Your Guide to Lake Travis, Austin TX
In her award-winning historical novel Mayhem: Three Lives of a Woman, Elizabeth Harris has a fish camp as the setting of ongoing harassment and a shocking crime. She sums up the Texas tradition: “Fish camp was a time before it was a fixed place.”
At the fixed place where Lake Austin Spa Resort is now, in a time shortly after the construction of the Mansfield Dam, a rustic fishing lodge was built. Lake Austin Lodges ran the property from the late 1940s to the early 1970s.
Rumors started circulating early Thursday morning that a rare fish had been caught near the low water crossing on Lake Austin.
The fish in question is the once thought to be extinct yellow-bellied sucker fish. A relative to the threatened blue sucker fish, but not to be confused with the yellow-bellied sapsucker.
Long before Mansfield Dam had been constructed, the yellow-bellied sucker thrived in the swift waters of the Colorado River.
The yellow-bellied sucker needs cooler water temperatures and a steady current to spawn and survive. So it was shortly after the completion of Mansfield Dam in 1942 that sightings of the fish were rare. By 1944, it was believed that the yellow-bellied sucker fish had gone extinct.
That was until early this morning.
Most of us in the Lake Travis area are familiar with Austin’s Mount Bonnell, well-known for the spectacular view from the top, but there are plenty of locals who have never actually made the short hike to see it for themselves. If you’re in that category, put it on your springtime bucket list!
It’s a shorter hike than you might think, and is easily accessible via a scenic drive on Mt. Bonnell Road (map). There’s no cost, the parking is free, it’s not commercialized and doesn’t take long at all. You can pop by for a brisk 20-minute walk or bring a picnic and stay for hours. If you can, plan to catch the sunset from the top. Breathtaking. Just bring a flashlight for the trip down.
Once you park, there are two ways to make your way to the top. You can climb the long, steep staircase or opt for the path on the right side. I prefer the path because you get to enjoy the lake views on the way up. Either way, it’s a surprisingly quick walk and easily doable with young kids (just make sure you stay on the path and don’t let them get too close to the edge!).
[Read more…] about Mount Bonnell: A Short Hike to Spectacular Lake Austin Views
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, the holidays are about family and togetherness. But sometimes, a little too much togetherness can test even the jolliest of holiday spirits. We understand that you love your extended family, but there are only so many air mattresses and hide-a-bed sofas one home can comfortably handle before the “togetherness” starts to lose its charm….
Fortunately, there are several lodging options in the Lake Travis area. There’s something for every budget and tastes, so you can make helpful suggestions and be the holiday hero once again. Or, after the relatives leave, you may be in the mood for a relaxing staycation of your own. You deserve it!
Whatever your needs, here is a list of 10 lodging options in the Lake Travis area. The list includes hotels, bed & breakfasts and high end resorts, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
[Read more…] about 10 Lodging Options in the Lake Travis Area