Above is the downtown sky line as seen across Lake Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake: Named after the late former First Lady: Lady Bird Johnson - R.I.P). Yes, this town has a rich political history. The "Lake" is actually part of the Colorado River, and a series of dams for regulation and flood control create a system of 7 lakes within minutes of Austin where you can swim, ski, boat, relax and otherwise just play away to your heart's content. Below is a view from a popular hiking spot of Lake Ausin, just up the way from Lake Lady Bird and within Austin's city limits.
In addition to the lakes and rivers, the area is ripe with streams, creeks, and natural springs. The next couple photos are of Barton Springs pool - a public swimming hole naturally spring fed. It is set nicely just outside downtown Austin and features rolling grassy hills and a 2 meter diving board as well as some natural and rock areas for sun bathing.
Next we have Krause Springs, another spring fed water playground just outside of town (there are tons of places like this one). Privately owned, you can get in for just a couple bucks a person and enjoy the picnic grounds, spring fed pools, and rope swings. Or just grab a tube and float your cares away!
Kayaking and canoeing are quite popular on Lake Lady Bird. And if you are wondering, yes, Austin is in Central Texas and yes it IS this green and vibrant. Cacti and desert are hard to find. Lush greenery and water, however, is everywhere! And the climate is much more moderate than say, for example...um, I don't know, let's just throw out random places like Colorado, Las Vegas, or Sacramento. And while I can't and won't argue Southern California's climate, the cost of living and air quality here is superb.
Waterskiing on Lake Travis - the largest of the lake systems (and a 15 minute drive from our house!) is a recreational hot bed - over 60 miles long the lake weaves and bends through scenic Texas Hill Country and features some of the ritzyest vacation homes around. 
A lazy day of tubing in the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers between Austin and San Antonio is yet another great way to spend a day on the water. Kids in tow and everything. (Depending on the timing, this could be a sweet spot for young single guys and gals (eh, hem: Schuyler & Aryn) later there is a photo for Schuyler, so keep reading to the end, Bro.
Runners, families, pet owners: Lake Lady Bird trails downtown are always filled with walkers, runners, kids and pets enjoying the great climate. Free watering stops and launch pads for Dogs to swim out fetching balls are abundant.
Anyone like to bike? Hike? Explore? There is so much more than this, but just a taste of what life on this planet can be. Again, you'll note the dry, bland, remote dusty landscape...oh, wait, nevermind. It's not here.
Like sighting celebrities? Well here are just a few who frequent Austin or call it home. Of course we all know Mr. Armstrong and his buddy Matthew. 
Sandra, ah yes, Sandra. We just watched Two Weeks notice again last night - good show. Sandra recently opened a quaint little restaurant in town with her sister. Austin has a rather large and growing film and music industry - all the glitz and glamour without the drama and shenanegans of Hollywood. 
G.W. 'Nuff said. Love him or hate him, like I said, there is a rich political and cultural history here - a great environment for enrichening and challenging minds - like for example those of our children.
Ever heard of Andy Roddick, Aryn? One of Austin's most proud residents and eligible bachelors. And you can play tennis outside year round here. 
Austin is also the Live Music Capitol of the world. When I flew in to meet with my company before we moved here, I stepped off the plane and was pleasantly surprised to walk right into a live performance of a local band. Yeah, in the airport in the middle of the day during the week. Music is king in Austin. Below is Wilco playing the Austin City Limits festival (just held last weekend). A three day festival featuring hundreds of bands - would anyone like to see them live?
Maybe you prefer this guy? He plays here often too. Mmmmm.
Sorry, Oliver, had to do it for Tiffany. If football is your thing, well you might be interested in one of the nations premier programs located here. Some of you might remember this little college football moment. And Barrett, don't worry - you guys are looking great this year, even if your QB's name is Booty.
Which brings us full circle to the tubing - one last ditch effort to motivate Schuyler!
We hope you've enjoyed this little picture tour. And a shout out to Aryn and Schuyler for finally heading this way (although Dad & Linda take first prize for having visited long ago. Bair still asks about Banjo, Maud, and Cowboy!) Now, we haven't even begun to touch on so many of the great things around here, like the Domain (high end shopping district), IKEA, outlet malls, and South Congress eclectic shopping district. Or how much house $200K, $300K, and $400K or even $100K can get you in the area (hint: it's probabbly a LOT more than where you are). Or maybe we should mention the award winning public school systems, or the solid growing economy? And on and on. But I've spent so long typing and its the weekend so I think I'll leave you with a list of how Austin ranks while I go enjoy some of the great things you've seen in this post. How does your city rank?How Austin Ranks as Best Place to Live:
Rank* - List - By
1 - Best Big City Places to Live -MSN House & Home
2 - Best Large City for Relocating Families - Worldwide ERC & Primacy Relocation
3 - Cool Cities - Kiplinger
3 - Top Growth Cities - U-Haul
3 - Great Places to Live - Life 2.0
4 - Fastest Growing Cities - Men's Journal
4 - Smartest Cities - Men's Journal
5 - Most Educated Cities - MSN Encarta
10 - Interesting Neighborhoods - Travel-Leisure, America's Favorite Cities
11 - Best Places for Singles - Forbes
18 - Top US Destination Cities - U-Haul
22 - Top Rated Cities - Cities Ranked & Rated
26 - Brainiest Cities - American City Business Journals
27 - Best Cities for Families - Child.com
27 - Best Cities for Seniors - Bankers Life and Casualty
28 - Large Kid-Friendly Cities - Population Connection
32 - Fiscally Fit Places - Sperling's
35 - Best Places to Live -Men's Journal
Love,
The Fitzwaters
Austin, TX, U.S.A., Earth
8 comments:
Pst! Brady, it's me, your older, wiser sister. I have created a pseudo-name in the hopes that I won't be so easily found by people. Now that that's out of the way....
Wow, Brady - quite the salesman you are! I'm wishing we were coming for more than a weekend so we could cram all that in. Tennis, biking, Sandra's restaurant, the Bush residence, a little nookie nookie with Lancie... can't wait! Hope Cal has his walking shoes ready to go!
mmmmmm....... You had me at Bon Jovi.
If kids 12 and under flew free instead of 2 and under, we'd be there this weekend! As it is, you'll have to settle for me when I can be spared by my crew. But I am looking forward to it.
Court, you'll probably want to drive and hire some movers to reloctae here. It would make much more sense tha flying.
It really does look wonderful, but honestly, I would've visited 1000 times already if it was feasible. This is the problem. Over here, I see people occasionally. I like that. It's quite important to me. So are you guys, which is why it's so painful to have Austin be located directly in the middle of mars. Like Court says, flying a family of 5 just isn't happening. So here it is... if everybody will move there, so will I!
All right, Tiff's in! Who's next to volunteer? Shuyler? Beardsley's? Come to camp Mabry!(And thanks for picking up on the fact that this post was a blatent shot below the belt trying to get y'all thinking about moving here, not visiting - we know that it's tough).
Thanks for convincing me to move to Austin (and once again follow you around the country) AFTER I already accepted a job in Chicago! I will have to visit sooner rather than later however.
Bad news...the Army doesn't send dentists to Austin like we thought. Stinks, eh? But I still really really want to come and think I may be able to do so soon(ish). What are you guys doing early December?
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