Fredericksburg, Texas – A piece of Germany in the heart of Texas Hill Country
Fredericksburg
A little bit of Germany in the middle of the Texas Hill Country
Fredericksburg, in the Texas Hill Country, is a must-see on any trip to Texas. This peaceful spot was settled by German refugees in the middle of the 1800s. It has the best of both Texas and Germany. It’s a great place to shop, with more than 150 shops and art studios on and off of its historic Main Street. You can find western clothes, women’s clothes and jewelry, Texas food and wine, sophisticated home decor, works by local and regional artists, and a lot of places.
If we’re talking about being hungry, the range of food here makes my mouth water. You can really fill your hunger with anything, from traditional German food to barbecue and Tex-Mex. No matter what you want, there are busy patios with live music or quiet spots inside.
Do you like wine? There are more than 50 wineries in and around Fredericksburg. Many of them are along U.S. Highway 290, which is only a few minutes east of Fredericksburg. This makes Fredericksburg the center of Texas Wine Country. After just one tasting trip, you’ll understand why they won so many national and foreign awards. All of the farms are different, just like the wines they make. Italy. Modern and charming. It’s yours. Take it easy on one of the many patios or gardens with nice views, or do something different like a Barrel Room Tour or Winemaker Seminar. There is one thing that is certain: you must visit a winery on your trip to Fredericksburg.
The great outdoors is one reason why so many people visit the Texas Hill Country. Wildflowers in the spring make the ground along the road look like a blanket of color. It is home to Wildseed Farms, which is the biggest plant farm in the US. Bicyclists enjoy the beautiful back roads all year, and hikers of all ages are amazed by the view from the top of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. A popular practice in the Hill Country is to buy sweet and succulent summer peaches at farm stands.
This town of about 12,000 people seems to have an event every weekend. Every year, there’s Oktoberfest with food, music, and Biergartens. Independent films with creative ideas are shown at the Hill Country Film Festival. Families love the Peach JAMboree and Rodeo, and there are lots of fun things to do all month long during Christmas. Well-known Luckenbach Texas is right next to Main Street. This is the place to go for real live Texas music with guitar pickin’ and fiddle playin’.
Are you interested in history? The Pioneer Museum tells about the German farmers who came to the area, and the National Museum of the Pacific War has state-of-the-art, interactive displays that bring in people from all over the world who are interested in World War II. The Lyndon B. Johnson State and National Historical Parks are just down the road. There, people can view the grounds of the 36th president’s home and ranch in Texas, which is known as the Texas White House.
And there are plenty of places to stay. There are more than 20 restaurants and more than 1,500 different guesthouses, bed-and-breakfasts, and inns in the area. All of them offer a taste of real Texas hospitality.