Austin is a big, beautiful city; there is no doubt about that. But, there are several small towns within 50 miles of Austin that are filled with charm and beauty. Whether you want to get out of the city for a weekend or move to a smaller town. Smithville is a small town in Bastrop County, about 41 miles from Austin. Its population is just at 5,000. It is mostly famous for the 1998 movie "Hope Floats" that starred Sandra Bullock. Smithville is most proud of its recreation center. The center has a large gym, basketball court and has events for the entire community throughout the year. Smithville also has many family owned restaurants, grills and antique shops. Visitors can always find something interesting while visiting. Coupland is east of Austin on Highway 95, between Elgin and Taylor. This small town is most famous for its dancehall. The dancehall also has an Inn and a restaurant. There is always something going on here, and the band is always live. They have featured such acts a Kevin Fowler, Moe Bandy even George Strait's band has played there. Coupland's last population was about 150. If you want to get out of the city, this is the place to visit. Lexington is about 50 miles east of Austin, in Lee County. Its population is just under 1,200. This small German community was named after Lexington Massachusetts. The community has bed and breakfasts and each year, the first weekend in May, they have a "Homecoming" celebration. The celebration begins on the first Friday in May and runs through Sunday. The town holds a parade, food booths, arts and crafts and a BBQ cook off. Lexington has a heritage center showcasing two log cabins that were built in the 1850's. They have pioneer furnishings, and are open for tours. Lexington is also home of "Texas Monthly's" number one BBQ joint in Texas, Snows BBQ. It made the top spot in the magazine last summer and is open on the weekends. Bastrop is a town south east of Austin. Their is a lake called lake bastrop. Over the last several years Bastrop has been slowly growing. With cheaper prices the Bastrop real estate market is becoming an alternative the sky high prices scene in Austin. Giddings is just 18 miles south of Lexington, on highway 77 and is the county seat of Lee County. This little community's population is just under 6,000. The city has bed and breakfasts, hotels, antique shops. They also have the Lee County Junior Livestock and Rodeo each year at the fair grounds. Dime Box is also located in Lee County, with a population of just 400. Dime Box received its name by a resident in 1877 when locals would use a wooden box to forward and receive mail. They would leave a dime in the box for payment. This small town has a winding road through downtown, covered with trees. The community is so small, everything is within walking distance. Residents like to keep the German and Czech heritage alive with the Dime Box Heritage Museum. There are not any hotels in the small town, but there are small towns nearby that have places to stay. Take time and visit a small town near Austin.
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