Hancock - Austin, TX

Planned around the golf course that opened in 1899, the Hancock neighborhood has a long history as a calm residential zone. Although formerly a country club, the club itself moved out of the city limits in the 1940s, allowing the neighborhood to develop more organically into what it looks like today.

In the years since, the golf course has remained an important central location in the neighborhood. With seasonal events hosted by the neighborhood association including a major 4th of July Parade and Picnic, the neighborhood creates a strong sense of community among its residents. The nearby Elizabeth Ney museum features numerous works of sculpture, and Downtown has a wide variety of museums from the LBJ Presidential Gallery to the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

With a number of restaurant chains from Jason's Deli to Wingzup found easily near Hancock Shopping Plaza, plenty of inexpensive restaurants near the university, and fine-dining options scattered throughout the neighborhood, Hancock serves as an ideal location to grab a bite.

Your vegetarian and vegan friends have no reason to feel left out with Mother's Cafe right in the area. This well-loved cafe never skimps on flavor, serving up an eclectic combination of Southwestern favorites, brunch classics and country-inspired comfort foods. Try a spicy stuffed pepper or a plate of tofu enchiladas and rice with mole sauce and guacamole. Before you dig into Momma's quiche or the legendary Bueno burger, be sure to let the staff know of any dietary requirements or allergies, as they are happy to accommodate special needs.

For a slightly fancier meal, head near the Hyde Park neighborhood to enjoy a meal at Asti Trattoria. In keeping with a traditional Italian trattoria, Asti changes the menu seasonally to ensure that the freshest seasonal produce is featured prominently. Whether you are in the mood for a simple pizza or a spicy pasta, prepare for the high-quality food to impress. While you never know what to expect from the sauces on any particular day, you know that chefs made the fresh pasta it tops that same day.

Nightlife here tends to exist minimally, as the neighborhood quiets down at night. Don't think that makes this neighborhood boring, though. Residents enjoy heading over to Hyde Park or into Downtown for a night out, while knowing that the neighborhood remains peaceful for their return.

With several Metro Capitol bus lines heading through the neighborhood and MetroRapid and MetroRails stops located just blocks away, public transportation has become a popular option for residents in Hancock. The neighborhood's safe roads handle cyclists well, and the neighborhood has stayed highly walkable since its days as a country club. If you find yourself in need of a ride in a pinch, you can quickly call a taxi or catch a rideshare through Uber or Lyft.

Hancock seems less attractive to drivers, as the traffic in this area becomes notoriously congested during rush hour. While you can easily access Highway 290 or jump on Duval Street to stay in town, you may find yourself heading to your destination at a crawl. Still, you can find free parking in Hancock easily, especially near the Hancock Shopping Plaza.

With the centrally located golf course and its corresponding recreation center, Hancock residents have plenty of green space. While you have to pay a small fee to use the course during the day to golf, many residents enjoy coming here at night to jog or walk dogs for free in the vast green area. Just make sure that your dog won't dig up holes along the course and that you clean up after it.

For a more traditional park experience, you can visit Eastwoods Park. With tons of trees, trails, playscapes, swings, a wading pool and splash pad, and free tennis and basketball courts, this park is perfect for children. You can even enjoy playing by Waller Creek, which runs through Eastwoods.

While not the most expensive place to live in Austin, the cost of living in Hancock is still about 19 percent higher than the city average. You can rent a one-bedroom home for an average of $1,408 and grab a beer for about $4. Gas here similarly costs a bit higher than in the rest of Austin, but still is about eight percent lower than the national average.

Stores in the Hancock neighborhood are concentrated around the 24-hour H.E.B. grocery store at Hancock Center. Most people head here for regular grocery trips and relaxing shopping days. While you can find many well-known chains here, including Bath and Body Works and Sears, several one-of-a-kind boutiques can be found in the area as well. If you like crystals, minerals, fossils, and spiritual jewelry, you can find this and more at Nature's Treasures. You can even get a psychic reading on most days from various mediums who practice there.

Music lovers will enjoy a stop into the nearby Austin Vintage Guitars. With an impressively large selection of guitars, basses, and other string instruments, you can stroll trough their aisles for hours enjoying your options.

The nearby Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller is open every Sunday for fresh fruit, vegetables and other items.