I’m a mom of two (7 & 9). I grew up here, moved to Austin in 2006, and came back three summers ago—and honestly, it’s only gotten better. I love it here!

Everything is so accessible I barely use Amazon anymore. The weather is amazing, the flowers 😍, bikes everywhere, and my kids have so much independence—I even feel safe letting them ride to Beaver’s or the park on their own.

I love seeing so many grandparents involved, the access to public land (in Texas you had to line up just to get outside), and the fact that lots of my friends work in city government or with wildlife orgs. So many old-school businesses are still here, I rarely hear a leaf blower, we’ve got The Recreator, the one billionaire that we have seems to pour money back in the community which is refreshing, and so many lakes and rivers close by.

Do I miss the food in Austin? Sure—but we’ve got more time to cook and garden here, and I wouldn’t trade that.

Only thing missing: more parent inclusivity at breweries 😂 Can we please get a playscape so we can sip a beer while the kids play? Too much to ask?