Heritage Hills Austin, TX

In the early days, the neighborhoods of Heritage and Windsor Hills were used mainly for farmland and raising cattle. Residential subdivisions and businesses started moving into the area during the 1950s. It was not until 2008 that the neighborhoods were annexed into the city of Austin — formally they belonged to Fiskville, Texas. An association soon formed between the two neighborhoods and their main goal has been making the area a better place to live. The association hosts an annual National Night Out to foster community involvement — this usually consists of a neighborhood-wide barbecue and other activities.

There are no art museums in the area, though history buffs are welcome to visit the Republic of Texas Museum which exhibits Texan artifacts from 1836 to 1846.

Many restaurants in the area can be found along I-35, though some others are located next to Highway 183 and Cameron Road. Locals can choose from plenty of Mexican restaurants in the area.

A great low-key place to get breakfast or lunch is Ken’s Subs, Tacos and More. The breakfast tacos come loaded up with fillings, which could arguably make them the best value in the area. With a taco this stuffed, it could be easy for some filling to fall out while eating, so ask for an extra tortilla to make two tacos. Ken’s boasts a diverse menu full of tacos, sub sandwiches, burgers, and Tex-Mex inspired dishes. The barbacoa is deliciously flavorful and worth a try on your visit.

If you’re in the mood for an exotic meal, stop in at Sushi Japon. This award-winning sushi establishment perfectly merges Japanese and Chinese food. The fresh sushi ensures repeat custom, but even if you have a food allergy, the staff can help you find something that's perfectly suited. Naturally, you can sample the excellent escolar, but even the fried rice wins compliments.

Another interesting choice for exotic food goes by Chicken Lollypop, a restaurant that serves Indian, Chinese, and vegetarian cuisine. Although its location may seem underrated, locals claim the place as a gem that provides unbelievably flavorful and delicious chicken. To the surprise of many, chicken lollipops are actually served as an appetizer and may become extremely addicting.

Locals have a few choices of sports bars for their nightly activities. In the Windsor Hills area, such as Mister Tramps and Pluckers Wing Bar. Just south of the neighborhood boundary is Midtown Live Sports Café, an upscale nightclub that provides patrons with weekly events, live and mixed music as well as a selection of nightly drink and food specials.

The streets and layout of these neighborhoods is fairly spread out, making walking in the area as a means for transportation rather difficult. The best way to travel in the neighborhood is by car or public transportation. While the area just has a few bicycle friendly lanes and trails, Austin traffic is familiar with sharing the rode with cyclists, making traveling by bicycle fairly safe and easy. Highways run right alongside the neighborhoods giving residents easy access to other areas of Austin.

A good number of bus lanes trail along the main streets in the area providing Capital Metro bus and rail lines. There is a cab service area located in Windsor Hills, though hailing a cab in this city is easiest when done by phone. Uber always remains an option for getting around as well. Not too many options for public parking exist here, unless you count large retail store lots such as Walmart or Home Depot.

Locals visit the few parks in the area, kept beautiful by community involvement. The Gustavo “Gus” Garcia District Park is the largest in the neighborhoods. The park itself is child and dog friendly and costs nothing to get in. There is also a recreation center located in the park with a gymnasium, climbing wall, computer room and workout center. This center offers yearly programs such as summer camp and bicycle club for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. North Acres Park serves the area as well with a hiking trail and playground for children. The neighborhood association hosts an annual “workday” where residents are invited to pitch together and help beautify the parks.

Living in Heritage or Windsor Hills typically costs less than the city average. Renting a one bedroom apartment prices at about $675. Purchasing a beer in a local pub will put about $3 on your tab. The price of a gallon of gas runs 5 percent less than the national average. When using public transport to get to the city center, purchasing a day pass for Capital Metro brings the best value. These typically cost about $3.

Many shops in this area are located along the major roads and highways. Many high-value stores can be found here. Locals can get their groceries at the Walmart Supercenter if they are looking to save money, but some small business grocery stores can be found here as well, such as Dessau Food Market in Windsor Hills, Ana's Foods, and the Africarib Market. There are no farmers markets located in these neighborhoods specifically though a number can be found in other areas of the city. Austin's Couch Potatoes is a large, warehouse-style store which specializes in, as the name suggests, couches. The store also provides a great selection of all types of furniture, often sold at a steep discount to other stores. For local and chain stores, residents head into nearby Austin to find anything they may need.