrees of difficulty, from highly technical, professional-grade trails to simpler dirt tracks, perfect for an evening joyride, or even a nice hike. On the north side of town, Walnut Creek Park is another excellent option for mountain bikers of all skill levels. Miles upon miles of wooded trails weave their way through the park, with a variety of routes and skill levels.

Less than an hour outside of Austin, you'll find Muleshoe State Park, another mountain biker's haven. Muleshoe is home to a beautiful seven-mile loop of rocky climbs, narrow switchbacks, and steep descents. The shaded landscape is visually stunning, with deer bounding through the trees and dramatic cliffs edging along the trails. Another out-of-town cycling option is Milton Reimer's Ranch county park. Though less shaded than Muleshoe park, Reimer's offers just as much technicality, with miles of single track, treacherous rock gardens, and beautiful views of Texas savannah.

Regardless of your experience level, time allotment or desired degree of difficulty, Austin, Texas, and its surrounding areas offer an endless range of options when it comes to cycling. It's no wonder, then, that Austin is home to one of the nation's largest and most active cycling communities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful evening road ride or an epic mountain biking adventure, you don't have to look far to find it in Austin.

Escapeso Real estate helps buyers and sellers looking for Austin real estate. They have a graphical search of the Austin MLS along with current information on mortgage interest rates.

One of the most attractive parts about life in Austin is our ability to be outdoors almost the entire year round. Austin's restaurants reflect this outdoorsy aesthetic, with many of them providing attractive and fun al fresco dining. Here are some of the best patios to be found around Austin.

Old Alligator Grill - This casual South Austin staple has a large, wooden patio. Specializing in oysters, shrimp, and other Cajun delicacies, the OAG even has live music periodically. The patio, although adjacent to the parking lot of a mall, features enormous trees for shade, and the people watching is premium. A great beer selection and an unbelievable happy hour make this South Lamar spot an oasis for all. (3003 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704)

Eastside Cafe - This East Austin treasure has long held to a local, natural, and partially vegetarian menu, and their patio has the unique distinction of being adjacent to the garden from which they harvest much of their daily ingredients. Walking through the converted house gives diners the impression of being at a very special party, and the beauty and serenity of the patio enhances their celebrated food and wine greatly. (2113 Manor Road / Austin, TX 78722)

Four Seasons - A splurge for some, the Four Seasons' menu is superb, and although it is pricey, the beauty of their patio, overlooking Lady Bird Johnson Lake (formerly Town Lake) makes this a special destination with a uniquely Austin feel. Enjoy the patio for dinner, or for their famous buffet brunch, featuring eggs Benedict; carving, griddle and omelette stations; fresh seafood and salads, and more. (98 San Jacinto Boulevard / Austin, TX 78701-4039)

Fino - Couch-style seats are available on the patio/terrace of this centrally located gem, with plenty of gorgeous old oak trees providing shade and scenery. Fino is open for lunch and dinner, and specialized in small, creative plates. With an excellent wine list, this patio is perfect for a relaxing meal above the fray. (2905 San Gabriel Street / Austin, TX 78705)

Texican - Although technically in Cedar Park, the north location of this Tex-New-Mex stalwart allows diners to sample their justifiably famous cabrito, enchiladas and margaritas on one of the area's nicest decks. The large, covered patio is tiled, and has ceiling fans every few feet - a nice touch during the summer. (11066 Pecan Park Blvd. / Cedar Park, TX 78613)

The Oasis - Known as the "Sunset Capitol of Texas," this Lake Travis institution offers some of the most spectacular views of the lake and its surrounding hills. At one point the Oasis featured thirty-two separate decks, all facing west, and although a lightning fire caused serious damage, they reopened within three days and continue to rebuild and refurbish. The beauty of the views from the patios makes this a popular choice for wedding receptions and other romantic occasions, but all are welcome to enjoy their diverse menu and specialty cocktails while watching the sunset over the lake. (6550 Comanche Trail / Austin, Texas 78732)

Ki is a real estate broker. He runs a site dedicated to Austin real estate and provides a graphical search for Austin homes. His site also provides users information on mortgage interest rates.

The Texas Governor's Mansion, which is located a block southwest of the Texas State Capitol Building in downtown Austin, is the most historic home in the Austin real estate market and the longest continuously inhabited executive residence west of the Mississippi River. Built in 1856, the Governor's Mansion underwent construction after the Texas Legislature appropriated $14,500 in order for a suitable home to be built for the 5th governor of Texas, Elisha Pease, and his wife, Lucadia.

The mansion is a Texas historical landmark, and the Greek Revival style home was built by master architect and builder Abner Cook, who used buff colored bricks and lumber from Bastrop to build the home, adapting it to frontier life. The mansion, which has floor to ceiling windows and a deep veranda, is cooled in part by wide hallways which provide ventilation in the summer.

The home is basically square with four main rooms separated by a wide hallway down the middle, and there are servant's quarters and a kitchen in the rear wing. The home has two stories encircled by 29 foot Ionic columns which span the building from top to bottom, with the downstairs floor being sixteen feet high and the upstairs floor being 13 feet high.

The home was completed on June 14th, 1856, and the home was six months overdue at the time, causing the builder to pay rent for the Pease family in a boardinghouse until its completion. At that time, the Legislature appropriated $2,500 for furnishings, and since the amount was not enough to fully furnish the home, the Pease family used their own furnishings, which was a habit that persisted for the next few first families, since the home was large and quite expensive to provide with ample furnishings.

The next governor, Sam Houston, felt the house was too sparsely furnished, and ordered a massive four poster mahogany bed, which is still situated in the southeast bedroom to this day. Temple Houston, Sam and Margaret Houston's eighth child, was the first child born in the mansion, and at one point, their son, Andrew Jackson Houston, locked members of the Legislature in their chambers and refused to give his father the key. The child was five years old when this occurred, and the child reported only relinquished the key when his father, Governor Sam Houston, threatened to have him arrested.

In 1901, the home was redecorated in the late Victorian style by First Lady Orline Sayers, who brought in plush, overstuffed parlor chairs and numerous potted plants to receive the home's first presidential visitor, William McKinley, and his cabinet. Her husband, confederate veteran Joseph Sayers, met with President McKinley and his cabinet at an elegant state dinner in the dining room of the mansion.

By 1914, the home had fallen into disrepair, and was renovated by Governor Oscar Colquitt, and later, in 1960, the home was landscaped with formal gardens by First Lady Nellie Connally, and the formal gardens are still in use today. Later, in 1979, the home was completely restored by Governor William P. Clements and First Lady Rita Clements, after the Legislature appropriated $1,000,000 for the project, and at the time, the mansion had been in use for over 120 years.

Today, there are important art collections and heirloom furniture on display, including a collection of portraits and Stephen F. Austin's writing desk, and the public may tour the mansion with a tour guide provided by the state. The Governor's Mansion in Austin is something for all residents of Austin as well as Texas to be proud of, so be sure and visit the mansion while in Austin!

Ki lives in Austin Texas. He works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. His site has information on current mortgage interest rates and a search of the Austin MLS.

Austin is home to many things: live music, the University of Texas, the state capital; but many people don't realize Austin is also home to the nation's largest urban bat community-and it's right downtown. More than 750,000 Mexican Free-Tail bats make their home under the beams of the Congress Avenue bridge. Following renovations of the iconic bridge in 1980, the bat population took up shelter under the bridge, and it has been their home each summer since.

During the cooler months, the bats make their home in Mexico, but every year during March and April they make their way North to Austin to give birth and feed on the cities abundant bugs (coincidentally, the summer months are when Austin's cricket population reaches its height as well). And before the sun goes down, when they're resting up for their nightly romp around Austin, the bats spend their time under the Congress Avenue bridge. Each evening, just before nightfall, the bats leave their refuge en masse, in an incredible natural exodus-a massive swarm of hundreds of thousands of Mexican Free-Tail bats swirls its way up around the bridge, then dissipates as the bats head off in every direction to feast.

Apparently, the renovations made in 1980 left deep crevices in the bridge, which provide an ideal habitat for the bat colony. Many Austinites consider this an accidental blessing, as the bats are credited with greatly cutting back on the insect population both within the city and throughout the surrounding countryside. In fact, it's estimated that, as a group, the bats consume between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds of insects!

This incredible sight has become an integral part of summer in Austin, and draws hundreds of spectators nightly during the summer months, culminating in late August, when the colony is at its largest-averaging around 1.5 million bats. Austinites have come to treasure and even celebrate this unique natural phenomenon, with a summer celebration called BatFest. Held during the last weekend of August each year, BatFest brings together all of Austin's favorite things-live music, food, people and (you guessed it) the Mexican Free-Tail bats. The family-friendly event features educational displays, arts and crafts, and a whole host of activities centering around the Congress Avenue bridge bats-plus more than 30 bands rocking the weekend away from two different stages.

Austinites love a good reason to party-it's a trait the city is well known for. In fact, BatFast falls just a few weeks before Austin's biggest music festival, Austin City Limits, which draws thousands of visitors a year and brings the country's hottest bands to Austin, Texas, for one sweltering weekend each September. But, unlike ACL or South by Southwest-Austin's other major music festival, which also doubles as a film festival-BatFest is first and foremost about promoting the protection and appreciation of one of Austin's natural wonders.

In a city with such strong environmental pride, and wonderful resources like Barton Springs Pool and Edwards Aquifer, it's no wonder this incredible phenomenon would capture the imaginations-and hearts-of so many.

Ki lives in Austin the coolest city in the world :). He helps clients interested in Austin real estate. If you are interested in the Austin market you can search for homes using the Austin MLS are read about market trends on his Austin real estate blog.