Flying into San Antonio Airport for a getaway in Fredericksburg, the drive was a little over an hour drive into the heart of Texas Hill Country. Once you arrive, there is so much to see and do in the charming German influenced town.

1. Fun Fact: Fredericksburg is home to beautifully restored Sunday Houses. These small second dwellings were built in the later 1800s near a church as a weekend residence for farmers and ranchers. There was usually outdoor stairs leading up to a sleeping loft for children. Since most farmers and ranchers lived in remote areas, they  would commute to Fredericksburg on the weekends to sell and trade goods at the local mercantile and attend social gatherings on Saturday. They would sleep in their Sunday House and wake up on Sunday at attend church before making the ride back to their working ranch or farm.

Austin 412. Photo Jill Weinlein

One out of every four accommodations in Fredericksburg is either a hotel, locally owned motel, cute B&B, boutique inn, guesthouses or ranch. Some are in restored Sunday Houses. Staying at Austin 412, located in the historic district, this newer Porch Light Hospitality property exudes Texas charm. It’s one of the hospitality group’s 24 guest properties.

Austin 412. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Walking up to a gate with the #6, I proceeded along a walkway until I reached some stairs. At the top of the stairs was a wood sliding door that revealed a spacious wood deck with a large hot tub, a bistro table and chairs, plus white lights strung on a wooden overhang. After a day of flying and driving, this 99 degree hot tub was a welcoming sight. The upstairs unit is a spacious studio offering a private treehouse ambiance. The king sized bed was so soft it felt as if I was sleeping on a cloud. Lot’s of pillows and crisp high-end sheets enhanced a good night’s rest.

Austin 412. Photo Jill Weinlein

Also in the room was an indoor gas fireplace and a small reading/working/dining nook.  The kitchenette stocked with all of the essentials. There was coffee maker with complimentary local coffee grounds in a jar on the counter. Creamer pods were waiting in the mini-refrigerator. Stepping into the large marble bathroom there is a jetted bathtub and a large walk-in shower. There were all the bathroom amenities I needed, soap, shampoo, conditioner and a spa robe. It was ideal to stay in for three nights while exploring Fredericksburg.

Austin 412 #6. Photo by Jill Weinlein

2. Fun Fact: Largest Wildflower Farm. Just outside Fredericksburg is home to Wildseed Farms the largest wildflower farm in the United States. Starting in March through October, the hills come alive with colorful flowers. It’s one of the most scenic spots to visit in the Hill Country with more than 200 acres of wildflower fields.

Visit Fredericksburg to learn what to see and do in the charming German town. Photo Jill Weinlein

3. Fun Fact: Best Tourist Information Center. One of the first spots to visit is the Visit Fredericksburg website and new building. Not only will they provide you with information about the community, but also they sell local products and souvenirs.

4. Fun Fact: Fredericksburg is the epicenter of Texas Wine Country. Fredericksburg’s Gillespie County has more than 60 wineries, vineyards, and wine tasting rooms. This area is the nation’s fifth largest wine producer, producing 40% of all the wine in Texas. One of the best spots to taste wines is at Pedernales Winery, known for their sustainable Texas-grown Spanish and Rhone Style wines.

Texas Wine Collective

Another exciting wine tasting venue is Texas Wine Collective. Experienced wine educators guide visitors through different Texas wines, while sharing stories about what makes these varietals so unique. Reserve one of their immersive seasonal food and wine tastings. Visitors sit down to receive local ciders and wines with cheese or sweet treats. Wine varietals include Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah, Tannat, Picpoul, Cinsault, Petite Sarah, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.

Wine Tasting with Cheese at Texas Wine Collection. Photo Jill Weinlein

One of the food and wine tasting opportunities includes – Hye Cider Co., with Chèvre, and McPherson Cellars Marsanne Roussanne with River Whey Creamery Indigo Ridge. Receive a glass of Brennan Vineyards Viognier Black Label 2022 with Veldhuizen Texas Gold. Try a taste of Lost Oak Winery red wine with River Whey Creamery Keystone and Brennan Vineyards Winemaker’s Choice VIII NV with Veldhuizen Ol’ Redneck Cedar.

5. Fun Fact: Fredericksburg is the home to some of the best peach orchards. What started as a peach orchard in 1928, later became a successful roadside produce stand in 1969. Now Das Peach Haus is a specialty food company founded by Case Fischer and Mark Wieser. They also have the Texas Hill Country the Culinary Adventure Cooking School and the Culinary Adventure Tasting Room for epicurean food and wine experiences. Shop in the historical mercantile for their sauces, jams and jellies produced each day by Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods.

Das Peach Haus. Photo by Jill Weinlein

There is also a beautiful pond to sit and sip wine from the wine tasting room, plus guest houses, and Dietz Distillery serving up the trendiest craft cocktails.

Das Peach Haus Lake – Photo Jill Weinlein

6. Fun Fact: Fredericksburg has some great Spas. The Hill Country Herb Garden has one of the best spa facilities for relaxing customized massage packages, facials, and body scrubs.

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The property features 14 cozy cottages sprinkled throughout beautiful herb and butterfly gardens. Dine onsite at the The Restaurant offering an all-day menu, full bar and juice bar.

The Restaurant. Photo Jill Weinlein

 

7. Fun Fact: Chester Nimitz was born and raised in Fredericksburg. As a Navy Vice Admiral and Submarine Commander, Nimitz was the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II.

Chester Nimitz statue. Photo Jill Weinlein

His family owned the Nimitz Hotel, which is now part of the into the National Museum of the Pacific War. It is now the world’s premier Smithsonian affiliate museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This museum offers the nation’s most comprehensive account of World War II.

Texas White House. Photo Jill Weinlein

8. Fun Fact: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Texas White House”. Near Fredericksburg is the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site and the LBJ Ranch. The LBJ Ranch was where he was born, lived, died, and was buried. After the President’s death in 1973, Mrs. Johnson continued to live at the Ranch part time until her death in 2007.  Visiting provides insight into the life of former President Johnson’s grandparents and parents as they settled in the area.  Visitors can drive to tour the Ranch at their own pace stopping at the President’s birthplace, the Johnson family cemetery, Johnson’s two-story ranch house known as the Texas White House and airplane hangar to see his Air Force One-Half.

Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Photo Jill Weinlein

9. Fun Fact: Step Back In Time to a Historical Era. Take a self-guided tour of the late 1800s Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. Free to the public, park rangers are dressed in period clothing enlightening visitors to this time period in Texas. They tend to crops, feed and care for farm animals, and prepare daily meals and cookies in the basic kitchen. Stroll through the smokehouse and other historic buildings buildings. The park also has a Visitors Center, and miles of walking trails where American bison and Texas longhorns graze.

Photo by Jill Weinlein

10. Fun Fact – Live Country Music in Luchenbach. This legendary music and dance hall  is about 13 miles from downtown Fredericksburg. Named for Carl Albert Luckenbach, son of the early German settler, the town with a population of three people is known for its country music and German-Texan heritage. It’s a step back in time with a ghost-town western ambiance. It’s a welcoming place for all visitors, as the town’s motto states, “Everybody’s Somebody in Luckenbach.” Wood buildings include a historic post office, a working saloon with memorabilia on every wall, and a general store to purchase western apparel and “Luckenbach” logo merchandise and souvenirs.

Live performances daily. Photo Jill Weinlein

During the week there is a live pickers circle performance at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. On the weekends live bands perform on the stage and later in the evening in the dance halls. Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Waylon Jennings have all performed in Luckenbach.  Jennings song “Leckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” reached #1 as a country hit. It was one of his biggest all time hits.

Fredericksburg, TX. Photo Jill Weinlein

Fredericksburg is an ideal weekday or weekend getaway to experience the charm of a friendly community with “Texas Heart, German Soul.”