BARTON HILLS

An established, but ever-changing neighborhood in the heart of the action. Considered the epicenter of cool, this South Austin neighborhood benefits from its proximity to oodles of cool shops and hot restaurants (many along nearby South Lamar), a spectacular string of trails and refreshing waterways, and easy access to downtown. Barton Hills which is bisected by a creek that flows into the Colorado River, was named for a pioneering homesteader who settled by the area's famous springs in 1837. He was hardly the first to recognize this lush swath as prime real estate; evidence of old Spanish missions, Native American camps, and even dinosaur tracks have been found here. These days, its hunters and those who love the outdoors who flock to the 78704 zip code.