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Area Attractions Blog Family Fun Kyle Texas Tips

Outdoor Fun in Kyle

From nature trails to geocaching tours and even polo matches, Kyle has plenty of ways to have some outdoor fun. 

 

Lake Kyle – The closest beach to Kyle (and by “beach,” we mean the kind with salt water) is Lighthouse Beach, near Port Lavaca, some 137 miles away. That’s not terrible, but it’s a bit far for an afternoon outing. However, plenty of fun by the water can be had locally on Lake Kyle’s 

shores. 

 

The lake is open from sunrise to sunset for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. This city park has plenty to do, including trails along the water, a playground, a boat ramp, and a pier for catch-and-release fishing. 

 

Steeplechase Dog Park – If you’re a dog owner, there’s a good chance that your puppy is itching to come along with you every time you leave the house. Obviously, that’s not always possible, but when a car ride is doable, there’s no better destination than the dog park at Steeplechase. 

 

The dog park was opened in 2018 and was instantly a hit with Kyle’s four-legged residents. The park includes separate areas for both small and large dogs and a watering station for pups to get a little refreshment. In addition to having plenty of space for dogs to run, there are also volleyball, soccer, and baseball fields for their humans to enjoy. 

 

Waterleaf Park – Located on the eastern side of the city is Waterleaf Park. The local park covers 92 acres, though only around 20 of those acres are currently developed. 

 

Among the park’s developed areas for guests to enjoy are a playscape, ball fields, and a trailhead that runs through the park. 

 

Plum Creek Trail – Lake Kyle, Steeplechase, and Waterleaf share a common thread, as all of these parks are connected by one excellent trail. Named after the creek it runs alongside it, the Plum Creek Trail is currently 7 miles of walkable and bikeable trail that, when finished, will stretch from the eastern part of Kyle to the western section of the city.

 

When finished, the trail will be over 15 miles long, but in the meantime, the popular walkway connects the city to nature in a way that everyone can enjoy. 

 

Geocaching tour – Geocaching is one of the coolest ways to explore a city and involves using your phone or tablet to follow GPS coordinates to track down a geocache container. It’s sorta like a modern version of a treasure hunt, and the Kyle Chamber of Commerce has a geocaching passport where participants can find prizes all over the city.

 

Country Line Polo Club – If you’re looking for some outdoor fun a bit off the beaten path, Kyle’s Country Line Polo Club could be right up your alley. Polo is traditionally associated with British royals but has found its way to Texas, and games happen every Friday night!

 

Watching a match is a lot of fun for adults and kids of all ages, and if your little ones are interested in learning to ride, there are instructors available. 

These are just a few of the incredible ways to enjoy some outdoor fun in Kyle. If you’d like to learn more about this wonderful city and find a home here, contact the Crosswinds team today.

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Blog Family Fun Lifestyle Tips

Making Healthy Foods Fun for Kids

A steaming plate of broccoli can make many kids turn up their noses. It doesn’t matter how much you tell them it’s healthy and it will help them grow up big and strong; some kids would rather starve than try so much as a nibble. 

 

If you’re scrambling to figure out how to get your picky eater to embrace healthy foods, here are a few tips. 

 

Add Visual Appeal 

 

Kids are visual eaters just like adults, and if a new food looks unappetizing, trying it could be an uphill battle. A great way of adding a dose of fun to mealtime is with cookie cutters. Use cookie cutters to transform fruits, veggies, meats, or sandwiches into fun shapes. 

 

You can even combine different foods with cookie cutters to create funny faces. Kids will get a kick out of the “new” foods and may just be more open to trying them. 

 

Incentivize 

 

A little incentive can go a long way toward motivating people; the same goes for kids. Rewarding children with dessert for eating their vegetables can make it feel like you’re canceling out nutrition, so consider alternatives. Maybe your child gets points for every new food they finish at mealtime that can be cashed in for things like 30 minutes of bumped-up bedtime or a trip to the zoo or waterpark. 

 

Roll’em Up

 

It’s a universal truth that kids love food that’s rolled up. Something about rolled food just tastes better to kids, and putting this into action can be a great way of getting more healthy foods on your child’s plate. 

 

Use foods like a cheese slice, tortilla, or seaweed wrap as the vehicle for other healthy foods such as fruits, veggies, or meats. 

 

Embrace the Smoothie

 

Being a good parent is about doing what’s best for your children – even if, at times, it requires being a bit sneaky. Busting out the blender and making a fruity yogurt smoothie while slipping in some green veggies like spinach or kale is an excellent way of incorporating healthy foods into your child’s diet. 

 

If your child raises an eyebrow at the green color of their regular bright red strawberry smoothie, just tell them it’s Hulk juice. You won’t technically be lying, as leafy greens can help promote the growth of strong muscles. 

 

Get Your Kids Involved 

 

Children are often more enthusiastic about trying something if they get to have a hand in the process. Bringing your child into the kitchen to help prepare lunch or dinner gives them a sense of empowerment. Younger children may like stirring or adding ingredients, while older kids may be up for the task of chopping fruits and veggies. A hands-on approach can have a big impact on helping kids to be a bit more open-minded when it comes to eating new foods. 

 

If the first method isn’t a surefire success, try a combination of these tips and, above all else, be patient and stick with it. Before you know it, your kids may just be suggesting healthy recipes of their own to try out in the kitchen. 

 

Crosswinds residents love preparing meals in the modern and stylish kitchens of the homes in this master-planned community. To learn more about available homes, contact us today. 

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Blog Family Fun Kyle Texas Tips

Hosting a Book Club

Hosting a book club is a major life endeavor. Probably second only to having children or buying a house. Just kidding! While hosting a book club does take a little planning, with surface-level know-how, you can bring together your bookworm buddies for some fun camaraderie and discussion. 

 

Know Your Club’s Purpose

A book club’s purpose might seem self-explanatory, but there’s a little more to it than simply discussing a book. Is the goal to catch up with coworkers, meet new friends, learn something new, or a combination of all the above? The most successful book clubs are those where expectations are set early on. 

 

Have a Mix of Genres

There’s nothing wrong with having a book club dedicated to only reading non-fiction military history or period piece romance, but it’s a good idea to set this precedent early on if that’s the case. Otherwise, you’ll want to mix in different genres and authors to keep things interesting!

 

When choosing the books, consider not only the genre, but the book-length, price, and reading difficulty. Opting for a few selections from the “best of” lists is a trusted process. You’ll also want to rotate who chooses the books so each member has input.

 

Snacks

Your book-loving buddies will enjoy some light snacks while discussing the book, so be sure to offer some small bites. Cheese and crackers, chips, maybe some mini sandwiches – nothing too messy. 

 

Depending on the book you’re reading, you may even want to offer snacks that play into the theme. For example, if you’re reading Under The Tuscan Sun, bruschetta or an antipasto platter would be an ideal pairing.  

 

Group Size

Finding the right mix of members can be tricky for a book club. It’s probably not a good idea to have an ongoing open-door policy as this could easily lead to the book club swelling in size and chaotic discussion. Look for people who have an open mind, and you think the other members will enjoy being around. 

 

As for determining the group’s size, there’s no magic number, but generally, 3 to 10 people is manageable enough for thoughtful discussion. 

 

Structure the Discussion

Structuring the discussion so that everyone gets a voice can be a challenge. One or two conversation hogs could make less extroverted members feel squeezed out of the discussion. 

To help avoid this, you should lay out a discussion guide ahead of time where each member offers their opinion on a particular chapter or scenario in the book. Another idea is to have a moderator (typically the host of the affair) carve out time for more deep-dive questions or roundtable opinions on a subject or character. 

 

Offer everyone a chance to be heard — pretty soon, your book club will have a natural flow of discussion that each member can partake in. 

 

If you’re looking for ideas on some great books to add to your book club rotation, the Kyle public library should be a go-to destination. It’s one of the many places that make Kyle such a wonderful place to call home. 

Want to learn more about Kyle and finding a home in the Crosswinds community? Contact our team today.

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Blog Lifestyle Tips

Stay Active When Working From Home

While it’s true that people are starting to return to the office, more workers are still punching the clock from home than ever before. Naturally, this means lots of desk time, and if there’s one thing all health professionals can agree on, it’s the importance of moving your body. 

 

Sitting for long, uninterrupted periods of time can lead to cardiovascular problems, but just 30 minutes of daily exercise can offset all that sitting. Here are some ways to stay active when working at home. 

 

Make Exercise a Priority

 

First and foremost, make moving around a priority. It’s recommended that you get up and move for at least 5 to 10 minutes every hour, but you should also work actual exercise into your daily routine. 

 

This could be something as simple as jumping a little rope on your lunch break or hitting up a yoga class before or after work. Many employers also offer incentives and discounts on gym memberships for employees. 

 

If you find that you can’t commit to a gym or yoga class, consider setting a reminder on your phone to work in 10-minute exercise segments throughout your day. The important thing is that you actively make an effort to squeeze exercise into your schedule. 

 

Limber Up

 

In 2022, researchers noted a rise in chronic back pain that was linked to working from home. You don’t need a medical degree to see the correlation. Thankfully, there is something you can do to avoid putting yourself at risk – stretch.  

 

Consider trying these stretches to keep your back feeling limber:

 

Child’s pose: While on your hands and knees, lean back, resting your hips on your heels. Then extend your arms in front of you to rest your belly on your thighs. Hold for one minute. 

 

Seated spinal twist:

  1. Sit on the floor, keeping both legs out front.
  2. Bend your right knee, placing your foot outside your left thigh.
  3. Place your right arm on the outside of your left knee and your left hand behind you on the ground.
  4. Gently twist your spine to the right.
  5. Hold one minute. 

 

Take a Walk 

 

If the gym or yoga isn’t your thing, then lace up those shoes and step outside for a walk. Walking has numerous health benefits, such as easing joint pain, improving the immune system, and burning calories. 

 

The trail system at Crosswinds and local parks such as Lake Kyle and Steeplechase are all great places for getting out and stretching your legs with a walk. 

 

Sit and Stand

 

As we touched on earlier, too much sitting isn’t good for your health. To help offset this, you may want to consider adding a standing desk to your home office. A standing desk gives you the option of sitting when you want to sit and easily elevates its height when you want to stand. 

 

By alternating your desk time between sitting and standing, you’ll help to offset some of the potential health risks of sitting for too long. 

From the walking trail system to the pool and sports court, there are plenty of ways within the Crosswinds community to get in some daily exercise. If you’d like to find your next home here, contact us today.

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Blog Education Family Fun Kyle Texas Tips

Tips to Prepare for School Starting

While the temperatures outside are still blazing hot, there’s no denying that summer vacation is winding down. Because it’s important that both kids and parents start the school year off on the right foot, here are a few tips to put into action before that first school bell of the year rings. 

 

Shop Smart

 

If your children’s school hasn’t already sent out a reminder that the new school year is approaching, then advertisements for back-to-school sales should be a tip-off. 

 

A 2022 survey found that families were estimated to spend around $864 on average on back-to-school supplies. All those new school uniforms, backpacks, and pencils (kids still use those, right?) can really add up, so it’s important to shop smart. 

 

  • Take advantage of discounts. Some clothing stores offer student discounts, and others will offer coupon codes if you sign up for their email list.
  • Look for refurbished or used items when it comes to electronics, sports equipment, or textbooks.
  • Take advantage of Texas’ sales tax holiday (Aug 11 -13)
  • Shop early to have the most options.

 

Readjust Schedules for School

 

While one of the perks of summer for many parents and kids is sleeping in, that pretty much comes to a screeching halt once the school year starts. Getting back on schedule might take a little getting used to, so it’s best to start a week in advance. 

 

  • Move bedtimes up by 15 to 30 minutes each day until kids are back at their school bedtime.
  • Scale back screen time and replace it with a book before bed.
  • Ease into a routine with mealtimes that work with school schedules.

 

Set Learning Goals

 

Back-to-school is a natural opportunity for your child to set goals for the new school year. This can help students succeed in school and also help them develop the critical life skill of goal-setting. 

 

To help set goals for the upcoming school year, parents and children should sit down and talk about any struggles from the previous year that may need more attention. It’s important that kids don’t feel like only their weaknesses are being focused on, however, and parents should also ask them about their favorite subject and any new skills related to it they’re excited about learning. 

 

Schedule Annual Doctor’s Appointments

 

The schedules at doctors’ offices can fill up incredibly quickly this time of year, so the sooner you can get an appointment on the books for your child, the better. 

 

During this annual visit, pediatricians will do hearing and vision checkups and administer any school-required immunizations. And if your child will be playing sports, it’s a good idea to check with your school regarding any required participation exam and bring up any concerns with your doctor at the appointment. 

 

While the start of a new school year can come with a little bit of anxiety for both students and parents, a little bit of prep work ahead of time can help to smooth the transition for everyone. 

To learn more about the Hays Consolidated Independent School District that serves families in the Crosswinds community, contact us today.

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Blog Family Fun Kyle Texas Tips

Pack the Perfect Summer Picnic

As great as air conditioning is, there’s just something classic about grabbing a few blankets, some tasty food, and cold drinks and heading out to a grassy spot for a picnic. 

 

The term “picnic” dates back to 17th century France, but in the early part of the 20th century, picnics started to catch on in popularity. 

 

Here are some helpful tips to help you plan the perfect summer picnic. 

 

Don’t Forget the Cooler 

 

With Texas temps firmly planted in the 90s during the summer, keeping cool and staying hydrated is a must. You’ll want to bring a sizable cooler to hold both your drinks and any cheeses, dips, deli meats, or other foods that need to be kept cool. 

 

While some premium coolers can keep foods cold for an entire day, others may only keep them cool for a few hours. It doesn’t hurt to toss a few ice packs in there to help make sure everything stays cool and fresh. 

 

Get Comfy

 

A sizable blanket is a must for a good picnic. It keeps you and your food off the grass, gives you an extra barrier against bugs, and, well, it’s just going to make your overall picnic experience that much more comfy. 

 

If you prefer not to sit on the ground, then be sure to bring along a few folding chairs. It also isn’t a bad idea to throw an umbrella in the car if you know you’ll be picnicking somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of trees to provide shade. 

 

Pack Your Basket Right

 

It’s easy to get carried away with packing all the delicious dips, sandwiches, salads, and other picnic foods and forget the other picnic essentials – utensils. The last thing you want is to get your blanket spread out in that perfect spot and open up your basket to find that you forgot to pack plates and utensils to eat with. 

 

A few other essentials to consider packing:

 

  • Napkins
  • Condiment packets
  • A trash bag
  • A small cutting board and knife
  • Bug spray
  • Sunscreen
  • A bottle opener

 

Picnic Fun for the Kids

 

The food is the highlight of every picnic, but you might as well enjoy the great outdoors to their fullest, right? Consider bringing along a frisbee or ball to toss, and if you have kiddos in tow with you, it doesn’t hurt to bring along bubbles, a kite, or a paddle ball set. 

 

This can provide a nice break to burn off some calories before heading home – or going back for seconds!

 

Bring the Right Foods

 

Some foods just aren’t ideal for a picnic. Foods like chocolate and fried chicken aren’t great because they can quickly get incredibly messy. Instead, opt for foods that travel well and can be easily packed up and taken home if you don’t finish them. 

 

A few classic picnic foods include:

 

  • Pasta salad
  • Fruit salad
  • Sandwiches
  • Empanadas
  • Oatmeal cookies
  • Chicken salad
  • Cheddar cheese straws

 

Now that you know the dos and don’ts of picnic planning, all that’s left to do is find that perfect spot, and there are a number of parks near Kyle that are ideal for an afternoon picnic.

 

If you’d like to learn more about all Kyle has to offer and find the perfect home here, contact the Crosswinds team today. 

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Blog Homeowner Tips Kyle Texas Tips

Summer Patio Decor Ideas

Maximizing the enjoyment of your time on the patio during the summer doesn’t have to be a huge endeavor; all it takes is a little bit of planning. Here are some patio tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your patio this summer and into the fall season. 

Set Up Your Seating

Good seating is a must whether your patio is huge or on the small side. If you have a grill and want to serve meals on your patio, then you’ll want to go with a dining set that provides seating for everyone in your household and at least a few guests. 

As far as patio furniture material, there are a lot of choices to choose from. Even if you plan on storing your patio furniture indoors during the winter months, you’re going to want furniture made of durable, weather-resistant material. Treated wood, aluminum, stainless steel, rattan, wrought iron, and resin wicker can all be great and affordable options; it all just depends on personal style.

Add Some Lighting

Good conversation and strong libations have a way of keeping people on the patio, and you’re going to need some lighting after the sun goes down. 

String lights are always a popular choice as they’re incredibly cheap and add an element of whimsical charm. They’re also pretty versatile too. You can string them on a trestle to create a lighted wall or outline them around your patio space to create the concept of an open room. 

Solar-powered lanterns, floor lamps, or step lights can also be a great choice and provide a practical and stylish lighting option. 

Fire Features 

While you may not want to gather around a fire pit in the middle of an August afternoon, these patio features are fantastic for those summer nights that stretch into cool fall evenings. 

Fire pits come in a variety of styles, from rustic to sleek and modern, and even portable. The traditional fire pit is wood-burning, but propane fire pits have become increasingly popular in recent years and offer a smoke-free controllable flame. 

Keep it Organized 

If you have young kiddos, there’s a good chance there’s any number of random toys out on the patio and spilling into the backyard at any given time. Help keep them organized with a patio storage box. 

These helpful space savers come in a variety of sizes, and some of them even double as extra seating with a bench on top (it’s a win-win). 

Keep Cool 

Just because you’re outside in the summer doesn’t mean you have to sweat. If your patio doesn’t have any natural shade in the form of a mature tree, then a large umbrella is a must. For some added comfort when a cool breeze is nowhere to be found, consider setting up an outdoor mobile fan. 

And if you find that your concrete patio gets hot enough to fry an egg in the summer sun, try a light-colored weather-resistant rug to help cool things down. 

Many of the homes in the Crosswinds community have thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces that are perfect for spending time with friends and family during the summer months. Contact us to learn more about our inventory of available homes.

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Amenities Area Attractions Blog Family Fun Tips

Summer Activities Other Than Swimming + Playing Outside

Swing by the Crosswinds community pool on a sunny day in the summer, and you’re bound to see people taking a dip. Whether at the pool, beach, or lake – swimming is pretty much essential for summer survival in Texas. 

 

That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t plenty of ways to make the most of the great outdoors in the summer months. Consider leaving the bathing suit at home and adding these outdoor activities to your summer bucket list.

 

Climb a Rock

 

Climbers from around the country come to this part of Texas to refine their skills on the area’s limestone rock faces. If you’re looking for a summer workout, climbing will definitely put your muscles to the test. 

 

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and Reimer’s Ranch Park are two popular spots because of the diversity of climbing trails available. If you’re new to the sport or just want to work on your skills, consider signing up for a class or private lesson at Cruck Climbing Center in Austin. You’ll be able to perfect your technique under the guidance of seasoned climbing vets so that when you do tackle that 70-foot rock wall, you’re primed and ready. 

 

Catch a Fish

 

Scaling a 100-foot cliff can certainly help take your mind off the hustle and bustle of modern life, but if you’re looking for something a bit less extreme, fishing can do the trick too. Fishing is an ideal summer activity for families, and whether you plan to keep and eat your catch or toss it back, there’s no shortage of great places in the area to cast a line. 

 

Grab your tackle box and check out these fishing spots near Kyle:

 

  • Red Bud Isle
  • Lockhart State Park
  • McKinney Falls State Park
  • Lake Travis
  • Rebecca Creek
  • Onion Creek

 

Geocaching

 

If you’re unfamiliar with geocaching, it’s sort of along the lines of a treasure hunt using GPS. Individuals and organizations set up caches around a certain area and share the locations of these caches on the internet. 

 

Participants then use the GPS capability on their phones or tablet to locate the coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a reward. There are essentially three rules for a fun round of geocaching: 

 

  1. Take something from the cache
  2. Leave something in the cache
  3. Write about it in the logbook

 

Popular items to leave in the geocache for the next person include buttons, keychains, small toys, coins, or something unique to the area. Geocaching is a super fun way to explore Kyle, and you can even pick up a passport through the city to go on a Kyle GeoTour.

 

Catch a Game

 

The roar of the crowd, the smell of popcorn… there’s nothing quite like catching a baseball game in the summer. Kyle residents are lucky enough to have two teams in the area that they can cheer on. The Round Rock Express is a Triple-A team that plays at Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock, and the Austin Weirdos, a Pecos League team that takes the field at Govalle Park in Austin. 

 

Whether you’re a Weirdos or Round Rock fan, a day at the ballpark is always a summer favorite. 

 

With so much to do in the Kyle area during the summer, the question isn’t what should you do, but what should you do next? If you’re looking to explore all Kyle has to offer, check out the inventory of new homes in Crosswinds or contact the Crosswinds team.

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Blog Family Fun Lifestyle Tips TX

Summer vacation – Travel hacks

If you’re like millions of other folks, you’re probably itching to head out on a summer vacation. Travel industry experts are predicting this to be a record-setting travel season – Memorial Day weekend alone saw over 42 million travelers. 

 

With busy skies and busy highways being a likelihood with so many heading out for vacation, here are a few tips to help make your trip a hassle-free one. 

 

Leave Early or Late – If you’re traveling by plane or train, consider opting for a red-eye ticket. These are often a little cheaper and may be less crowded. 

 

It’s probably not the safest idea to drive through the night, but if you can leave a few hours before morning rush hour, you’ll have less traffic to contend with on the roads. Just be sure to go to bed early the night before so you’re well rested. 

 

Use Alternative Routes – The U.S. interstate system revolutionized travel, but all those six-lane highways can get pretty crowded at times. Consider plugging an alternative route into your GPS that doesn’t take you on the interstate.

 

Often times these alternative routes aren’t that much longer and are less crowded. You may even discover some off-the-beaten-path places worth stopping at along the way.  

 

Flash Your Credentials – Many restaurants, rental car companies, hotels, and even airlines offer discounts based on affinity affiliations. Often times these discounts apply to senior citizens, Triple AAA members, first responders, active or military veterans, students, and even teachers. All you have to do is ask. 

 

Use Social Media to Your Advantage – Follow airlines and hotels on social media before your trip. This way, you’ll be privy to any important announcements or limited-time offers. 

 

The same goes for theme parks. Parks like Disney and Universal Studios also have apps that may be worth downloading to help find a bathroom or locate attractions with shorter wait times. 

 

Bring a Water Bottle – This is a simple one but can be a big money saver. By bringing a reusable water bottle with you, you’ll be able to save on constantly having to buy water bottles, a cost that can add up quickly in airports and theme parks. 

 

Pack Smart – Good organization is key for packing, and packing cubes make keeping everything organized that much easier. Not only do they help with organization, but they work like mini-compression sacks and enable you to cram more stuff in your suitcase. 

 

Block Out the Noise – If you’re going on a long flight or will be bunking with people whose sleep habits you’re unfamiliar with, do yourself a favor and buy some noise-canceling headphones. Trust us; they’re much better at blocking out snoring or loud music than simply shoving tissue in your ear. 

 

Splurge on Lunch – If you’re a foodie who loves to eat at the best restaurants on vacation (and who doesn’t?), then you know that eating out can get expensive. Check if the restaurant you’re eyeing offers a less expensive lunch menu and splurge on your mid-day meal rather than dinner. 

 

As much fun as heading out for a summer vacation is, it’s always great to come back to a home you love and sleep in your own bed. If you’re looking for the perfect home, reach out to the Crosswinds team to learn more about Kyle and our inventory of available homes. 

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