What To Do, Eat & See In Fredericksburg, TX
April 2021
Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Fredericksburg, TX on a PR media trip. I have driven through the area a couple of times before but never was able to stop to explore this charming town with a current population of 11,000.
Fredericksburg, TX was founded on May 8, 1846, by German immigrants and is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Even though Fredericksburg is the second-largest wine tourism destination in the country, there is so much more to do here than just wine. The live music scene, art galleries, shopping, culinary delights, and museums are just to name a few things that you can do if you are not a wine lover.
How to Get There
I decided to drive to Fredericksburg, TX from my home in Cypress, TX. It was about a 4-hour drive. I enjoyed the drive since Hill Country is a nice change of pace from living outside of Houston. It has hills, gorgeous trees, and a ton of southern charm. If you prefer not to drive into Fredericksburg, you can fly into the Austin or San Antonio airports. Both airports are about an hour and a half drive from Fredericksburg, TX.
When to Visit Fredericksburg, TX
Hill Country, Texas is beautiful all year round but if you had to pick the best time to travel to the area most would say it would be the end of March and April time frame. The weather at the time is typically warm but not extremely hot and it’s also Bluebonnet season which is one of the things hill country is known for. I was also told that Fredericksburg around Christmas time is also absolutely beautiful. The whole main street is decorated with lights and there are a ton of holiday things to do. I can’t even imagine how festive the main street looks. Would love to come back during that time.
Planning Your Trip
One of the best resources I found for planning a trip to Fredericksburg, TX would be to utilize their Visitor Information Center. The physical building is located at 302 E Austin St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624. Their staff is so helpful in answering questions. If you are traveling to the area and need ideas of what to do the staff is also a great resource.
If you are someone who prefers to do most of your planning strictly online, you can print out helpful specific brochures for different interests like Attractions & Dining Guide, General Brochure, Lodging Guide, Walking Tour Brochure, Kids Brochure, Holiday Guide before your trip.
The Visitor Information Center can also mail you a hard copy of the information just by filling out this form. The packet will include info on events, restaurants, lodging options, and attractions that make Fredericksburg a special destination to visit.
Lodging Options
Trueheart Hotel– This is where I stayed. It’s a unique boutique 13 room hotel one block from Main Street. It’s set up like a mini-village of cottages. The rooms all have a working gas fireplace and the beds were comfy. I had a mini-fridge, bar sink and I loved how the room was decorated. I also loved the location since I could walk pretty much anywhere. The NEW owners, Nick and Alice, were so sweet as well. They did a great job renovating the hotel. It felt like a home away from home.
Hangar Hotel- This adult-only hotel is about 3 miles from the hustle and bustle of the main street. I thought this hotel was such a great design concept. It was a hotel that was built from the ground up to look like a WWII hangar. It sits adjacent to Gillespie County Airport (T82). How cool is that?!! They also have a really delicious diner located on the property. The diner serves breakfast and lunch. I ordered an egg-white veggie-filled omelet with their potatoes. YUM! Their fresh coffee hit the spot too.
Outlot 201- If you want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the main street. And want to unwind and unplug, Outlot 201 may be for you. 1 of 3 modern farmhouses on 10 scenic acres. The farmhouses offer relaxing hill country views land is less than five minutes from Fredericksburg’s historic Main Street. These guest houses are the perfect place to get away and really connect with nature.
Full list of Fredericksburg hotels and lodging HERE
Food & Dining
Bejas- Great Tacos, Great Margaritas, and Laid Back Patio! Is locally owned and operated. Bejas is known for its Tex-Mex fare. They offer a variety of dishes like grilled mahi-mahi, brisket taco, chicken tortilla soup, fried cauliflower, burger, and chicken sandwich. They also have a full-service margarita bar with over 20 tequilas to choose from. Try their prickly pear and jalapeno cucumber! I tried their Ruby Slipper drink (pictured below). Here is their current food menu and drink menu.
August E’s– Fine Dining. Steak, Seafood, Sushi! August E’s is the perfect place for an elevated meal. Owners, Dawn and Leu Savanh, have traveled the world which has influenced the culinary vision that they now share at their restaurant. August E’s can also accommodate special dietary requirements or special requests. And if you are celebrating a special occasion can arrange to have a chilled bottle of champagne, cards, and flowers at your table for that special someone. Reservations are recommended. Full menu HERE.
Lincoln Street Wine Market- Casual Elegance Spot. Wine, Pizza, Sandwiches, Cheeses/Meat! Relax indoors or outdoors while sitting by a fire. Lincoln Street Wine Market offers delicious eats (fine cheeses, chocolates, and other gourmet delights) live music, and has a cigar selection as well. Guests can order wines by glass or bottle. Bottles of wine range from $20 to $500. Great place for to-go orders, gift baskets, and a great spot for parties. Check out their food menu HERE.
Western Edge Cellars– Craft Cocktails, Wine, Craft Beer, LIVE Music. This restaurant is located right on the main street. They have indoor and outdoor seating with a super relaxed and fun atmosphere. I enjoyed sitting on their outdoor patio while sipping on a drink and listening to live music. You can check out their event calendar HERE and you can make dining reservations online HERE.
Twisted Sisters Bake Shop- Family Friendly. Sweet and savory baked goods! A super cute bakeshop. Great spot to place to bring your laptop and get some work done. They serve up yummy breakfast tacos, espressos, cakes, cookies, and muffins. Along, with Germain flair foods like pretzels, hot dogs, and hearty sandwiches. Follow them on Facebook to learn more.
La Bergerie- Fine Wines and Charcuterie Boards! La Bergerie was one of my favorite stops! It’s an artisanal wine bar and market. This is definitely your spot if you are looking for great wine bottles, to purchase, that range from affordable to rare hand-picked selections. All their charcuterie is cured at La Bergerie with local Texas heritage meats. Guests here can also find delicious cheeses, fresh-baked bread, and unique gift ideas. For more information on La Bergerie events and their current event, Austrian Wine Time, taking place from April 1st-May 14, 2021 click HERE.
Das Peach Haus If you are going to stop anywhere you need to stop here. The property alone is breathtaking. I had the opportunity to meet the owners and learn their stories. What I found the most impressive is their philosophy on making sure you feel at home with everything they offer. You can enjoy a private or public cooking class or grab a bottle of their wine and sit out back and watch the sunset. They also have wine tastings as well. Shop their award-winning culinary products at their store. You will find cooking sauces, salsas, jams, jellies, appetizers, pasta sauces, soups, and meal starters at their store.
Full list of Fredericksburg Restaurants HERE
Wineries, Vineyards & Tasting Rooms
Fredericksburg is known for its incredible wine scene. It’s a destination for many wine lovers and as a wine lover myself, it doesn’t disappoint. Even if I had stayed for an entire week I would only be able to experience a small % of the many places one could experience. Some of the places I visited that are worth considering a visit are:
Ab Astris Winery– This is a family-owned boutique winery. They are close to the Lyndon B Johnson State Park & Historic Site. So you may want to consider doing both stops. The winery is known for producing some of the best-handcrafted vintages. I fell in love with their property. The massive oak trees that were spread out across the property were out of a storybook or dream. Also, their wine was one of the favorites that I tasted. I bought 6 bottles to take home with me if that tells you anything. 
Reservations are required for parties of 6 or more. Reservations are strongly recommended for all groups on Saturdays. Make your online reservations HERE
Texas Wine Collective– This was a fun more casual elegant tasting room. It’s made up of 3 winemakers, Brennan Vineyards, Mcpherson Cellars, and Lost Oak Winery. They offer a variety of Texas foods and cheeses and olive oils as well. Their customer service was awesome! We did a tasting with local chocolates paired with wines.
Messina Hof– I have worked with Messina Hof in the past and when I saw it was on my way home from my trip, I had to stop! It’s located on Highway 290 on 10 luscious acres. They also offer overnight accommodations as well. Check out their romantic guest houses on property HERE. For reservations for overnight accommodations or wine tastings email hillcountry@messinahof.com or call 830-990-4653.
For a full list of Fredericksburg, wineries click HERE
For a full list of Fredericksburg, tasting rooms click HERE
Things To Do In Fredericksburg, TX
Jenschke Orchards– This roadside, pick your own farm has been family-owned and operated since 1961. Their orchards grow over 30 varieties of peaches along with strawberries, blackberries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. Their country store on the property has ice cream, preserves, cobbler, syrups, t-shirts, hats, and many more yummy food products.
Harvest Dates
- Strawberries- February to May
- Peaches- May to September
- Blackberries- May to June
- Pumpkins- September to October
- Christmas Trees- November to December
Lyndon B Johnson State Park & Historic Site Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country. I got to see the family cemetery, the airplane hangar, and the “Texas White House”. I even got to take a few minutes and relax on the tree swing on the property.
Take a self-guided tour of a working farm, Sauer-Beckmann Farm. Park interpreters wear period clothing, raise crops, take care of animals and cook meals. They recreate pioneer life in the 1900s. It was fun to ask the questions and have them share their experiences working on the farm.
Pick up a map and free permit at the park Visitors Center to begin your self-guided driving tour. Get information on tours at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.
Wildseed Farms– This farm was so dreamy and was one of my favorite stops on my trip. It’s been one of the nations’ largest working wildflower and seed production farms for over 35years. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s free to get in and is open 7 days a week. It’s a great spot to get pictures with wildflowers, grab lunch, or taste wines in their brand new stunning tasting room. I picked up a few packets of bluebonnet seeds at their store and hoping to plant them later this year.
Enchanted Rock– Is about 17miles north of Fredericksburg, TX. In January my family and I rented a ranch to celebrate New Years’. We drove to Enchanted Rock and we weren’t able to hike it since it was raining. The rocks are super slippery when wet and it makes it dangerous to hike. So, I was super excited to finally be able to hike the magical rock this time around. Depending on your skill level it can take about 30-60 mins to get to the top. There are 11 miles of hiking trails. I would recommend going first thing in the morning if you have kids or if you are trying to avoid the heat. For the protection of pets, they are only allowed in the designated picnic areas. You can take a virtual tour with an Interactive Trails Map. Call to reserve a time and date, (512) 389-8900.
Shopping Fredericksburg, TX is known for its shopping. Main Street has over 150 stores and art galleries. So there is a little bit of everything for everyone. You can also find coffee shops, restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and even a brewpub. You can literally spend days exploring the Main street. Also please note that most of the shops close at 5 pm. That’s important to know when planning your day.
If you need an idea of what stores are on Main Street Click HERE
