Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Forest Oaks Neighborhood in Austin, Texas

Just north of Austin in Cedar Park, Texas, Forest Oaks is immediately east of Highway 183 and north of Brush Creek Road. The community was established in 1995 and still has lots available for residents to build new homes. Individuals can choose from several well-known builders to create a custom home. At build-out, the neighborhood is expected to have 1,491 homes.

Homes in Forest Oaks are usually one- or two-story homes that range from 1,000 square feet to more than 4,000. Many have large garages and backyards with decks and patios. There are even some properties with outdoor swimming pools. Popular interior features include gourmet kitchens, hardwood floors, and rooms designed for entertainment. From January 2009 to June 2010, homes ranged in price from 1,025 to 6,000.

Residents of Forest Oaks are required to be members of the Homeowner’s Association for a small yearly fee. The fee helps with community upkeep and events held throughout the year. More information, like announcements and a calendar of events, can be found on their website.

The neighborhood boasts a unique, rustic Hill Country atmosphere with plenty of community amenities for residents to enjoy. It’s home to two outdoor swimming pools that are exclusive to those living in the neighborhood. They require a key card for entry and are staffed by lifeguards at certain time periods. There’s also a community clubhouse that’s normally used for board and committee meetings, but can be rented out for private use.

Those with an active lifestyle will enjoy the community park that’s home to a playscape and a 2.5-mile hike and bike trail that winds through the center of the park. Residents will also find themselves minutes from several golf courses. The Avery Ranch Golf Club is two miles away and offers a challenging course paired with beautiful surroundings like rolling hills, large oak trees, natural limestone caverns, and more.

Forest Oaks is served by the Leander Independent School District. Schools within the district include Charlotte Cox Elementary, which has been rated as Recognized. Artie Henry Middle School and Vista Ridge High School are also near the neighborhood and are rated Academically Acceptable. For younger children, Primrose School, Goddard School, and Children’s Courtyard are all nearby.

Residents will also find themselves just a short drive from shopping and other conveniences. An H.E.B. Foods, Cedars Food Mart, and Super Target are all less than a mile away. And, Lakeline Mall is three miles away and is home to Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, a large movie theater, and several dining options like Chili’s, Applebee’s, and Texican Café.

Lake Travis in Austin, Texas

One of the state’s premier fresh water recreation spots, Lake Travis is about 10 miles northwest of downtown Austin. The lake winds through the Hill Country for approximately 64 miles and is 4.5 miles wide at the maximum point. According to the LCRA – Lower Colorado River Authority – the lake spans 18,929 acres and is surrounded by 270 miles of shoreline for Austin residents to enjoy. You’ll often find Lake Travis filled with speedboats, jet skis, sailboats, and fisherman.

Those who own a property in the area will enjoy an ideal combination of resort living, natural splendor, and easy access to downtown Austin. And, the area around Lake Travis boasts some of the city’s finest properties and vacation home listings. There are several communities that make up the area, including Volente, Steiner Ranch, Ridge Harbor, Point Venture, Lakeway, Lake Pointe, Jonestown, The Hills, Briarcliff, and Bee Caves.

Typically, home prices start in the upper 0,000s and can extend to more than million. Many feature upscale amenities like gourmet kitchens, entertainment/media rooms, and wine cellars. It’s common to find outdoor pools and spacious patios that take advantage of the surrounding Hill Country views. Some of the most elite homes along Lake Travis offer a private dock, horse facilities, or a ballroom with terrace.

Lake Travis is the largest of seven reservoirs in the area known as Highland Lakes. Buchanan is the second largest – and both were designed to store and supply water for industrial, household, and environmental needs of those living in the basin. It was created in 1942 when the Mansfield Dam was constructed. The dam is owned by the LCRA, or Lower Colorado River Authority.

Lake Travis and Mansfield Dam are the only two structures in the Highland Lakes chain that were specifically designed to contain floodwaters in the Colorado River Basin. In fact, the lake can store as much as 260 billion gallons of floodwater. Because of this, water levels can vary widely, depending on if the area is in a drought. Since Lake Travis is such an important part of Austin’s flood control, water supply, and electricity generation system, local and state governments are dedicated to protecting the environment here.

According to the LCRA, the reservoir is considered full at 681 feet above msl, or mean sea level. When the lake goes above this limit, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls the flood gates and will determine the amount and duration of the releases. The reservoir was at its highest point – 710.4 feet above msl – on December 25, 1991. The lowest point ever reached was 614.2 feet above msl on August 14, 1951.

Residents will enjoy the many parks along Lake Travis, including Bob Wentz and Windy Point, McGregor Park, Tom Hughes Park, Mansfield Dam Recreation Park, and Lakeway City Park. Pace Bend Park boasts nine miles of shoreline along Lake Travis and features beautiful natural surroundings like limestone cliffs and rocky coves. It’s also one of the best places along Lake Travis to view the sunset. The park offers opportunity for boating, camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming, horseback riding, and more.

Long Canyon Neighborhood in Austin, Texas

Situated northwest of downtown, the Long Canyon neighborhood is recognized as the gateway to Hill Country. It’s located off of RM 2222, between RR620 and Loop 360, providing residents an easy commute to downtown. It’s also convenient to well-known employers like IBM, Freescale, and Dell.

Most homes are located on spacious lots that span one to two acres and blend with the natural surroundings. Many were designed to allow residents plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors – with mature trees, large lawns, outdoor patios, and swimming pools. Several homes back up to the greenbelt, giving them sweeping views of the surrounding areas. The neighborhood’s charm is added to with street names like Culpepper Cove, Leaning Rock Circle, and Horseshoe Ledge.

It’s common to find homes that resemble country estates and English manors, as well as more modern styles like Santa Fe. Many have open floor plans with interior features like cathedral ceilings, marble countertops, gourmet kitchens, and whirlpools. From January 2009 to May 2010, sold homes ranged in size from 2,800 to 5,400 square feet, and in price from 0,000 to .2 million.

Residents of the neighborhood are members of the Long Canyon Homeowner’s Association, that helps maintain the area’s beauty and instill a sense of community. Information about the neighborhood association, as well as a resident login, online classifieds, and a map of the neighborhood can be found on their website.

Long Canyon is in an ideal location for residents to take advantage of recreational activities. The members-only Austin Country Club, founded in 1899, is three miles away and is known as one of the oldest clubs in Texas. It’s home to an 18-hole course, heated swimming pool, 10 lighted tennis courts, a clubhouse, and more.

Bull Creek District Park is two miles away, just east of Loop 360. It’s a popular spot for families, as it’s home to basketball and volleyball courts, a fishing pier, picnic areas with barbeque pits, and a swimming area. Emma Long Metropolitan Park borders Lake Austin and has 12 miles of trails, picnic areas, and volleyball courts.

Parents can choose to send their children to one of two school districts – the Austin Independent School District or Leander Independent School District. Austin schools include Highland Park Elementary, Lamar Middle School, and McCallum High School, while Leander Schools include Laura W. Bush Elementary, Canyon Ridge Middle School, and Cedar Park High School.

Long Canyon is also minutes from several shopping and dining opportunities. The Arboretum is six miles away and can be reached by taking Loop 360. The shopping complex has many upscale retail stores, a hair salon, Barnes & Noble, and a food court. And, there are several options for groceries within four miles of Long Canyon, including H.E.B., Randall’s Food and Drug, and Whole Foods Market.