Your Guide to Lake Travis, Austin TX
Welcome to Lake Travis Lifestyle, together with Todd Hower Realty, we're your guide to the best of what’s happening — around the real estate — in one of the most active and beautiful places in Austin and the Texas Hill Country. There is so much to love about this part of the world that you might need a little help remembering all there is to enjoy.
Beautiful scenery and active lifestyle opportunities are only the beginning. We keep you informed about events, outdoor recreation, restaurants, shopping and real estate news.
We also profile what’s happening in the community with lifestyle articles to give you a closer look at life in the Lake Travis area.
Learn how you get full-service real estate with a sensible fee when you partner with Todd Hower Realty.
Lake Travis is located just over 20 miles west of Austin, one of the most energetic and creative cities in the country. The lake was created when the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) built the Mansfield Dam, which was completed in 1942. Part of the Highland Lakes chain, Lake Travis covers an area of more than 19,000 acres. Read more about Lake Travis History.
Residents of the Lake Travis area are fortunate to experience all of the four seasons: cooling temperatures and changing leaves in autumn, cold snaps (even occasional snowfall!) during winter, mild temperatures and showers in spring, and Texas typical high temperatures in summer. While the heat can seem relentless toward the end of summer, swimming holes and water sports abound, making our neck of the Hill Country a favorite spot for residents and visitors alike. Stay hydrated, find some shade, use sunscreen, and you’ll be good to go.
If you think the “Keep Austin Weird” mentality resides only on the streets of downtown, think again. Lake Travis residents take pride in their brand of creative, unique and one-of-a-kind living. Just one look up and down Ranch Road 620 and you’ll see there are plenty of locally owned establishments to discover, whether you’re looking for a friendly watering hole or that perfect gift.
Creatively, the entire Austin area has always thrived when it comes to live music, appreciation of all art forms, and focus on protection of the environment. There is no end to the opportunities available in the Lake Travis area when it comes to good times and smart living.
Public schools in the Lake Travis area are top-notch, including Lake Travis and Leander independent school districts. LTISD (with nine schools) currently is rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency, while Leander (home to 38 schools) currently holds a “Recognized” rating. There also are various private schools near the area.
Of course, the college and university influence in Austin is outstanding. From the University of Texas and St. Edward’s University to Austin Community College and Concordia University, students looking for the right place to continue their education beyond high school have excellent options nearby.
Lake Travis Lifestyle is the place to find and experience the best of all that life around the lake has to offer.
We all love a good trip to the lake.
And now that Lake Travis is officially full and summer is just around the corner, we’re going to have many more chances to find ourselves in the water and enjoying life to the fullest.
Some of us are lucky to live out here and so close to all of the lakeside action. But if you’re looking to take a trip out west to Lake Travis, it helps to have a few key provisions … just in case.
Cruising along Ranch Road 620 between Lakeway and Steiner Ranch, you can’t help but notice the majestic Mansfield Dam that holds back the waters of Lake Travis on the northeast side of the highway as you cross the Colorado River.
But if you take a quick glance toward the dam and look all the way down from the bridge to the river bottom, you’ll see a labyrinth of poles and wires that represent one of the primary reasons Lake Travis came into existence — and one of the primary reasons the Greater Austin area continues to flourish.
[Read more…] about The Real Power Behind the Growth of Lake Travis and Beyond
The Lake Travis area is home to some of the most picturesque lake towns around. One of these communities is the Village of Volente in Northwestern Travis County, which sits on the north shore of Lake Travis. It’s just a short 18 miles from Austin and located on Farm Road 2769, also known as Volente Road.
There is a lot of interesting Lake Travis area history that led to the development of the greater Austin area. In the latter part of the 19th century, downtown Austin was thriving, and as city dwellers grew in numbers, some residents began to turn their attention to the outer parts of Austin to start life anew.
Two of these people were Thomas and Lucy Anderson, who were settlers from Virginia. Thomas had worked as a miller in the past and was drawn to the open space that this new land outside of the city spaces had to offer him. They settled on Cypress Creek, just a few miles upstream from the Colorado River. He had chosen the space as the plot to build his mill that would be used to make gunpowder for the Texas State Military Board for the purpose of using during the Civil War.
[Read more…] about Lake Travis Area History: Village of Volente
Wide open acres, swimming holes, and the home of Country Music Legend Willie Nelson — these are just a few of the reasons that Spicewood, Texas is so loved around the Lake Travis area.
Nestled along the shores of Lake Travis in Burnet County, this Hill Country community is just 22 miles Southeast of the city lights of Austin. Spicewood has been hailed as the “Gateway to the Hill Country,” and rightly so. You can begin your Hill Country tour out to nearby towns such as Marble Falls, Burnet, Llano and Fredericksburg for a day trip, or plant yourself in Spicewood to take in its laid-back Texas vibes. It’s a quaint Texas town with a history all its own, and one you have to experience firsthand to truly comprehend.
[Read more…] about Lake Travis Area History: Spicewood – "Gateway to the Hill Country"
In and around the Lake Travis area, one has their fair share of opportunities to take advantage of lake life. From exhilarating water sports to relaxing on the shores of Lake Travis, there’s a little taste of something for everyone.
And when city life gets to be too tiring, you might find yourself looking to the surrounding lake towns for a little getaway when needed. Whether you’re on the search for a place to call home or just a relaxing day trip, one of the spots on Lake Travis worth checking out is Lago Vista. Along the North Shore of Lake Travis sits this quaint lake town, best known for the laid-back lake vibes and leisure on the water.
A scenic drive down 1431 gives you an idea as to why Lago Vista is also known as “The Gateway to the Highland Lakes.” With a total area of just under 10 square miles, most of life — economic and social — centers around these man-made lakes. And Lago Vista has a little slice of Lake Travis to call its own.