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Old 03-08-2010, 05:44 PM
 
3 posts, read 36,702 times
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We are looking for a lake house with which to eventually retire to. Just wondering which lake is considdered nicer....we are coming from Houston so going to Canyon Lake avoids the Austin traffic....Thanks,
Julie
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Old 03-08-2010, 10:35 PM
 
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Make sure you're coming with truckloads of money if you plan on having a lake house on Lake Travis. Moving further up the Highland lakes chain would probably give you quieter and more affordable options. Based on my limited experience, Canyon Lake also appears to be much more peaceful and less developed than Lake Travis.
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Old 03-08-2010, 10:49 PM
 
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Lake Travis is far more "citified". More housing, more shopping and restaurants, along with the city of Austin itself, are within close proximity. Because of that, it's very expensive -- some places along Lake Travis are basically wealthy suburbs of Austin.

Canyon Lake is a bit more like a retreat; as are the highland lakes up the chain from Lake Travis. Equally as nice IMO as Lake Travis, but definitely a more rural feel. Canyon Lake also has the Guadalupe river right there for tubing, rafting, or kayaking. New Braunfels is just a short distance away, but still not anything like having a big city so close like Austin.
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Old 03-09-2010, 10:09 AM
 
Location: I-35
1,806 posts, read 4,310,326 times
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Canyon Lake of course you never know when LT is low and has no water, and aquifer restrictions. Plus its in the middle of the A/SA corridorplex (thats the new saying).
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Old 03-09-2010, 10:14 AM
 
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Wow, this is great info...so9uld like Canyon Lake is more for my husband and my style...
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Old 03-09-2010, 11:01 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,714 posts, read 31,156,860 times
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Lake Travis has a very different shape than Canyon. LT changes from the wider section near the dam and changes to more of a wide river the further you move up its 65 miles of length. LT when full is 18,000 acres vs 8,000 or so for Canyon.

I haven't been on Canyon in some time so I really don't have first hand experience there on a peak summer weekend.

Lake Travis has a different living environment depending on if you are "south shore" or "north shore." South shore is closer to Austin, more developed, and more expensive. North shore is much farther from Austin since your route to the city is via 1431 and 183 or 1431 and 281/71. South shore residents are often not retired.

The further up the lake, the more relaxed it is. Summer weekends are busy in the main areas - which I think of as between the dam and Pace Bend park.

But Lake Travis is beautiful year round and I think it is a terrific place (in general) to retire to.

Buying land on Lake Travis needs to be considered carefully because of the varying water levels. You MUST be sure you will have water when the lake drops 50 feet - like it did over the last three years.
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Old 03-09-2010, 11:17 AM
 
Location: In the sticks of Colorado County
178 posts, read 458,716 times
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Just a thought, since nobody has pointed it out. Isn't Canyon a Corps of Engineers lake where the COE owns ALL of the shoreline thus no true waterfront lots?
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Old 03-09-2010, 12:02 PM
 
Location: I-35
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The homes are all on hills with great views via fm 304 and fm 78 which are the main roads coming from Boerne and New Bransfuels.
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Old 03-10-2010, 10:24 AM
 
3 posts, read 36,702 times
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Yes, the COE owns it so there are no private docks...
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Old 03-10-2010, 10:31 AM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
9,249 posts, read 26,683,952 times
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Isn't Lake Travis as well? It IS a manmade lake.
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