Living in The Lakes has its perks: kayaking, birdwatching, paddle-boating, tennis courts. For the lucky ones, they can see some of it straight from their backyard.

Russell Rowley and his wife Jane moved to Lake Travis Drive about seven years ago. If he's not birding in his backyard, the retiree spends time kayaking in a private lake.

"It's a quiet neighborhood," he said. "It's kind of nice in that you don't have a cedar fence in the backyard. You can look out over the water, and it's neat."

The southside subdivision is comprised of 10 units with approximately 687 homes, which includes The Great Lakes – a gated community.

An additional unit is in the planning phase for new construction homes on Lipes Boulevard between Everhart and Weber Roads.

Mikki Spruce, who manages The Lakes' two homeowners' associations, said residents living in the restricted covenant community have access to a swimming pool, tennis courts, a community room and five private man-made lakes.

"We have an annual holiday festival with a hayride to see the Christmas lights around the neighborhood.. crafts for the kids, cocoa. And neighborhood yard sales with about 30 homes participating," he said.

Joggers, bikers, walkers and moms with strollers take routes around quiet neighborhoods or along Oso Creek, a nature preserve on Oso Creek Parkway.

Schools in the area include Jones Elementary, Dawson Elementary, Grant Middle School and Carroll High Schools.

Maribel Rodriguez's four daughters attended Jones Elementary before moving on to other schools. The busy stay-at-home mother with two girls to manage moved to Dijon Lake Drive with husband Reyes after outgrowing their former house. She said they wanted to stay close to Jones Elementary at the time.

"I liked the area and it has tennis courts and a swimming pool that's close to the house," she said.

Another gem for the Rodriguez's is a view of a private lake from their backyard where the family enjoys barbecuing lakeside.