Location:Austin, Texas
Bedrooms:2 Bathrooms:2 Property Type:Vacation Home Sleeps:4
Amenities:Air Conditioning, Cable/Satellite TV, Lakefront, Playground, Swimming Pool, TV, Wireless Internet AccessActivities:Biking, Museums, Restaurants, Shopping, Swimming, Tennis
Description:We have a wonderful,completely renovated 1930's stucco cottage across the river from down town. Travis Heights is arguably the MOST precious of Austin's neighborhoods: safe and walkable with huge oak and pecan trees,beautiful old and new houses ranging from adorable to amazing. It is close to UT, the Capitol, the Texas History Museum, the airport, the convention center, Barton Springs,Zilker, the Sculpture Garden, the Botanical Garden, the Wildflower center- to most points of interest in Austin. The street,Woodland, intersects South Congress, which is the center of SOCO with restaurants, artsy shops, fun, lots of people, and has a view of down town and the Texas Capitol. You MUST eat at Home Slice, Vespaio's and South Congress Cafe- and you MUST go to the historic Continental Club as well as Guero's ( all a right turn on Congress from Woodland). My husband's great-grandparents and grandparents had grocery store and butcher shop at the Vespaio location, and some of his old family photos are on the walls inside the entrance:- The amazing Stacy Park walking/biking trail is just a 5 minute stroll from home across Travis Heights blvd down the hill. It is not crowded, like Town Lake Trail can be some times. If you go left on the trail in Stacy Park you end up at the swimming pool (open all year), and a right turn takes you to the shaded playground, tennis courts and kiddie pool(open in the summer). DOG PARK The Austin dog park is at the intersection of Riverside and Travis Heights blvd, a nice walk through Travis Heights, across Riverside, to Edgecliff. TOWN LAKE TRAIL The Riverside/Travis Heights intersection is also where you can start your walk on the Lady Bird Trail by turning either left or right on Riverside. If you go right, you come to the protected sidewalk along 35 that takes you to the trail on the other side. If you go left on Riverside you can walk to The Statesman and enter the trail through their parking lot. BATS This is also the way you go to see the bats- the trail from the Statesman goes to the stairs at the bat bridge. Down town is just across the water from there. LAKEVIEW W/FOOD Joe's Crabshack is on the way to the Statesman, and has a great view from the outside dining area.Most of the food is not to my liking, but you can't beat it for a drink and a down town view- and for watching the UT rowing team, if you're lucky. You can rent canoes and kayaks yourself several places on the lake. If driving to the Town Lake trail: take a left on Riverside, go across Barton Springs Road and South First Street to Lamar. The dedicated walking/ biking bridge across the lake is wonderful. GROCERIES - There is a small, locally owned ( the owner is often there working) grocery store at the corner of Woodland and Congress. It is called Farmer's Market, and has quality food and wine. There is an HEB at the corner of Congress and Oltorf. It is an OLD one- my husband went to the store there with his grandparents in the 50's! The building is an antique, but the food is good. Then there is the flagship Whole Foods on Lamar/6th street- shopping there is an artistic experience. The cottage is wonderful,beautiful and close to everything-you will love it:-)