If you’ve been following along on this adventure in Fredericksburg, Texas, you know that there are a myriad of distinctive and memorable places and things to enjoy here, including historical exploration, artistic endeavors and shopping.
But I’ll bet you didn’t know that the region has quite a reputation for wonderful accommodations, fantastic culinary adventures, great beer and wine exploration, and exciting recreational spots. Here’s just a smattering of each to help you understand why I love Fredericksburg.
Be our guest:
Fredericksburg is home to 385 bed and breakfast inns and guesthouses, and 1,100 hotel and motel rooms within the county—everything from single-bedroom rentals in private homes to rustic cabins, apartments and complexes encompassing numerous historic homes, and many within walking distance of the main drag, Main Street. A very popular aspect is entire home rentals, allowing families on reunions, girlfriends on getaways and the like to enjoy their own private oasis when not out and about town.
I stayed at the Inn on Barons Creek, a very comfortable all-suite hotel set on a beautiful expanse of rolling green space along Barons Creek with an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and separate spa facility offering an array of massages, body and facial treatments, and nail and waxing services.
Some of my other travel companions stayed at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, Bella Sera, Wild Sage Barn, Cotton Gin Village Cabins, Palo Alto Creek Farm, Diamond Belle and the Hangar Hotel.
Feed Me!:
For foodies like me, Fredericksburg possesses an amazing culinary scene, offering everything from mom-and-pop comfort food to high-end fare—and I tried lots of it!. It would be difficult to pick out a favorite or to leave out other worthy options just because there’s not enough space here, but I do have several honorable mentions just to get your mouth watering.
I had one of the most amazing meals of my life at the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, which, in addition to serving farm fresh-inspired meals using fruit, vegetables and herbs from their own gardens, also encompasses a handful of private stay cottages and a jaw-dropping 5,000-square-foot spa. I’m also in love with Peach Tree Restaurant & Gifts, featuring fresh homemade breads, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts; the Ausländer Restaurant and Biergarten for the finest in authentic German cuisine; August E’s, an exceptional fine dining experiencing focusing on innovative Nouveau Texas cuisine and traditional continental menus; and Bejas Grill for delicious Southwestern fare with a twist, just to name a few.
Brews and Vines:
A wonderful way to complement any great meal is to pair it with a pint of beer or glass of wine from any of the region’s popular breweries and wineries, some of which have won awards. (Many of them also have tasting rooms and/or restaurants in town.) Options include the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the oldest and most acclaimed brewpub in Texas, and craft brewery Pedernales Brewing Company.
Most people don’t know that the Texas Hill Country is one of the fastest-growing wine destinations in the country, encompassing three viticulture areas, with 14 wineries located in and around the city and county, and offering numerous self-guided and guided wine tours and events year-round. One way to explore them is along Wine Road 290 Fredericksburg, a 45-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 290 and “the second most visited wine region in the United States, second only to Napa Valley,” according to Orbitz Travel. You can also check out over 35 unique and visually stunning Texas Hill Country wineries, which are scattered throughout the hill country and a little further afield.
Fredericksburg “Al Fresco”
Outdoor enthusiasts will find a wealth of options in the Fredericksburg area, such as the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, Old Tunnel State Park/Bat Cave, horseback riding facilities like Quiet Hill Ranch (for children only) and Circle K Trailrides, and mountain biking options at Hill Country State Natural Area.
But you absolutely cannot miss Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. A favorite for primitive backpacking, camping, technical rock climbing, picnicking, geological study, bird watching, star gazing and hiking, Enchanted Rock is the second largest granite dome in the U.S., right behind Stone Mountain in Georgia. Yes! Right in the middle of Texas!
Located 18 miles north of town, the area was originally inhabited by the Native Americans and thought to have been formed 1 billion years ago from a volcano outcrop. What you find today is a stunning and totally unexpected natural wonder rising 425 feet above ground, 1,825 feet above sea level and covering 640 acres, punctuated by beautiful, distinctive pink granite rock formations, grassland pools, Texas shrubs, four major plant communities, and a plethora of bird and wildlife, including white-tailed deer, armadillos, lizards and more.
The topography here is absolutely breathtaking, and walkers or hikers have the option of trails of varying difficulties to suit visitors of all ages and physical fitness. We spent several hours here and could have stayed all day, it was so captivating. And one would never imagine such beautiful vistas and geological diversity could be found in this part of the state.
If you haven’t guessed by now, Fredericksburg is definitely one of my favorite spots in the country, and one that you just have to experience to believe.
Lysa Allman-Baldwin writes for numerous online and print publications, including as the cultural travel writer for www.Examiner.com and as a senior travel writer for SoulOfAmerica.com, an Afrocentric travel website. Lysa can be reached at lallmanbaldwin@kc.rr.com.
Resource List:
August E’s: 830-997-1585, www.august-es.com
Bejas Grill: 830-997-5226, www.bejasgrill.com
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: 830-685-3636, www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Fredericksburg Brewing Company: 830-997-1646, www.yourbrewery.com
Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau: 888-997-3600, 830-997-6523, www.VisitFredericksburgTX.com
Fredericksburg Herb Farm: 830-997-8615, www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com
Hill Country State Natural Area: www.cycletexas.com, www.texasvelo.com
Inn on Barons Creek: 866-990-0202, www.innonbaronscreek.com
Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park: 830-997-4202, www.fbgtx.org/departments/ladybirdpark.htm
Old Tunnel State Park/Bat Cave: 866-978-2287
Peach Tree Restaurant & Gifts: 830-997-9527, http://peach-tree.com/
Pedernales Brewing Company: 830-998-7486, www.pedernalesbrewing.com
The Ausländer Restaurant and Biergarten: 830-997-7714, www.theauslander.com
Texas Hill Country: www.hill-country-visitor.com, www.texashillcountry.com
Texas Hill Country Wineries: 872-216-9463, www.texaswinetrail.com
Wine Road 290 Fredericksburg: 872-216-9463, www.wineroad290.com.