Category: Family Fun

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Austin FC to Start Inaugural Season This Month

We enjoyed the exciting March Madness tournament last month. University of Texas women’s basketball had a good run. And Texas’s own Baylor University’s men’s basketball has been crowned National Champions. Congrats to them!

Now that March Madness is over, where can you get your professional sports fix? How about at Austin FC? The team starts its inaugural season and plays its first-ever game this weekend! Unfortunately, it’s an away game.

Their first-ever home game is on Saturday, June 19. The reason for the long way is because the team needs to recruit and train stadium employees.

About Austin FC

You can see Q2 Stadium live online on the Austin FC Stadium cam. Check out the time-lapse videos to view the progress from day one through today. The 20,500-seat stadium is located in North Austin at 10414 McKalla Place off Burnet Road. It’s less than 40 minutes from Crosswinds in Kyle and the closest professional venue.

Visit the team’s website to see the badge that contains the team’s colors of bright verde and black. The signature color represents the vibrancy and creative energy of Austin. The badge features two intertwined live oaks to represent the Club and City working together as one.

The oak’s four roots symbolize north, south, east, and west Austin combing together. Eleven leaves on the branches reflect the 11 players on the field being supported by fans. The city’s name appears atop the oak trees with FC on both sides of the trees to represent the sport.

Inaugural Season

Austin FC has its debut match against Los Angeles FC on April 17. You can catch the match on Fox and Fox Deportes. Any non-nationally televised matches will be regionally broadcast in the Austin area on CW Austin, KXAN, or KBVO.

The MLS team has a 34-game schedule and will compete in the Western Conference that contains 13 clubs. The Eastern Conference has 14 MLS clubs. The season ends on November 7 with the MLS Cup Playoffs start on November 19 and end at the MLS Cup on December 11.

The team will play Texas rivals FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC during Heineken Rivalry Week in early August. View the full Austin FC schedule and the Austin FC roster. Looks like 2021 will be a thrilling year for Austin and soccer fans.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

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Amenities Area Attractions Events Family Fun Lifestyle

Why Is Buying a New Home in Kyle Better Than in Austin?

Austin is one of the coolest and quirkiest cities in the U.S. People love it for its music venues, booming tech scene, diversity of entertainment, some of the best BBQ in the U.S., and Bat City. “Keep Austin weird” is a celebrated moniker and for good reason.

And of course, when you stroll along Sixth Street, you’ll encounter a lot of college students from the University of Texas at Austin and other colleges.

Here are the reasons why buying a new home in Kyle may be a better option than in Austin.

  1. Affordability

In the last decade, Austin has grown massively popular. Along with that comes soaring median housing prices. Many area real estate agents say happy homeowners love the affordable homes and lifestyle in Kyle. You can find a brand new house in the Crosswinds community in Kyle starting in the mid-$200s.

Property taxes are another advantage of living in Kyle. The city has recently reduced the property tax rate by 4 percent as Fox 7 Austin reports.

  1. Quieter Small-Town Lifestyle

With Austin being a quick trek away, Kyle residents relish the small-town lifestyle. They can go to Austin anytime they want to take advantage of its many offerings. Besides, more businesses have moved close to Kyle, some of which are big wigs like Lowe’s Kyle, Amazon’s Kyle facility, Tesla, and ENF Technology U.S. headquarters.

  1. Location

Kyle is located only 20 miles from downtown Austin. Additionally, many of the places you want to visit are located within 30 minutes from Kyle. And you can fly to many places, even international destination, from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA).

Kyle citizens love to visit Austin and find a happy medium by living on the outskirts of Austin. They’re close enough to take advantage of Austin’s incredible resources and entertainment.

These are not the only reasons, but they’re the biggest reasons Kyle residents share. Browse this blog and you’ll see all that Kyle has to offer! Besides, you cannot find a community like Crosswinds in Austin.

The landscape architects of Crosswinds worked to preserve the natural beauty of the Texas prairies that captivated the area’s first explorers. At the same time, the landscape architects wanted to design a community for families that brings everyone and the outdoors together.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

 

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Keep It Kyle Pie Series: Fox’s Pizza Den

As y’all may know, Kyle is the Pie Capital of Texas. OK, if you didn’t know, you do now! Granted, the first kind of pie that comes to mind is the sweet version. Kyle specializes in pie of all kinds including many people’s favorite: pizza.

This town has an incredible medley of pizza. And one of those is Fox’s Pizza Den in Kyle, just 12 short minutes from Crosswinds, on 147 Elmhurst Dr., Kyle, TX 78640.

Welcome to the Den

Fox’s Pizza Den’s story begins with $500, a rented storeroom, and used equipment covered in snow and ice rescued from the scrapyard in Pittsburgh. Founder Jim Fox could finally make his lifelong dream of opening a pizza place come true. The first location appeared in his hometown of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania. From the first pizza sold, it only took six hours to completely sell out.

Fox opened a few more locations around Pennsylvania and incorporated Fox’s Pizza Den in 1974. Now the chain has more than 200 franchises in 25 states. Texas has only two locations and Kyle is the lucky recipient of one of them. Fox’s has been voted best pizza franchise of 1993 by the National Pasta and Pizza Association. It has received PMQ and Pizza Industry Enterprise (PIE) awards.

What’s on the Menu at Fox’s Pizza Den?

Fox’s pizzas come in multiple sizes ranging from the small 9-inch pizza to the Big One that’s 30 inches and contains a whopping 52 slices. Too much? Perhaps, the Big Daddy with 21 slices will do. Too hip for round pizza? Square is available in the Champ, which is 16 inches by 16 inches and contains 16 slices.

Their gourmet pizzas range from buffalo chicken and bacon double cheeseburger to steak rancher and veggie. Want something other than a slice? Stromboli, hoagies, and wedgies are available. Salad fans have a variety of options from tossed to taco salad. Sides include breadsticks, chicken tenders, chicken wings called Fox’s Wing Ditties, and wedge-cut fries.

If you save room for pie, they have round pizza cookies cut like a pie. Flavors include s’mores, brownie with chocolate chips, and the original. And for the non-pie kind of dessert, order cinnamon sticks.

As usual, this is making us hangry. We’re going to make like a fox to head to Fox’s!

More Kyle pies:

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Kyle Spring Break Destination: Wimberley Zipline Adventures

You may be one of many who will opt out on traveling for Spring Break. Still, you may like to do something out of the house. Fortunately, Kyle residents have a great option that’s safe and takes you to the great outdoors. This might be the perfect time to venture out to Wimberley Zipline Adventures. They’re open, they’re outdoors, and they’re fun!

What’s Wimberley Zipline Adventures?

First, if you’ve never gone ziplining, prepare to have an amazing time. You do not need experience to enjoy ziplining. Their highly trained guides will set you up with the proper fitting equipment and take you through “flight school.” You will learn how to work with the equipment and practice.

Wimberley Zipline Adventures has one huge advantage over other ziplines. The Texas Hill Country views. This is your chance to soar in the air like a bird while admiring the surrounding hills, meadows, and canyons. The course contains 10 different ziplines ranging from 150 feet to 900 feet long. The ziplines run between two hillsides above the valley with a maximum height of 100 feet.

The adventure runs for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and requires reservations. You’ll find Wimberley between San Antonio and Austin. For Kyle residents, it only takes 30 minutes West to get to Wimberley. All of the action takes place on the Four Winns’ Ranch where the Winn family has lived since 1937. You can access the ranch off County Road 1492, south of the Village of Wimberley.

Are There Any Other Activities at Wimberley Zipline Adventures?

They’ve opened a Biergarten where you can take in the scenery while treating yourself to beers, ciders, spritzers, and sodas. What a perfect way to end the adventure. Before you schedule your adventure, check out the Wimberley Zipline Adventure FAQ. They answer every possible question including what to wear, what to bring, and more.

They’ll be adding ax throwing soon. Stay on top of the latest news on the Wimbelery Zipline Facebook page. We’re so ready to Cowabunga down the line!

Wimberley Zipline Adventures
376 Winn Valley Dr., Wimberley, TX 78676
(512) 847-9990
Office Hours: Everyday 10 am-5 pm
Tours daily. Reservations required.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Check Out These Mini-Golf and Disc Golf Courses Near Kyle

Big news for Kyle. Texas! They will have not one, not two, but three opportunities for golfing! And each one has a unique theme. Meet the disc golf and two mini-golf establishments that are open or coming soon to Hays County.

Memorial Mini-Golf and WWII Museum

You get two cool things in one place at Memorial Mini-Golf and Museum in Buda (1710 Farm to Market 1626, Buda, TX 78610), which is fewer than 10 miles away from Kyle. The museum wants to educate people about the Greatest Generation. They believe that no other war in history affected the entire world like World War II did as the website says:

“It was people who knew the difference between right and wrong/good vs. evil uniting and not backing down. When the USA joined in the fight, our military was ranked #18 in the world…behind Romania.”

The museum wants to honor ordinary people who did the extraordinary. And at the same time, they want to give families a place to go to have fun. And that place is on their mini-golf course. The mini-golf course blends history with each hole dedicated to a veteran of WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam. See photos of the course on Memorial Mini-Golf and WWII Museum’s Facebook page.

The Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Course

Now for a mini-golf of a different kind. The Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Course (3115 Hilliard Rd., San Marcos, Texas) offers disc golf, which combines mini-golf with flying discs. Instead of relying on golf clubs, you trade them for a more powerful tool: your arm. You’ll throw frisbees across four acres of land trying to get them into the basket instead of a hole.

The Flying Armadillo has two 18-hole courses and practice baskets. They also have a family-friendly mini-course that’s a par 2. If throwing discs isn’t your thing, you can try your hand at shuffleboard, foosball, bocce ball, cornhole, or pool (the billiards kind). You can cheer for your companions by catching the action from an observation tower. For the latest news, visit the Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club Facebook page.

Putt Pub

Also in San Marcos within walking distance from Texas State University is the Putt Pub (307 S LBJ Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666). This one features an 18-hole mini-golf course filled with obstacles, games, and good vibes. The venue has two bars, indoor and outdoor seating, and food trucks.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult. The minimum age to play mini-golf is 16 with a guardian. To join the 21+ crowd, come after 6 pm. Check out the videos of the mini-golf course on Putt Pub’s Facebook page.

Want more ideas of fun things to do in and near Kyle, Texas? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Keep It Kyle: Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club

Looking to try something new and different in Kyle, Texas? How about disc golf? It only takes 20 minutes to get to Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club in San Marcos. This is a full-service disc golf venue and pro shop. You don’t have to be an athlete or have experience to enjoy disc golf.

What Can You Do at Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club?

The club offers more than disc golf. You can play Bocce ball, shuffleboard, foosball, cornhole, and pool. You can watch the action from a four-level observation tower. It’s also a great spot to take photos. A playscape, cooking grills, outdoor showers, and camping are available. Bring your pets as the facility is pet-friendly.

Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club has two 18-hole courses and practice baskets. One is a family-friendly par 2 Mini Course. Udisc ranks it as No. 34 in the world. Think of it as mini golf for disc golf. On average, the holes are 100-feet long. It’s perfect for beginners and kids. Like mini golf, they have themed holes like the pond, tank, and Alamo holes.

The other is a 6,000-foot Big Course. Ranked 84th in the world by UDisc, the big course is a great way to explore the Texas Hill Country terrain. You’ll see giant oak trees and creek beds while traipsing across ever-changing elevations. All the baskets contain solar lights for night rounds.

Snacks and drinks are available. Beware it’s BYOB. Occasionally, they have onsite food such as BBQ.

What Is Disc Golf?

Like its name, disc golf resembles the golf everyone knows. Except, instead of a set of clubs and golf balls, players use a flying disc better known as Frisbee. In golf, the goal is to get the ball to the hole in the fewest strokes possible. The same goes for disc golf. Instead of hitting the ball with a club, you throw the disc.

Of course, a disc golf course will feature obstacles. Instead of sand traps and water, discs can end up in shrubs and trees. The player must make the next throw from the position where the previous throw landed. Elevated metal baskets are the “holes” in disc golf.

Go on and give it a try. They’re open seven days a week. Get some fresh air. For the latest news, visit the Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club’s Facebook page. The address is 3115 Hilliard Rd., San Marcos, Texas 78666.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Events Family Fun

A Tuna Christmas: The Comedy You Didn’t Know You Needed

“A Tuna Christmas” is not a can of tuna with a Christmas-themed label. Not even close. It’s what you get when you add a heaping dose of season’s greetings with Greater Tuna. Jaston Williams and Joe Sears are the people behind all the Tuna productions.

What Is Greater Tuna?

And they’re back with another hilarious show. The two actors take on the roles of all citizens of Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas. Apparently, Tuna is the place where the Lion’s Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline lives on forever.

“A Tuna Christmas” takes place 24 hours before Christmas. Clearly, it’s Christmas Eve. The eccentric characters are trying to cope with the traumas of the season. Apparently, their little theater production of “A Christmas Carol” was a disaster. And a mysterious Christmas phantom sabotaged their yard-decorating contest.

What to Expect When Attending the Show

Nothing normal ever happens where Greater Tuna is involved. So, masks are required even while sitting in your seat. And no concessions will be available. Fill up before you go to the show. There will be empty seats to separate groups and empty rows every other row. What did we say? Nothing is normal when it comes to Greater Tuna.

There will be temperature checks at the door. The theater has hand sanitizer for every attendee. Employees frequently sanitize surfaces. The show is less than an hour from Kyle in Georgetown at The Georgetown Palace Theater (810 South Austin Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626).

The show runs through December 20. If you’re craving another live show, check out Tidings and Tinsel: Holiday Hits from Broadway at the same theater. Information and tickets for both shows are available at the Georgetown Palace Theater ticketing page.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Education Family Fun

Central Texas Food Bank and Volunteering

It’s a challenge these days to volunteer. Fortunately, nonprofits like Central Texas Food Bank have found ways to allow people to volunteer safely. In working with the food bank, you’ll be helping Texans affected by COVID-19.

Established in 1982, the Central Texas Food Bank’s mission is to help those in the community in need of food. While Central Texas is among the fastest-growing regions in the U.S., many members of the community are struggling. They have to make difficult choices due to the increasing costs of housing, transportation, healthcare, and utilities.

About the Central Texas Food Bank

Two-thirds of the people the food bank serves have to decide between food and paying for housing. And 80 percent have to choose between food and medicine. Hunger affects working families, retirees on fixed incomes, non-traditional guardians of children, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill. Almost 25 percent of children in Central Texas live with food insecurity.

Working with Partner Agencies in 21 counties in Central Texas, the food bank has delivered almost 40 million pounds of food to a family in need in the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year. This is an average of 200,000 individuals every month!

They have a 4,200-square-foot kitchen to prepare meals from scratch for multiple programs, offer culinary job training, and create volunteering opportunities. The kitchen combines meal preparation and job training to improve people’s employment options and reduce the problems that lead to hunger.

They also have a garden with 36 different crops. Adults can sign up for gardening classes and learn how to grow and harvest their own food. The nonprofit also does advocacy and supports other programs such as Fresh Food for Families, Healthy Options Program for the Elderly (HOPE), Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and more.

How to Volunteer

One of the easiest and safest ways to help the food bank is to donate. Every $1 provides eight meals! Some companies can match your donation. So, check with yours to see if they’ll do it. You can also shop to give. Here, a percentage of your purchases will go to the food bank. It’s possible you may already shop at some of these businesses.

When you volunteer with Central Texas Food Bank, you have a few options. Be aware that the minimum age to participate varies based on activity. All minors must be accompanied by an adult from their household who is at least 21 years old. The first thing to do is to register with the system. Every volunteer, including minors, needs an account.

You can volunteer at a Mobile Food Pantry. This involves distributing food and providing service to clients. Volunteers assist with setup and teardown at the distribution site. Warehouse volunteers inspect, sort, clean, box, and prepare donations for distribution.

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Area Attractions Education Events Family Fun

Access City Services with the New City of Kyle Mobile App

When you’re not at your laptop or desktop, where do you get your City of Kyle information? Go to the website on your mobile phone? Great news! There’s an easier way to do it. Now you can do a lot of things from your iOS or Android phone with the City of Kyle App!

Kyle Chief of Staff Jerry Hendrix says the growing preference for accessing information on smart phones compelled the City to create the mobile app.

The app features include the following:

  • News & Information: Obtain the latest City of Kyle news and updates.
  • COVID-19 Information: Review the latest COVID-19 statistics for Kyle and Hays County as well as updated information on State and County Orders, City Operations, and COVID-19 resources.
  • Bill Pay: Pay City Utility bills, tickets, court fines and for City permits and inspections.
  • Calendar & Meetings: Stay on top of important City meetings and events.
  • City Directory: Look up contact information for City Departments and Leaders.
  • Voting Information: Remain current on upcoming elections, important deadlines as well as propositions and seats that are on the ballot.
  • Kyle Public Library: Browse the Kyle Public Library’s catalog, hold and renew books, and borrow e-books.
  • Kyle10 Live Stream: Watch the City of Kyle channel 10 live stream.
  • Parks & Facilities: Find information on City Parks, Trails and Facilities.
  • Join TeamKYLE: Check out current City job postings.

The City of Kyle and Uber rideshare platform have a formed partnership called Uber Kyle. It provides transportation options to residents and visitors with transportation. They partnership currently has a promo in the app’s recently added Uber Kyle feature.

Sold on the app? Download the City of Kyle App from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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Area Attractions Family Fun

Keep It Kyle: Pizza Classics Kyle

Many things make small-town living a wonderful lifestyle, especially with the locally-owned businesses. Pizza Classics Kyle is one of them. The restaurant is located at 118 S. Front St Kyle, TX 78640. Owners Billy and Mariah Bonham share their story on the website.

Pizza Classics Kyle Story

Billy Bonham moved to Kyle, Texas, in the 1990s. At the time, the population stood at 3,000! Now, it’s up to more than 40,000. After high school, Bonham started at Pizza Classics as a driver. Eventually, he took over ownership of the business.

The business does things old-school, the hard way. The owners believe it ensures they produce a better product. Every day, they make fresh dough and cut the vegetables by hand. The mozzarella uses 100 percent whole milk and it’s shredded in-house. They also make the sauce from scratch using EVOO and bake it on a stone in an old-school hearth oven.

The owners support recycling. Pizza Classics Kyle recycles all the cardboard, tin, aluminum cans, plastic, and paper that contain their ingredients. They do it because it’s easy and the right thing to do.

What’s on the Menu at Pizza Classics Kyle?

The restaurant offers limited-time menu items. And the latest is pumpkin cheesecake! Of course, pizza is the dominant item on the menu with many options. You can pick your toppings or try the many options they have available. You’ll find vegetarian, chicken BBQ, Frito pie, and Pizza Zen that’s made with local Texas honey.

Appetizers include breadsticks, pepperoni rolls, and wings. For times when you want something other than pizza, they have a whole page of subs and calzones from which to choose. Salads are on hand. And now for the cherry on top: desserts! Count us in for Strawberry Banana Nutella Pie! Cinnamon sticks and cheesecakes are also available.

For the latest news and special, visit the Pizza Classics Kyle Facebook page. Is it dinner time yet?

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

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