Walkable neighborhoods (Austin, Barton Creek: houses, movie theaters, restaurants)

[Minier]

I want nature and outdoorsy activities (biking/hiking trails, woodsy areas) right outside my door but at the same time I want a tiny bit of culture (cafes, library or museums) right outside my door also.

Can I find a place that gives me both in Austin?

In other words, I want to make minimal use of my car for both cultural events and nature/outdoosy endeavors ..... but I still don't want the neighbors right on top of me (love a bit of privacy on my property).

[TexasHorseLady]

Barton Hills. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs through it and you can hike it all the way to Zilker Park if you want (or bike through the neighborhood to the park). At Zilker, you can have the outdoors, you can have Shakespeare in the Park and other such events. Walking or biking distance from most of Barton Hills (probably all of it, using a bike) are restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, a Half Price Books, and you're five to ten minutes from downtown and a short distance more from UT and the cultural events and museums in both those places. Not right outside your door, but close.

[Minier]

Got excited to hear there's a place that would fit my needs ... but as I went searching I see that it's a very expensive neighborhood *sigh*. Should've mentioned we're looking in the maximum range of $350k-$450K (the less the better, of course).

[TexasHorseLady]

You can find homes there within that range. Just did an MLS search on that area and 13 houses are on the market for from $284,000 to $399,500.

There are much more expensive homes available there, as well, but you're not priced out of it by any means.

[jread]

That would be hard to find given any price range. Most outdoorsy stuff is going to be located outside of the urban core, while shops/museums/libraries are going to be located in the central neighborhoods. You can find either one in that price range, definitely, but I'm not sure about both.