The self-proclaimed "Sports Capital of Texas" is a well-deserved title for Round Rock. The genuine enjoyment comes from the fact that no professional level sports teams reside in the city, or in nearby Austin. While crazed fans are climbing over each other in AT&T Stadium to cheer the Cowboys to another mediocre season, sports fans in Round Rock get to watch quality games without sacrificing their pride.
Everyone in the Round Rock area loves to shop organically, which could be a bleed off of the hippie Austin culture or the fact everyone is already healthy. Everyone bikes on the city's 15 miles of trails, and the nearly 30 city parks allow for plenty of exploring as well (even those with disabilities can join in on the fun at the Play for All Abilities Park). Regardless if it's obsessively shopping for food at Sprouts or buying a new bike seat because "it makes the bike feel faster," healthy for people in Round Rock isn't a lifestyle, it's a religion. Speaking of smart behavior...
The Boy Scouts have nothing on the city of Round Rock. In 2012, the city ranked 11th nationally on CQ Press' list of the nation's safest cities-the seventh year in a row it was included in the top 30 cities with a population over 75,000. As a side note, Round Rock's rival city Pflugerville didn't even make the list! The most recent data reveals that violent crimes like murders and assaults have dropped 13 percent in the Round Rock area. With the Round Rock community growing so fast staying on the list can be difficult, but the city's police force works with citizens to constantly seek improvements and keep their seven-year safety streak going. The city's reputation is no laughing matter to these people, because...
Round Rockians believe their city to be the counterbalance to the "Weird" of Austin. The people have built up a reputation for their city as a fun place with a focus on good, wholesome entertainment. This ranges from the Fall Fun Fest with activities like pumpkin carving and train rides, to the Outlaw Trail Cycling Tour-a crazy intense endurance race to test the stamina of the most fit Round Rockians. Even though Austin is only 20 minutes away the people in Round Rock still have their own fun, and unlike Austin, that fun doesn't require a handlebar mustache and/or listening to obscure indie rock at some weird bar. And the people like it that way.
Despite the desire to be considered separate from Austin, Texas pride is in no short supply here. From the unmistakable rhinestone belts to the abundance of wall-crosses, outsiders are sure to get a big Southern welcome here. Downtown is full of no-shame stylized stores (that Sam Bass would probably have loved to rob). One of these stores, Sweet Love and Sugar Britches, looks like it came right out of a spaghetti Western, and the owner Julia Broadway (yes, that is her last name), is the person to meet if you're looking for real Texas twang.
6. To Say They're Dog-Lovers is A Bit Of An UnderstatementYes, there are cats in Round Rock. But let's just be serious, dogs rule. And Round Rockians believe that more than most. A number of restaurants are dog-friendly (including local favorite the Round Rock Cafe) and owners don't even have to part with their furry friends when they go shopping-the Round Rock Premium Outlets welcomes dogs in the common areas. City parks also allow dogs on leashes, and Fido has his own place to run free at the Round Rock Dog Depot, with almost two acres for him to chase his tail. These people practically invented the phrase "man's best friend." And dogs aren't the only ones they spoil...
If you live in Round Rock, you shop. A lot. Trust me. A trip down University Boulevard will bring you to Ikea, Burberry, and another 123 stores in the Round Rock Outlet Mall. Those who don't like the outlet scene aren't left out: They get their retail fix at the other 10 shopping centers in town. Don't get the wrong idea: There aren't any "plastics" in town that will write you off in a "burn book" if you don't have the latest Coach purse. But if anyone is looking for the latest Coach purse, there's a store for that. But make no mistake: Not everyone here is completely superficial. In fact...
Michael Dell (from a little company called Dell Computers) set up shop in Round Rock in the late 1990s, and brought literally thousands of technology-based jobs (and minds) to the area. And let's not even talk about all of the college-educated residents around town. Texas State has a campus in Round Rock. The Art Institute of Austin is just minutes away (closer than it is to downtown Austin) for all the creative, spontaneous folk, and the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine balances out the artists with scientists. With such an abundance of higher education in the area, there's no wonder everyone around town is so healthy. Although they do seem to be blind in one spot because...
The Round Rock healthy lifestyle train does have one dark passenger: Round Rock Donuts. In 2011, the Food Network featured these donuts on Man vs. Food for one reason alone: They're HUGE! But would you really expect anything less in Texas? It's their claim to fame, sure, but not everyone in Round Rock is prepared to tell the world they indulge in the sweet treats. Health nuts will fervently deny that they have this dirty little secret, but the truth is everyone, everyone loves Rock Round Donuts. (Seriously, they're delicious, trust me)
Sam Bass, a notorious train-robber and outlaw, ran through Texas making a living off of stealing from others and generally wreaking havoc from city to city. On July 19, 1878, his crimes caught up with him and he was shot in a firefight right here in Round Rock. He escaped the city but died two days later from the wound. Today the people still take pride in their city's claim to fame: the Frontier Days Celebration was begun in 1964 in Bass' honor, and a replica tombstone was dedicated to him in the cemetery. Round Rockians also slapped Bass' name on just about everything in town including a main road, multiple businesses and even the fire department!
Feature Image Source: Flickr user 2HPix.com-Henry Huey
