Define Texas Hill Country (San Antonio, Austin: houses, neighborhood, live)

[cabolissa]

What does this term mean to you? I just want to get a good feel for what people mean when they talk about hill country. I know it's part geography, part philosophy. Give me your definition of what makes up Texas hill country...

[iceshots]

Pro's

More open spaces. Houses are not on top of each other. Larger lots or acreage.
Smaller town feeling, more mom & pop businesses.
Laid back friendly people, but I have noticed that for most of the Austin area.
Deer on the lawn or in the backyard are common place.
Rolling hill views. Great sunsets.
Very peaceful. Quite.
Still within reasonable driving distance to everything.
At night, our property becomes our own private tropical getaway.

Con's

Winding hilly roads that are very dark at night. Deer collisions are a real hazard.
You drive to most anything, but because the roads are open, the elapsed time is usually very short.
Hard to get pizza delivery.
Walking the neighborhood can be a real workout due to the hills.
Rocky ground.
Usually on propane tanks, septic and wells.
Depending on how far out you are, choices for TV, internet and cell phone may be limited.

[TexasHorseLady]

The Hill Country is a region. Austin is on the skirts of the Hill Country, Dripping Springs is deeper into it.

Cedars (well, junipers, but we call them cedars), limestone hills, deer, views.

The region is roughly from Austin, follow IH35 down to San Antonio. Head west on 90, northwest on 55, then north and back east to IH35 through Llano.

Here's a pretty good map.

[Nairobi]

Regardless of where its boundaries lie, Marble Falls is definitely the signature city of the Hill Country.

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by Nairobi

Regardless of where its boundaries lie, Marble Falls is definitely the signature city of the Hill Country.

I have heard Marble Falls mentioned a few times, and have seen it on the map, but what makes it the signature city? I'm the type that loves to go for a drive just to see what something looks like. IS this worth a drive? What's the attraction?

[TexasHorseLady]

This is the first I've heard of it being the "signature city" of the Hill Country, though I'm not quite sure what that means.

When I think of the Texas Hill Country, I tend to think of Fredericksburg, Johnson City, Blanco, Burnet, Bandera, as much as or more than Marble Falls.

But, yes, Marble Falls is worth the drive.

[HappyTexan]

Pflugerville (east of I35) is definitely NOT the Hill Country so don't believe those builders when they advertise "Hill Country views" cause I definitely cannot see the Hill Country from where I am

[blakely]

The small region of hilly terrain located in the center of a very flat state.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by blakely

The small region of hilly terrain located in the center of a very flat state.

Well, there is this that is not in the Texas Hill Country, that's not particularly flat.

[love roses]

Actually, according to my Texas Travel Guide, Hutto and Taylor and Round Rock fall withing the boundaries of the Hill Country. So does Pflugerville. Goes nearly up to Brownwood when you go to the North and Iraan to the West. Devine to the South. Again, this is via the Texas Travel Guide.