Fredericksburg, Texas – This hamlet in the Hill Country area is buzzy enough to be exciting but chill enough for a great long weekend. Founded in 1846 by German immigrants under the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, the town is nestled between two creeks and is just north of the Pedernales River.
The German influence is still there today in places like the downtown Marktplatz, a city park that bustles on weekends and holidays, as well as in storied buildings that now house the kitchen shop Der Küchen Laden and the Kuckuck’s Nest, a German import store.
Getting to Fredericksburg, Texas
Hop a flight to San Antonio, rent a car, and drive just over an hour north to Fredericksburg. That blacktop ribbon of highway passes through mesquite-rich ranchland that will have you rolling down the windows to take in the breeze. Stop at the Luckenbach Outpost before you get to town, where live music and cold beer are the order of the day.
Where to stay in Fredericksburg, Texas
In town, Hoffman Haus and The TrueHeart Hotel feature spacious quarters to unwind and relax before or after a downtown stroll. TrueHeart’s cozy cottages feature porches and a community fireplace. Hoffman Haus Bed & Breakfast features whole homes, rooms, and suites. In both, the décor is classic Hill Country with stone walls and rough-hewn wood. Just outside of town, you’ll find HoneyTree. Their treehouses and hideaways offer roll-up garage-style doors and large soaking tubs.
What to do in Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg boasts 150 shops, galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms downtown alone. Create your own itinerary:
- Book a trolley tour with Fredericksburg Tours for stress-free wine-country imbibing. Halter Ranch, Grape Creek Vineyards, and Kalasi Cellars are three must-taste wineries.
- Visit the Pioneer Museum Complex, a collection of 19th-century structures from early German days.
- Lunch and spa at the Hill Country Herb Garden Restaurant & Spa.
- Hike Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Gillespie and Llano counties.
- Enjoy gelatos and coffees at OroBianco Italian Creamery. They use milk from their water buffalo herd to create the creamiest gelato around.
- Take a cooking class at Fischer & Weiser’s Farmstead, Das Peach Haus. Visit their retail outpost and bring home souvenir flavors from your trip.
- Honor our heroes. The National Museum of the Pacific War features the most comprehensive account of WWII in the Asian-Pacific theater.
- Visit Wildseed Farms, one of the nation’s largest growers of commercially-raised wildflowers. Their retail shop has seed varieties to bring home.
Places to Eat in Fredericksburg, Texas
The German culinary scene offers modern twists on classic fare. Lunch at Hill & Vine, indoors or in their backyard. Have a drink at Dietz Distillery at Das Peach Haus. Their custom mixers (think orange-serrano, peach-jalapeño, or passionfruit-mango) pair perfectly with their gin, vodka, and peach or pear eau de vie. Stroll to Otto’s German Bistro where the chefs craft heritage German cuisine with local and seasonal ingredients. If your visit coincides with one of Vaudeville’s V Supper Clubs, try to snag a spot for a culinary journey. They go quickly.