Landlocked? There is water EVERYWHERE in Austin. There are 7 miles worth of Greenbelts that cut through the entire downtown/urban area. We have Lake Travis and Lake Austin. The Colorado river (Town Lake) is right beside 1st street. We have Barton Springs just south of 1st street.

We're also getting a surf park (Nland) this year and have a ton of wake-boarding/cable parks.

An hour south we have Dripping Springs and Wimberley with Jacobs Well, Blue Hole, Hamilton Pool, Krausse Springs, etc. If you think Austin looks like the rest of Texas, here are some examples;

Hamilton Pool; http://yestotexas.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hamiltonpoo...

Blue Hole; http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/27/63/44/6240562/3/920x920.jpg

Greenbelt (twin falls); http://www.austinmonthly.com/Twin%20Falls.jpg

I'm breaking Austin rules by talking about these, but hey, I already own a house, so move on in and make my little house even more ridiculously valuable!

There is a difference between having water near you, and being trapped inside the Republic of Texas. I've spent time there, it wasn't for me.. thats all I'm saying :)

Take those photos and add enough people that it's standing room only.

In contrast to parent, that makes Austin sound great! I'm packing my bags and moving there now, thanks!

I'm not being facetious, Austin is quite overhyped.

I've been told that a lot of the hype comes from the hours of travel through Texas that you have to do to get there.

"It's like an oasis of dirty water in the sahara," a former Austinite once told me. I'm sure they were being hyperbolic.

But with really cold rivers and natural springs.