Just a short drive south of Austin, Kyle, Buda, and San Marcos Texas offer a quaint living with close proximity to the hustle and bustle of the big city. These towns are growing fast and offer a great mix of urban and small-town feel, with plenty of restaurants, outdoor fun, and more. There are many different housing options in these towns, and homes are affordable compared to most homes in Austin.
You’ll fall in love with these great family-friendly towns!
What to Love
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Just south of Austin; an easy commute into the city for those seeking suburban life!
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Fast-growing communities with new constructions and retailers coming to the area
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Family-oriented and a close-knit community
People and Lifestyle
Residents in these towns are often young families who seek a quieter suburban life but still have the ability to take advantage of all the activities in downtown Austin. People love to stay active by hiking, running, or biking along the trails of Stagecoach Park or Cullen County Park.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
Great eateries and bars await you here! Check some of these out:
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Summer Moon Fire Roasted Coffee: available in all three towns!
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Buda Soda Fountain: such a fun spot to bring the kids!
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Texas Pie Company: the iconic Kyle restaurant.
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Root Cellar Cafe: great brunch in San Marcos and I highly recommend the blueberry mimosas!
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Ivar’s River Pub: overlooks the river and has a great ambiance.
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Industry: a wide variety of items like smoked brisket tacos or veggie bowls and also offering 20+ beers and cocktails on tap.
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Aquabrew Brewery & Beer Garden: locally-brewed craft beers, a menu of upgraded American offerings, and regular live music and events.
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Pie Society: a modern pizzeria serving New York-style pizzas (with vegan options).
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Garcia's: on Main Street in Buda is a family-owned restaurant with a spacious wraparound porch, great chips and salsa, and plenty of vegetarian options.
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Mudbugs on Main Street: fantastic Cajun favorites like shrimp and grits, po’boys, and cobbler.
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Willie’s Joint Bar and Grill: delicious smoked meats, ice cream, and burgers with a full bar and plenty of outdoor seating.
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Buck's Backyard: the ultimate locally beloved place in the Buda/Kyle area for cold beer, good eats, and awesome live music!
A recently converted area of Buda, Buda Mill & Grain Co., features shops, restaurants, and more. It’s a great area to walk around, shop, grab a bite to eat, and support locally-owned businesses! Also check out the Downtown Buda Farmers’ Market every Sunday morning for organic produce, flowers, and more from local vendors.
Do some retail therapy at San Marcos Premium Outlets or visit historic Downtown San Marcos to shop local boutiques and specialty stores. Stop by Bower Bird Antiques & Curiosities for a selection of antiquated, uncommon, and timeworn wares, stock up on your western wear collection at Vagabond, or find stylish women's clothing with a uniquely Texas feel at River Rose Boutique.
Things To Do
They may be small towns but they have plenty to do! Here are some of our favorite activities:
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Buck’s Backyard Music Venue always has something going on and you can grab some Shugabee’s BBQ while you’re there!
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Buda is home to the Annual Weiner Dog Races! (Not kidding!)
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Catch a rodeo show, stop by the Holiday Bazaar, check out an art exhibit or watch some theater in the park – this is small-town Texas at its finest!
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Sitting on 51 acres near downtown Buda is Historic Stagecoach Park. This park is great for dogs, playing, trail walking, and more. To see wildlife, we love Cullen Country Park. It’s a beautiful, very shaded trail that runs along a private subdivision, making for a peaceful stroll or run.
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San Marcos is the spot for river floating in the summer! Rent a tube from a local vendor such as Texas State Tubes or the San Marcos Lions Club and float down the scenic San Marcos River.
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For a unique look into aquatic life, visit The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Their Glass Bottom Boat Tours are an informative and exciting way to see fish, turtles, and the endangered Texas Blind Salamander up close.
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If you’re interested in fishing, Lake Kyle Park is a catch and release-style fishing park where guests can also canoe, play on the playground, bike, walk, and explore the nature trails.
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Visit The County Line Polo Club for a fun day of tailgating and polo matches.
Schools
These towns operate in the Hays Independent School District. Kids will likely attend the following schools:
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Carpenter Hill Elementary School
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Elm Grove Elementary School
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Laura B Negley Elementary School
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Eric Dahlstrom Middle School
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RC Barton Middle School
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Jack C Hays High School
For higher education, San Marcos is home to Texas State University as well!