South Austin Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Travis County, Texas


	South Austin Homes for Sale

South Austin

Austin is located 150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in Central Texas in Travis County. Austin is the state capital and the county seat. Travis County encompasses 989 square miles and is located on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau. The county is bisected by the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line named by Spanish explorers for its balcony-like appearance.

Junipers, mesquite, oaks, cottonwoods, redbud trees and pecan trees are all found in the South Austin area. Local wildlife includes deer, coyote, bobcat, squirrel, beaver, opossum, ring-tailed cat, badger, fox, raccoon and skunk. Many species of birds, fish and reptiles also live here.

Almost a third of the land in Travis County is prime farmland, and water is diverted from the Colorado River for the farms. The Colorado River flows through the Hill Country where the seven Highland Lakes are located. The 150-mile chain of Highland Lakes is the largest concentration of freshwater lakes in Texas. Each lake is unique and offers recreational opportunities, including excellent fishing, along with beautiful and diverse scenery. Town Lake is the last in the Highland Lakes chain and is in the city of Austin, near downtown. Town Lake is placid and remains at a constant level, making it an excellent place for canoeing.

Recreation and outdoor activities are very important to the citizens of Austin. Seventeen recreation centers, three senior centers, a botanical garden, a nature center, museums, amphitheaters, golf courses, more than 100 tennis courts, 47 swimming pools and 40 miles of lakefront ensure that there is always something fun to do in Austin. Additionally, there are 285 miles of trails, paths and roads for hiking, biking, walking and jogging crisscrossing the city and its surrounding areas. World-class bicyclist Lance Armstrong— five-time winner of the Tour de France—lives in Austin and can be seen training on the city’s miles of bike-accessible tracks.

Zilker Metropolitan Park, known as “Austin’s best loved park,” is located in South Austin. The 351-acre park is the home of the natural spring-fed Barton Spring Pool, Botanical Gardens, the Austin Nature and Science Center, a theater, and the Umlaf Sculpture Garden and Museum.

The Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail runs through Hill Country from Zilker Park to Lost Creek. Rugged beauty awaits hikers and mountain bikers who venture along the trail. The Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail provides three, four, five and 10-mile loops around Town Lake. The trail stretches from the MoPac Expressway to Longhorn Dam. The pedestrian bridge is an excellent place to watch the sunset.

Other hiking and biking trails can be found at McKinney Roughs, Westcave Preserve overlooking the Pedernales River, and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. McKinney Falls State Park has camping areas, picnic grounds and playgrounds. Homestead ruins, a rock shelter used by Native Americans, a cabin, gristmill and two waterfalls can be reached by trails.

Other things to see and do in Austin include a visit to Crowe’s Nest Farms, with more than 100 animals and education programs; the Inner Space Caverns, where stalactites and stalagmites form awe-inspiring shapes; and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to see the native and perennial plants of the Hill Country. The Austin Steam Train chugs around the city on daily excursions. Take a cruise around Town Lake on the Lone Star Riverboat, an old-fashioned, double-decked paddle wheeler. The Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm contains exhibits illustrating farm-life in the 1880s.

North America’s largest urban bat colony lives in Austin. The harmless Mexican free-tailed bats nest under the Congress Avenue Bridge over Town Lake from March to November.

Austin residents enjoy farmers’ markets, nationally acclaimed musicians, and festivals throughout the year. Some of the city’s annual events include the Red-Eye Regatta, Texas Guitar Show, Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo, Zilker Park Kite Festival, Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, Republic of Texas Biker Rally, Austin Symphony Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Texas Wildlife Expo, Texas Book Festival, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, and Yulefest.

The city also provides plenty of opportunities for educational enrichment. An Austin program called Art in Public Places demonstrates the city’s commitment to art and culture. Sculptures, renderings and designs made out of an endless variety of materials can be touched, photographed and admired. The Long Center for the Performing Arts features professional and amateur performances on its three stages. Dance, music of all types, live theatre and exceptional entertainment venues can found throughout the city. Museums abound featuring history, paintings, antiquities, Native American artifacts, nature exhibits, science displays, pottery, textiles, photographs, maps, plants, sculptures and cultural offerings celebrating the diversity of Austin.