Archives for December 2013

Hill Country Galleria Weather Forecast for Saturday: Snow!

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | December 18, 2013

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Ok, so we live in Austin where it snows once every, oh, 10 years or so? Lucky for us, there is an exception right here in the Lake Travis area. The Hill Country Galleria brings real snow for residents and visitors to enjoy during the month of December. This weekend there’s one more opportunity to build a snowman or snow angel.

Saturday, December 21^st, from noon to 4pm, the street in front of the Bee Cave Public Library will be covered in a blanket of white snow. There is no admission fee – just dress the part and show up for the fun! It’s the perfect opportunity to toss a few snowballs at your kids. And aren’t we all looking for that?

Faraday's Kitchen Store: Foodies and Gadget Lovers Rejoice!

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | December 17, 2013

Faraday’s Kitchen Store, located in the Shops at Hill Country Galleria, is the perfect place for people who love to cook (or those who shop for people who do). As Austin’s largest kitchen store, the locally owned and operated business provides a unique experience for people interested in cooking – regardless of their experience and skill level.

The retail store is chock full of anything you’d need to create masterpieces in the kitchen – cookware, gadgets, utensils, knives, gifts, accessories, cookbooks, gourmet food items and more. They pride themselves on offering “good, better and best” product assortment for all skill and income levels. I like that. They realize that while some people want top-of-the-line products, not everyone is in the market for (or can afford) the very best.

The knowledgeable staff is prepared to make recommendations and discuss the benefits of each item in inventory, so shoppers can make educated decisions about their purchases. They’re honest without being pushy. They’re also helpful if you’re looking for a gift for someone. They have many great ideas and can help steer you in the right direction. Warning – you’ll likely find plenty of things you didn’t even know you needed – but once you’ve seen you now can’t live without (such as the handy contraption that doubles as a knife holder AND ipad holder – perfect for online recipes).

Lake Travis Area Leash Laws: Lakeway

Written by Mandy Spivey | December 16, 2013

Moses loves to run. He is my 4-year-old Weimeraner with so much energy, I have to take him out for a long walk at least once a day or he’s 80 pounds of growling flesh around the house. The more walking, running, and playing he gets daily the better. As the old saying goes, “A tired dog is a good dog.”

Whoever came up with that saying must have had a Weimeraner, I am sure of it.

When we take Moses out, we have to be cognizant of the local laws for allowing dogs to play and run free. Some municipalities have strict rules dictating where, when, and how a dog can play. Living by Lake Travis has given us a plethora of parks and trails to venture down and explore, and learning the leash laws around the area has given us a bit of insight into the rules of owning a dog in the area.

Giving Back Day at P. Terry's

Written by Emily O'Shaughnessy | December 12, 2013

This Saturday, mark your calendars for “Giving Back Day” at P. Terry’s Burger Stand. On December 14^th, all profits from the restaurant’s seven Austin locations will be donated to the Austin American Statesman Season for Caring program.

I love this concept for several reasons. First, it’s obvious that P. Terry’s takes giving back to its community seriously. Each year, the restaurant chooses four local non-profit organizations as recipients of its “Giving Back Day.” They then designate one day each quarter to support those agencies, and all of their Austin locations work together to make a difference. Over the years P. Terry’s has donated over $310,000 to important causes in the community.

Lake Travis Area Neighborhood Guide: River Place

Written by Todd Hower | December 11, 2013

Nestled along the northwest edge of Austin sits River Place, a master-planned community with over 1,100 homes that surround the neighborhood golf course and hillsides that line the shores of Lake Austin. Homeowners looking for something a little different than the downtown living experience will find the neighborhood setting serene.

Most well-known for the hill country views, Lake Austin waterfront, nature trails, parks, and a country club lifestyle — you won’t need to leave the neighborhood for a day outdoors.

History

This quiet subdivision first broke ground in the early 1990s. Since then, the surrounding area known as Four Points has experienced tremendous growth and development which has included schools, restaurants, shopping, office space, hotels, apartments, and more homes.

Housing

River Place is made up of single family homes set along peaceful residential streets. There’s a wide variety of construction and year built ranging from the early 90s to as recent as 2012.

Houses in River Place start in the $300,000 range, but you will have to pay more for seclusion and gorgeous panoramas. It’s easy to spend a million or more for the opportunity to live in the homes with exceptional views and Lake Austin frontage.

Restaurants & Shopping

Since River Place is located just a short drive outside of the downtown area, you have many options for eating and shopping around town. With easy access to 2222 and 360, residents are within a 10 minute drive to the Arboretum, the shops at Arbor Walk, The Domain and Lakeline Mall. HEB, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot are also in the Four Points area and located within a short distance of the neighborhood.

River Place Country Club features onsite dining for members that would rather stay closer to home. Other dining options located at the entrance of the neighborhood include Salsas Mexican Cantina, Hunan Riverplace, and the Black Walnut Cafe.

There’s no shortage of Austin food fare as you venture just outside of the neighborhood. Grab barbecue at Rudy’s, a taco at Torchy’s, or choose from several restaurants located at the Trails at 620.

These are just a few of the shopping and dining choices that are within a 10 minute drive of the River Place neighborhood.

Family & Fitness

If you love being able to get your daily jog while taking in the expansive views of the Texas Hill Country, River Place is right up your alley. With a plethora of parks and nature preserves around the community, you can find your favorite walking path and go.

Woodlands Park and Sun Tree Park emphasize the breathtaking scenery that River Place is best known for, while connecting you to nature trails around the neighborhood for the most scenic exercise routes this side of 360. Saddle up to the gorgeous overlooks, enjoy play areas for the little ones, or fire up a grill for some barbecue in the park.

A place that harmoniously melds the best features of several trails in the area often goes unmentioned — and it’s located in the River Place neighborhood!

River Place Nature Trail offers canyon views, waterfalls, pools, tall rock shelves, small walking bridges, a friendly swan, and just about everything but a partridge in a pear tree.

For fitness-minded individuals, the Clubhouse at River Place Country Club offers members a full-service fitness center, personal training, tennis courts, aerobics classes, and even massage therapy. In 2013, the RPCC underwent a $2 million renovation which updated the facilities, and even added a Saccone’s Pizza to the clubhouse.

Schools

River Place schools are located in Leander ISD. River Place Elementary, a K-5 campus, is located within the neighborhood. For pre-teens and teenagers, Four Points Middle School and Vandergrift High School are both located just outside of the neighborhood off McNeil Drive.

Major Street Boundaries

You can see the entrance to River Place from 2222, which is where this neighborhood begins. Continue down River Place Blvd. into the community, heading Southward toward Lake Austin. As you near River Place Country Club and Woodland Park, the road meets up with Big View Dr., which will take you all the way down to the properties with Lake Austin frontage.

Can you live here?

The views and parks are so picture perfect at times, one would think you were living in a postcard. Homeowners take great pride in their lookouts and landscaping, which really shows in the character of the subdivision. This community is very active, and you can tell as your drive down River Place Blvd.

This is a great neighborhood for families or anyone who loves views, outdoors, and of course … golf. You also get the 78730 zip code, which has appeared several times at the top of Austin’s wealthiest zip codes.

More About Lake Travis Real Estate

Lake Travis Lifestyle spotlights area neighborhoods, covers Lake Travis area history and gives you insight on the local market conditions. If you’re looking to call the Lake Travis area home — or just looking for a new place to live — we’ve got you covered.