Why Round Rock is One of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live

It is undoubtedly clear why Round Rock, Texas, would make Money Magazine's list of top 10 best places to live. At one point, Round Rock was a small pocket in Texas just 15 miles outside of Austin. Now, it has become a booming community that attracts thousands of people weekly.

The people in town are great and there is tons of stuff to do anytime, any day. Round Rock, Texas, really is the best place to live in my opinion. The summers may get hot in Texas, but Round Rock has plenty of options for you to cool off.

You can bet that while driving around the city, you will see people walking around and homes with their front doors wide open all day long. Round Rock is the 13^th safest city in the United States, according to the city's website. It is normal to see people walking around at night throughout the neighborhoods.

Round Rock is also home to some major businesses. Dell has made Round Rock home of its headquarters and this has drawn tons of people into the city. Also, Cypress Semiconductor as well as Farmers Insurance group love to call Round Rock home.

The cost of living is one of the lowest in the state and the city is home to some great schools. There are several schools in town and more and more are popping up. Also, Texas State has a campus in Round Rock. As far as college courses, Round Rock is not too far from Georgetown University or the University of Texas.

There is always something to do in Round Rock. Recently, IKEA has planted a great location just off of I-35N. It is easy to spend an entire day shopping there trying to change the style of your home or just upgrading to different items. They have everything for your home you can imagine...and at unbeatable prices. Also, just up the road are Round Rock's Premium outlets. This is a huge outdoor mall. There is tons of space to walk around, areas to have lunch or dinner, and it's not too far spaced out to where you are drained after walking the outlet mall (like most). You can walk the entire mall in about an hour and a half. The outlet mall is home to stores like Nike, The Gap, Adidas, Crocs, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Puma, and much more. I must go here every other weekend and you can bet I will always find what I am looking for at great outlet prices.

On the weekend, I can take my family to several parks around the city and you can bet we never run out of activities to do. From disc golf to bike riding, we have a great time. Or you can just have a BBQ or take a stroll in one of the 34 parks in Round Rock. There is tons of space for everyone.

Everyone knows it is almost always hot in Texas. Most weekends, we head to Lake Travis to cool down. It's just a few miles from Round Rock and you can't beat the fun. We can take our jet skis or fishing boat and relax in the water.

If I am not at the lake, I am taking my dog to the dog depot. It is a huge dog park where he can make friends and be in his own element. The park is split into areas for different sized dogs, which he loves! He also loves the obstacles here and never wants to go back home!

Round Rock also is home of the Round Rock Express, a minor league baseball division of the Houston Astros. They bring tons of entertainment to us. I am a huge sports fan and having a baseball team in town is great. Anytime I attend a game, I have a great time. For recreation, there are two golf courses, bowling alley, billiards, batting cages, and even a family fun center.