Orange County, CA compare with Austin, TX (Plano, Mission: homeowners association, houses)

[TheHarvester]

GGP, CP, and ZP are all totally different, I think we can agree on that. And to compare them is like comparing apples to oranges to tomatoes. Each has its wonderful qualities but they don't all offer the same benefits.

The way that Zilker connects to the Lady Bird Lake (new name) and Barton Creek hike-and-bike trails is definitely unique to Austin. We don't have a Japanese Tea Garden or a great museum or any of those other monumentally wonderful things about New York and San Francisco, but we DO have a wilderness area in the city limits and vastly more interconnecting miles of hiking trails than either of the other cities. The difference lies in how they're developed.

The Austin parks are not developed, they're just pieces of land with a few scant amenities and a lot of nature, and it's Texas nature so it's limited by the rugged climate and soils of this region. But taken as a whole, the Barton Creek Greenbelt - Barton Springs - Zilker Park - Lady Bird Lake - Shoal Creek trails and green spaces are unparalleled in their extent. You can literally hike from northwest to southwest Austin on trails, and there is a constant expansion of this system. It's one of the great treasures of our city.

[Phisch]

I guess that part about it being rugged is what is so appealing. Well, not so much natural rugged but mostly unpaved. And the city, as far as I can tell, doesn't have a sprinkler system installed to keep it looking so verdant.

Anyways, the park system that Zilker is a part of has nothing that's an equivalent in OC. (segue to topic...)

OC will have a great park and no doubt it will be great, but different. Right now, Great Park has a balloon ride open and you can pay to get in the gondola to view the extent of the park and cities nearby. Very cool, I think.

Trying to find more similarities between OC and Austin...maybe UCI? Irvine has a big university and Austin has UT. But they're celebrated a little differently. Austin really loves the longhorns if all the tshirts and car decals I see are any indication. You don't really see a whole bunch of people wearing Anteaters shirts over there.

If you like to visit stores in South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island, surprisingly you wont' have to miss it here in Austin. I found the Domain mall and they have Neiman Marcus and stores like that. Austin doesn't have (as far as I know) any places that compare to The Block or Irvine Spectrum as far as that kind of mix of entertainment, dining and shopping. But it does have downtown which I've not fully explored yet (keep getting distracted by Zilker).

[jread]

Uh... you guys are forgetting about Forest Park in Portland: 5000 acres within the city limits!

[Phisch]

Not forgetting...had no idea that existed! The parts of Oregon I've seen are not in cities, strictly coastal areas and all of them drop-dead gorgeous (we, as kids, were the only ones hanging out in the water those Spring days we visited).

[TheHarvester]

I did forget about Portland, partly because the whole city seems like a park. Same with Seattle, there are so many places where you can go hiking in deep forests and feel like you're way off in the mountains, yet you're only a 5 minute walk from the trailhead which is in an urban neighborhood.

Other cities are connected to wilderness areas, effectively eliminating the need for a wilderness park "within city limits". For example, all of San Mateo County contains a massive mountainous wild park system with amazing trails, breathtaking views of the Pacific and the Bay Area... and then there's Santa Barbara, with its many trailheads leading into a massive mountain wilderness area (part of which is burning right now.)

This brings us back to San Francisco and New York for true Urban parks. GGP and CP are simply incomparable. For those who haven't experienced them, you will not be able to see all they offer in one day. You could easily spend an entire week in either of them and still not see all that they offer.

[love roses]

I've been to central park twice and still haven't seen it all!

[twange]

Central Park is really great. Much bigger than most people realize. But there aren't too many places there you can go without seeing other people. Definitely a urban "park". But a real master stroke to be sure.

[Daisey31]

Originally Posted by Phisch

Austin doesn't have (as far as I know) any places that compare to The Block or Irvine Spectrum as far as that kind of mix of entertainment, dining and shopping. But it does have downtown which I've not fully explored yet (keep getting distracted by Zilker).

The Hill Country Galleria is about to be completed and I think it is supposed to be somewhat like that. There is also a new project being planned that will be utterly unique. It will be shopping, entertainment, homes and movie studio all in one.
Have you seen the District in Irvine? Good lord. I am amazed at the repetition of stores in the immediate vicinity.

[Phisch]

Nope...what's the District? We always hung out at the Spectrum since it's extremely kid-friendly and they have cheap (decent) Japanese food at the food court.

[TheHarvester]

Irvine vs. Austin --- I cannot think of a better comparison of what I hate vs. what I love. I'm just a guy with an opinion so don't take me too seriously, but I cannot relate to anyone who thinks Irvine is a good place to live or a good model of how cities should be designed. To me, it's a corporate Stepford nightmare that strips humanity of soul in favor of "amenities, security, convenience and sterility."

Be sure the kids always wash their hands with antibacterial soap after touching anything that doesn't have a corporate logo.

Please, Orange County conservatives who are longing for the good-old-days, DO NOT MOVE TO AUSTIN! Save Austin from the Californication that is destroying so many other places.