Dallas vs. Austin (Houston, San Marcos, Frost: living in, zoning, law)

[Martie A]

Originally Posted by gaylabaker

Also, how is sailing in Texas? I have heard the wind surfing is good on Padre Island, but I've heard nothing about sailing other than in the Gulf. So, is there lake sailing?

Well, Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall is a good sailing Lake, and is also a popular lake for water skiing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. It is a very LARGE lake and so sometimes gets pretty choppy on windy days. My husband is a avid competition slalom water skier, and so he prefers the small lakes that can sometimes be as smooth as glass.

There are many lakes around the Dallas area. Lewisville Lake is also very popular with boaters and skiers. Large yachts are also common on Lake Lewisville as well as Lake Texoma near Sherman.

East Texas has lots of lakes large and small, and has lakes built specifically for fisherman, like Lake Fork. They also have many small private lakes that do not allow motorized boats. These are often member only, are popular with the older crowd that want to look out their back door at the water, and don't want to hear the noise of boats.

It is the closest this California Girl could get to being on the beach! So I enjoy the lake, which ever one we wind up at.

We personally live on a private ski lake (with a slalom course).

[schorfheide]

I agree and concur with all said below and add that Houston is also a good area for lake sailing. We're in Richardson (n.e. Dallas) and have liked it here for 7 years. Job market is good and traffic is tolerable...
Lake Texoma is probably my favorite lake and is appx. 1 hr from here. Ray Hubbard, Lewisville and Lavon are also available and are all around 30 min from downtown...these are typically a bit choppy due to the landscape not blocking wind...3-5 hours from OK and AR lakes Beaver, Ouachita, and Degray are good calm lakes in the hills, Ouachita being one of my favorites (largest in AR) and is like glass alllll day.

Originally Posted by Martie A

Well, Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall is a good sailing Lake, and is also a popular lake for water skiing, jet skiing and wakeboarding. It is a very LARGE lake and so sometimes gets pretty choppy on windy days. My husband is a avid competition slalom water skier, and so he prefers the small lakes that can sometimes be as smooth as glass.

There are many lakes around the Dallas area. Lewisville Lake is also very popular with boaters and skiers. Large yachts are also common on Lake Lewisville as well as Lake Texoma near Sherman.

East Texas has lots of lakes large and small, and has lakes built specifically for fisherman, like Lake Fork. They also have many small private lakes that do not allow motorized boats. These are often member only, are popular with the older crowd that want to look out their back door at the water, and don't want to hear the noise of boats.

It is the closest this California Girl could get to being on the beach! So I enjoy the lake, which ever one we wind up at.

We personally live on a private ski lake (with a slalom course).

[Spookmeister]

1. Having lived in both cities for long periods of time, I'd pick Austin over Dallas any day.
2. Lake Ray Roberts, the DFW metroplex's best kept secret!

[i_catch_tree_bass]

In reference to your question about water skiing, I noticed Lake Ray Hubbard was mentioned. Water skiing is allowed on all the North Texas lakes I know of, and is allowed at Ray Hubbard, but strangely swimming is not. I never have figured that out...

Regardless, there are plenty of lakes around Dallas to swim and waterski, and you're not far from the lakes around Fort Worth or even Denton for that matter. My picks: for fishing, Lake Ray Roberts, for pleasure boating, Lake Ray Roberts, for sailing, Eagle Mountain Lake. None of these would be too far of a drive from the Dallas side of the Metroplex.

[gigi927]

NLAM,

On the IEP front..I also have a child (3 yo) with a speech delay and who is starting at a developmental preschool here in AZ next month. We are relocating to Austin before the end of this year. I would look on the websites of the individual school districts you are looking at to see if they offer developmental preschool programs. We are probably going to be in the Leander school district, which fortunately does have a program. Our speech therapist here tells us that we should be able to walk right into the TX school with our son's current IEP and he can literally start preschool that day - no additional evaluations or testing necessary. That was very reassuring!

good luck with whatever you decide!

[i_catch_tree_bass]

Originally Posted by i_catch_tree_bass

In reference to your question about water skiing, I noticed Lake Ray Hubbard was mentioned. Water skiing is allowed on all the North Texas lakes I know of, and is allowed at Ray Hubbard, but strangely swimming is not. I never have figured that out...

After rereading that, I realize it might be a bit unclear. Water skiing is allowed on all the lakes I know of. Water skiing is allowed on Ray Hubbard. Swimming is not allowed on Ray Hubbard, but is allowed on every other lake I know of. And I still do not know why swimming is not allowed on Ray Hubbard.

[momof2dfw]

I believe the reason that "no swimming" is allowed in Lake Ray Hubbard is because of the Electrical Cooling Plant that the lake is used for by the City of Dallas. People do swim/wade along the shores of the lake in Robertson Park off of I-30. You will also see some swimming out in the middle of the lake beside their boats.

Waterskiing, PWC's and such are allowed on just about every lake in these parts. The only ones that may not allow PWC's are small private lakes in private communities as there are plenty of those in the East Texas area. As for Lewisville Lake, Lake Ray Hubbard, Grapevine, Lavon, Texohoma, Lake O' the Pines, Lake Fork, Cedar Creek etc.. boats, waterskiers, pwc's are allowed.

Now Northlake in Coppell, no swimming AT ALL!!! Lake is WAY TOO SMALL w/ the electric plant.

[Texan#1]

^ Isn't Northlake closed to the public? I remember my family going out there when I was younger. There are plans to build townhomes, and apartments all around the area I think.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Texan#1

^ Isn't Northlake closed to the public? I remember my family going out there when I was younger. There are plans to build townhomes, and apartments all around the area I think.

I grew up going out there to picnics and stuff. I don't know if the parks are closed or not. I do know the lake has always been "off limits". No boating or swimming at all.

I know the city of Dallas and Coppell have been in war over the townhomes and apartments for that area. They are in the city limits of "Dallas" but it is Coppell schools and such. Coppell is upset that it would benefit the city of Dallas w/ the property taxes they would receive but Coppell would be footing the bill for services. I have not kept up w/ that story in the last month so I don't know where they stand now.

[Cowboybootnut]

My wife and I have lived in Plano for 15 years and enjoy it. I would enjoy it more if I didn't work in Dallas though. The traffic is terrible. However, on weekends it is nice to have Dallas nearby for cultural events.

Austin is a little too liberal for me, but it is nice to visit.