Central Austin

This area's proximity to the University of Texas makes it very popular with univeristy students, faculty and staff, but a wide variety of Austiinites settle here and stay. The Hyde Park neighborhood is one of the most desirble spots in town for families, and is in many ways is its own liittle community, with a down-to-earth character and spirit of unity among residents. The Triangle and Central Park regions are happening living and socializing spots for the professional crowd and the uber-foodies, though everybody shops the epicurean delights of Central Market and hits the Starbucks of course. And West Campus is the heaviest student territory there is, with everything from dorms, frat and sorority houses, condos, apartments and the odd house that hasn't yet been converted to multiple units. The area of Guadalupe bordering UT is called "the drag" and from MLK all the way up to 38th street you will find an interesting and diverse array of shopping, dining and services. They include the original location of Amy's Ice Cream, as well as old-school natural food favorite Wheatsville Co-Op, which unlike its back-in-the-day rival Whole Foods, has stayed small, local and member-driven. For many, Central Austin is the true heart of the city, embodying its contrasting hard-studying, hard-partying, green-living ethos, as well as its small-town vibe.