| Travis Heights is a centrally located neighborhood in | | | | the San Jose Catholic Church was founded at the |
| one of Austin's most esteemed zip codes, 78704. The | | | | corner of Mary Street and South Third Street. The |
| neighborhood's proximity to downtown and Lady Bird | | | | stone mission-style church is currently called Holy |
| Lake makes it a desirable place to live, and the new | | | | Name Of Mary Orthodox Church, and the Church still |
| Emma Long Center for the Performing Arts is just a | | | | has a flourishing parish, many of whom are |
| couple of blocks north of the area, right across Barton | | | | descendants of the original settlers. |
| Springs Road. Auditorium Shores, a lovely outdoor | | | | Since the recent development of the SOCO and |
| amphitheater which hosts festivals and concerts is | | | | SOLA entertainment and shopping districts, which are |
| adjacent to the Long Center, and is also a short walk | | | | respectively on South Congress and South Lamar, the |
| from the Travis Heights neighborhood. Easy access to | | | | residents of the neighborhood have even more |
| the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trails as well as | | | | access to restaurants, vintage shops, nightclubs, |
| access to the Zilker greenbelt is also advantageous | | | | coffee shops, and antique dealers. Some of Austin's |
| for residents of the area. The neighborhood dates to | | | | most well-known institutions are still located on South |
| the turn of the century, with dramatic growth during the | | | | Congress, such as the headquarters of the local |
| 1920s and 1030s, and many historic homes from the | | | | newspaper, the American-Statesman, and a few boot |
| period are still standing. | | | | and saddle shops, such as Allen Boots, which has |
| One of the neighborhood's most influential and | | | | been in the area for years and years. |
| well-known residents was John Henry Faulk, and his | | | | There a quite a few very eclectic shops, such as Lucy |
| boyhood home was on the spot where Green | | | | in Disguise in Diamonds, a costume shop, and Bohemia, |
| Pastures, a beautiful, historic restaurant with gorgeous | | | | a great vintage store, as well as the St. Vincent |
| foliage and grounds is currently situated. Another well | | | | DePaul resale shop, which is run by Catholic charities |
| known previous resident, Charles Whitman, also grew | | | | and has a little bit of everything. |
| up in the Travis Heights neighborhood, and went on to | | | | There are many churches and schools, coffeehouses, |
| infamy as the Tower sniper in the 1960s. The | | | | and nightclubs nearby, and the restaurant row area of |
| neighborhood boundaries are generally considered to | | | | Barton Springs Road is just a half mile or so east, and |
| be South Lamar, South Congress, West Oltorf, and | | | | includes such well-known eateries as Shady Grove, |
| Barton Springs Road, in the heart of south-central | | | | Romeo's, Green Mesquite, Chuy's, and Austin Java. |
| Austin. The largest institutional development in the | | | | Patrons can enjoy frozen custard at Sandy's, an |
| neighborhood is the Texas School for the Deaf, which | | | | Austin landmark, or Italian food at Vinny's, both of |
| encompasses 65 acres of land and was established in | | | | which are even closer to the neighborhood, on the |
| 1856, and is surrounded by South Congress, South | | | | east side of Lamar on Barton Springs and in easy |
| First, Barton Springs Road and Elizabeth Street. | | | | walking distance for most residents. |
| Due to the Colorado River's frequent floods prior to | | | | Even downtown itself is a short walk across the |
| the construction of dams which help control the river | | | | sidewalks or pedestrian bridges at both Congress and |
| waters, the land was very inexpensive, thus a very | | | | South First Street, which continues from Guadalupe |
| diverse group of citizens populated the area, and | | | | Street across the river, and the whole neighborhood is |
| many churches cater to a specific ethnic group, such | | | | also accessible by city transportation such as the Cap |
| as the St. Anne African Methodist-Episcopal Church | | | | Metro busses and the 'Dillos, which are free. The |
| and the nearby Goodwill Baptist Church, both of which | | | | Travis Heights neighborhood is one of your best bets |
| are on Newton Street. A small group of Hispanic | | | | in the Austin area for the quality of life it offers both |
| families settled in the neighborhood around 1940, when | | | | visitors and residents. |