The historic town of San Marcos, Texas was first settled in 1844 and incorporated in 1877. Today, gorgeous scenery, clear warm rivers and lakes, a mild climate, a major university, along with a vibrant economy and a wide range of recreational opportunities all make San Marcos an extraordinary place to live and work.

With historic San Antonio 30 miles to the south, Texas' State Capital Austin (a.k.a. 'The Live Music Capital of the World') 30 miles to the north, and the beautiful Texas Hill Country to the west, there's never a shortage of recreation, entertainment, and special events to enjoy in central Texas. Texas Hill Country is also spotlighted on Infonet-online.com. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy year-round outdoor recreational activities or choose from the various college and professional sports teams in the area.

For those who prefer indoor activities, there are a multitude of live music and performing arts venues in San Marcos and the surrounding area. San Marcos is also home to the state's third most popular tourist attraction - the Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets - two adjacent huge outlet malls, with a combined total of more than 280 name brand outlet stores which attract more than 8 million bargain shoppers a year.

San Marcos offers an exceptional quality of life, with easy access to a wide array of spectacular natural resources, recreational opportunities and cultural amenities. San Marcos is home to Texas State University with some 28,000 students. There are also a number of other great universities within a 160 mile radius. The Texas spirit is unmatched by any other state or university in the U.S.

The spring-fed San Marcos River meanders quietly through the nine local city parks which feature picnic areas, rec buildings, an olympic-sized swimming pool, baseball fields, tennis courts, and one of the nation's largest wooden playscapes. The river is also a popular option for swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, and even riding in a glass bottom boat at the university's fabulous Aquarena Center.   The San Marcos River flows at a constant temperature around 72° F and at about 155 cfs minimum, making it fun for paddling and floating pretty much year around.

The multitude of nearby lakes are ideal for sailing, power boating, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. San Marcos' mild climate lets visitors and residents alike enjoy golf, tennis, cycling, fishing, and other activities throughout the year. Live music, performing arts and cultural exhibits are also available on a year round basis.

The area also offers other popular attractions including the storybook resort community of Wimberley, nearby Canyon Lake, and the world-famous Schlitterbahn waterpark in the adjacent town of New Braunfels. Click here to take a virtual ride.

Speaking of New Braunfels, this is an up-and-coming area that is definitely a place to watch. Worldmark Vacation Resorts has recently completed Phase One of an all new major resort in the area. You'll also want to visit the historic German settlement town of Gruene, Texas, on the banks of the Guadalupe River, whose slogan 'Gently resisting change since 1872' pretty much says it all.

The Guadalupe River flows southeast from New Braunfels and forms Lake McQueeney, about 8 miles SE of New Braunfels. Lake McQueeney is known as the "Waterski Capital of Texas" and if you want to enjoy all the area has to offer, you'll want to either rent a cottage on Treasure Island or look into the exclusive gated waterfront community of Las Brisas.

Visitors and residents also enjoy annual special events such as Summerfest, San Marcos' own 'Summer in the Park' Concert Series, the famous Austin City Limits Music Festival and the South by Southwest Music and Arts Festival, as well as the fabulous spring festival, Fiesta San Antonio. Oh, and if you doubt that the Texas Spirit isn't the strongest in the nation, watch this clip of some Texas younguns ages 6-8 at a Texas Tech Basketball game!

With its mild climate, beautiful scenery and friendly people, San Marcos is an ideal place to live and work. A vibrant economy, along with realistic real estate prices and no state income tax all contribute to its popularity with people seeking a better lifestyle year round, as well as with the 'Winter Texan' crowd who come down to central Texas to escape the cold northern winters.