| The city of Austin, Texas is becoming one of the | | | | America's number one film destination because of its |
| best and most popular places to live, appearing on | | | | creative community of professionals, prime shooting |
| several "Top Cities To Live" lists by many different | | | | locations, mild climate and diverse topography. The |
| publications in recent years. Austin's unique culture | | | | movies "Grindhouse," "How to Eat Fried Worms," "Sin |
| combined with its steady economy and mild climate is | | | | City," and "Idiocracy" are just a few big name films |
| drawing in more and more people to relocate. If you | | | | that have been made in Austin. |
| are in the market to find a new place to call home, | | | | #5-Activities: On any given day, you can find loads of |
| here are some reasons why Texas' thriving capital | | | | activities, whether it is renting a canoe in Zilker park, |
| city may be the perfect choice for you. | | | | shopping along Guadalupe Street or watching the |
| #1-Stable Job Market: The job market in Austin didn't | | | | Mexican free-tail bats fly out from under the |
| see as big of a downturn as most other cities in the | | | | Congress Avenue bridge. Austin is a great city for |
| nation in 2009. In fact, Austin was ranked number | | | | sports, as well. You can go to a Texas Longhorns |
| one on Forbes' magazine list of "Best Cities for | | | | football game or a Texas Stars hockey game, or you |
| Recession Recovery." This is thanks to Austin's | | | | can go just north of Austin to Round Rock for the |
| abundance of employers, such as The University of | | | | Round Rock Express baseball games at the Dell |
| Texas, Dell Computers, Advanced Micro Devices, and | | | | Diamond. Austin has many family-friendly activities |
| the State of Texas. With several new companies | | | | such as The Austin Children's Museum, Blazer Lazer |
| popping up in Austin all the time, the job market will | | | | Tag, Austin Zoo, and the Lady Bird Johnson |
| remain steady and strong into 2010, with a projected | | | | Wildflower Center, just to name a few. Of course |
| economic growth of $5 billion, according to Forbes. | | | | you can always go downtown to check out the |
| #2- Affordable Housing: Austin has some of the most | | | | Capitol building or the UT campus, as well. |
| affordable homes in the nation, which creates a | | | | #6-Climate & Outdoors: Austin is well known for |
| strong real estate market. In November of 2009, | | | | it's very mild climate. It barely dips below freezing in |
| there was a 62% increase in single-family homes sold | | | | the winter months and stays in the 70's and 80's |
| in Austin as compared to 2008, and the median sales | | | | most of the year, except for the summer which can |
| price decreased from $235,000 to $225,000. Austin | | | | get up to triple-digit temperatures. Because is it |
| was ranked number one on Forbes' list of "Best Bang | | | | almost always sunny outside, there are many things |
| for Your Buck" because residents enjoy affordable | | | | to do outdoors. Austin has many hike and bike trails, |
| housing and a promising job market. | | | | dog parks, rivers and lakes to help you make the |
| #3-Entertainment: Austin holds the title of "The Live | | | | most of the nice weather. |
| Music Capital of the World" and for good reason. | | | | #7-Food and Drink: Austin is home to some of the |
| With more live music venues per capita than Nashville, | | | | most diverse styles of food and drinks in the nation, |
| Memphis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York | | | | from fusion cuisines to amazing margaritas to |
| City, you can always enjoy some kind of live music | | | | comfort food and delightful desserts, Austin has it all. |
| performance any day of the week. The annual | | | | The two most popular types of food you can find in |
| "Austin City Limits" Music Festival brings in several big | | | | Austin is barbeque and Tex-Mex, but don't worry, |
| name and local bands each year and is a widely | | | | there are tons of vegetarian options too. And of |
| popular Austin event. South by Southwest is another | | | | course, most restaurants in town provide live music |
| huge music event in Austin that brings in huge | | | | to go along with an amazing meal. |
| concerts and interactive events. All year long you can | | | | #8-Education: The Austin area is home to some |
| find some kind of live music event going on in Austin | | | | impressive educational institutions. In Austin alone, |
| and there's always going to be bands playing | | | | there are 4 universities, a community college, and |
| downtown, so you'll never have a loss for | | | | several trade schools. The University of Texas at |
| entertainment. | | | | Austin is one of the largest public universities in the |
| #4- Film and Fine Arts: Austin is a very creative | | | | United States, with over 170 fields of study and 100 |
| community filled with designers, painters, dancers, | | | | majors. UT has one of the most diverse student |
| actors, musicians and filmmakers. There are hundreds | | | | populations in the country and is a national leader in |
| of arts venues in and around the Austin area, with | | | | the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to |
| the most famous being Ballet Austin, Bass Concert | | | | minority students. |
| Hall, The Blanton Art Center, Zachary Scott Theatre, | | | | So now that you know what all Austin has to offer, |
| and The Alamo Drafthouse, where the annual Austin | | | | maybe it's time you thought about relocating to one |
| Film Festival screens its films downtown. Austin is | | | | of the best cities in the nation. |