Outside La Cantera

Whether you have just moved into La Cantera or have been here since the beginning, there is a lot to do and take in around our complex. If you are a thrill-seeker, a shopaholic or an outdoorsman, you are in a dream location! If there isn’t something you are looking for within walking distance, it’s most likely just a short drive away. Here are a few of the must-sees/dos!

Photo courtesy Sheila Scarborough

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

You have probably seen the nightly fireworks and laser lights display from your apartment, but have you taken a day off work to enjoy the park?  Six Flags has thrill rides,  family rides, a water park, entertainment and more. The amusement park opens daily at 10:30 a.m. and the water park opens at noon.  The park is hosting a  Fourth of July Fest July 4 through 6, featuring early ride times and a special fireworks display.

Photo courtesy fd2s

The Shops at La Cantera

The Shops at La Cantera has almost everything you could need, from Anthropologie to Zara. You can sign up for “The Club”  to receive emails with exclusive sales, newsletters and events. The Shops are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.  A new addition to the Shops, candy store Lolli and Pops, opens July 4.

Photo courtesy Mario Riojas

Enjoy the Outdoors

There are plenty of local parks nearby for jogging, hiking or walking your dog. Nearby Leon Creek Greenway Park has approximately 15 miles of trail for hiking, biking, or walking and connections include UTSA, Earl Scott Pond, Cathedral Rock Park and more. Fox Park trail is a good location if you are a runner and Eisenhower Park is a nice location for a large group gathering. Best of all, as long as you’re not renting a pavilion, it’s free!

What are your favorite spots near The Residences at La Cantera? Comment below or snap a picture and share it with us!

Photo Challenge

We love that living at La Cantera is a unique experience and we take pride in the features that we offer our residents!

Can you determine what (we think) the best features of living at La Cantera are by scrolling through the photos below? There's three words - if you think you've got one, leave us a comment and tell us your guess! 

#1

#2

#3

Is there an element of La Cantera that you love more than the rest? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Welcome To La Cantera!

Now that you're getting settled into your new home at The Residences At La Cantera, it's time to start getting involved. We're proud of our beautiful community, the ease with which you can walk to The Shops at La Cantera, and the awesome residents we have - and we want you to get to know all of them!

If you're having a little trouble breaking out of your shell, here are a few ideas to get you acclimated and out enjoying the La Cantera lifestyle. Follow these tips from renters.apartments.com and you'll be out and about in no time. See you around!

Take a Tour

Nothing tops discovery than a little exploration. The city of Chicago was my first destination beyond the cornfields near my parent’s house. As skyscrapers were a somewhat different form of greenery and this was the pre-smartphone era, the Not for Tourists Guide to Chicago never left my purse.

Post-its adorned the categorized pages highlighting restaurants I needed to try and museums I needed to visit. It also described the neighborhoods so I had an idea which ones were safe for me to venture to on my own.

Not For Tourists App

Luckily for today’s mover, the NFT has an app for that. My guide is about a decade old, so it’s nice to have an updated version on hand and accessible via my iPhone (makes the decision of which handbag to wear that day much more versatile).

But for those who want to carry something around but have it not be as bulky as a book, check out the City Walks cards. My friend gave them to me as a gift when I made my second big move to New York. And boy did I need them! Each “city” features an open-topped box with a stack of cards inside. Each card in the deck outlines a self-guided walking adventure, with a detailed map on the front and information on the back filled with insider tips. Take one or several cards with you and you and you can find the best spots in your new neighborhood!

Map My Run

Are you a runner or just someone who likes to find walking paths nearby? Check out Map My Run. It’s an online community where you can find walking, running, biking or even dog walking routes based on location. You can search for walks or create your own walk. I highly recommend it if you want to find your unbeaten neighborhood paths.

Do Your Research

In the land of Google, we can pretty much find out anything with just a few clicks on a keyboard or swipes on a smart phone. One of my favorite tasks when exploring a new area is going to Google Maps on my computer, typing in my address and clicking on “Search Nearby” to find local coffee shops, restaurants, shops and grocery stores.

Google bought famous rating guide company, Zagat, in 2011. Users quickly noticed how business listings on Google Maps had the Zagat logo conveniently located next to the business name. Very convenient for the user to find nearby spots and check out the Zagat ratings all in one place!

I also have Foursquare and Yelp downloaded on my iPhone for when I’m on the move. Both have features allowing you to search venues near your location along with user ratings from both friends and strangers.

Know Your Neighbors

Speaking of friends and strangers, you can walk the city streets or small-town sidewalks all you want, but that doesn’t necessarily help you meet people. The days of neighbors walking to your door with a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” gift basket aren’t necessarily the norm anymore. And you may not feel comfortable asking for a cup of sugar either.

Nextdoor App

Nextdoor is a highly-rated app that you can download to get to know and keep in touch with people in your neighborhood! Their website lists the following uses for this private network:

• Quickly get the word out about a break-in
• Organize a Neighborhood Watch Group
• Track down a trustworthy babysitter
• Find out who does the best paint job in town
• Ask for help keeping an eye out for a lost dog
• Find a new home for an outgrown bike
• Finally call that nice man down the street by his first name

Sometimes, however, the best way to meet people is to not rely on technology but rather think more old school. My favorite neighborhood that I lived in during my stint in New York was Harlem; and one of the reasons was because it was my first apartment that had a stoop.

I would read the newspaper, a book or just people watch on that stoop on such a regular basis that I met everyone who lived in my building along with a few neighbors! You’d be surprised how many people ask to read sections of your newspaper when they see you reading one. (And people say print is dead. I call poppycock!)

Don’t have a stoop to sit upon? Find a local coffee shop, restaurant or bar you like and make a point to become a regular. You’ll start recognizing other frequent visitors and that gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself. As you both have already seen one another there regularly, it can be almost awkward continuing to ignore them. A great opportunity to break the ice!

Be Patient

It’s commonly told that it takes about a year to fully move into your new home. I moved back to Chicago just a year ago, and can second that statement. As much as you want to be a neighborhood expert and develop a full-fledged routine within three months, be patient and take your time. It’ll take you some time to explore and develop your own routine.

Hopefully these tips and tools will help ease you along the way.

Out With The Old, In With The New

(Image courtesy of thundertype)

We know that moving is both an exciting and a sad time. Now that our gorgeous luxury apartments are ready for our residents to start moving in, we know that many of your are going through a transition period.

We’re excited to welcome you to our new community, and a quick reminder, writer Tess Wilson from apartmenttherapy.com reminds us of both the exciting and sad parts of moving! Keep reading to see what she has to say.

I'll most miss...

1. Our fireplace: what kind of farmhouse doesn't have a fireplace?!
2. Living within biking distance of a proper town: post office, thrift store, library, video store, two grocery stores, two Mexican grocery stores, public pool, hardware stores, two great pizza places, and two great Mexican restaurants.
3. The en suite bathroom in the master bedroom: I had no real idea such a luxury existed (although you could say that in studio apartments, everything isen suite), but it is glorious.

I'm most looking forward to...

1. The most beautiful yard in the Midwest, full of apple trees, weeping willows, lilacs, and native flowers, overlooking hundreds of acres of prairie.
2. The triple-wide hammock in the aforementioned yard.
3. Living in a totally new way/place: I've lived in cities for 32 years and small towns for two years, but I've never lived in the country. We shall see.

What do you miss the most about your last home? What do you love the most about your current home?