There\u2019s a little town about 30 minutes southwest of Austin called Dripping Springs. To most, it\u2019s known as the \u201cGateway to the Hill Country.\u201d A few thousand lucky people get to call it home. Residents enjoy 24 hours of natural beauty thanks to the area\u2019s gorgeous rolling landscape and the carefully-preserved night sky, where the Milky Way shines brighter than any store sign. Excellent schools and neighborhoods make it a great place to raise a family. And with plenty of parks, restaurants, and shops, it\u2019s easy to embrace living in Dripping Springs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Living in Dripping Springs means you\u2019re surrounded by natural beauty. Hamilton Pool Reserve\u00a0 is a historic swimming hole that offers scenery worthy of being featured on postcards. Water flowing over limestone outcropping generates a 50-foot waterfall creating a tropical scene not native to this area. In addition to swimming, the park\u2019s 232 acres is great for hiking and birdwatching. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll sneak a glimpse of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.<\/p>\n
Reimers Ranch Park is another nearby gem that has a lot to offer residents living in Dripping Springs. There are nearly 2,500 acres to go mountain biking, hiking, swimming, and fishing. Rock climbers also converge in the park thanks to its cliffs suited for climbing at any level. There is even an observatory, and guided tours will take you a few miles into the backcountry area where vehicles aren\u2019t allowed.<\/p>\n
The allure of Dripping Springs doesn\u2019t dwindle after sunset. Once the sun goes down, locals can still revel in Mother Nature\u2019s beauty by simply looking upward. In 2014, Dripping Springs became an International Dark Sky Community\u2014it was the first city in Texas to do such and only the sixth in the world. Thanks to the city\u2019s organized efforts, seeing the Milky Way is a common occurrence. It also helps protect birds\u2019 migration patterns and other wildlife behavior.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dripping Springs has plenty of wide-open space. Whether you\u2019re looking for a large ranch or a master-planned community, Dripping Springs has the ideal place to call home. Skyridge is a boutique, gated community designed and built to complement its beautiful surroundings. There are 100 homes that offer one- and two-story floor plans that are perfect for any family with kitchen islands and expansive storage space. Skyridge homes come furnished with premium fixtures and offer an array of modern elevation exteriors to choose from.<\/p>\n
The community\u2019s Amenity Center has a resort-style pool with a sun shelf and dipping pool guaranteed to keep the family cool all summer. Once summer is over, kids living in Skyridge will go to one of the top-rated schools zoned for Dripping Springs ISD. They\u2019ll attend Sycamore Elementary, Sycamore Springs Middle School, and Dripping Springs High School, where they\u2019ll be surrounded by happy students, high test scores, and plenty of extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There are nearly 5,000 people who call Dripping Springs home. Even though its population is a bit small, it\u2019s easy to have a big time in this vibrant, little town. If you\u2019re thirsty for a good beverage, you\u2019re in luck because Dripping Springs has nine wineries, 10 distilleries, and 11 breweries, all within a short drive. Bell Springs Winery is known to be a favorite\u2014book a wine tasting with a charcuterie board, and you\u2019ll be in heaven. Jester King Brewery is popular for its farmhouse ales. It\u2019s also dog-friendly, and their wood-fired pizzas make a great complement to their beers. If you\u2019re more into spirits, look no further than Deep Eddy Vodka\u2019s distillery. Choose from craft cocktails or vodka tastings. This place has plenty of indoor and outdoor space to handle you and your party for any occasion.<\/p>\n
There are also a number of unique bars and restaurants to choose from that are close to historic Mercer Street. A trip to The Barber Shop Pub will feel like stepping into a time machine\u2014in a good way. You\u2019ll instantly feel the charm of its quaint, rustic interior, and its friendly and helpful staff will make you feel right at home. It\u2019s the perfect place to sample many of the local Texas beers they offer. For a more kid-friendly environment, visit Rolling in Thyme & Dough for delicious coffee, breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. If you go for lunch, try their meatloaf sandwich with a cup of soup\u2014it won\u2019t disappoint. Another early meal choice to fill your belly is Crepe Crazy. It\u2019s no surprise why this place is a local favorite. With a wide variety of crepes and a yummy kid\u2019s menu, Crepe Crazy is sure to keep the whole family coming back for more.<\/p>\n
It seems every town in Texas has great choices for barbecue, and Dripping Springs is no exception. Railroad Bar-B-Que is the perfect place to satisfy all of your meat cravings. Their ribs and brisket will melt in your mouth thanks to being slow-cooked and mesquite-smoked to perfection. Whether it\u2019s a well-planned date night or a last-minute outing with the family, Dripping Springs has a unique variety of local establishments perfectly suited to entertain and delight.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the benefits of living in a proud community like Dripping Springs is supporting local businesses. Except for H-E-B and Home Depot, most of the shops and restaurants are unique to the area. The Rural Home has an eclectic selection of home d\u00e9cor items ranging from vintage light fixtures to clothing and handbags. If you\u2019re into mountain biking, Canyon Cycles, located on Old Fitzhugh Road, will be the go-to-place to keep you motoring on the nearby trails. They\u2019re excellent at servicing bikes and have all the gear you need.<\/p>\n
One of the benefits of living in a proud community like Dripping Springs is supporting local businesses. Except for H-E-B and Home Depot, most of the shops and restaurants are unique to the area. The Rural Home has an eclectic selection of home d\u00e9cor items ranging from vintage light fixtures to clothing and handbags. If you\u2019re into mountain biking, Canyon Cycles, located on Old Fitzhugh Road, will be the go-to-place to keep you motoring on the nearby trails. They\u2019re excellent at servicing bikes and have all the gear you need.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Luckily, Dripping Springs is just out of reach from the hectic big-city life of Austin. It\u2019s framed with gorgeous rolling landscapes which provide a stunning backdrop for numerous outdoor activities. Even the stars in the sky get to take center stage every night thanks to Dripping Springs\u2019 stance against light pollution. Its local restaurants, shops, and watering holes will surely keep your senses tingling. And, with close-knit neighborhoods and a great school system, it\u2019s no surprise why Dripping Springs feels like home.<\/p>\n