Fredericksburg, Texas

What do former President Lyndon B. Johnson, a celebrated brewpub, and a volcano outcrop have in common? Fredericksburg, Texas.

This Texas Hill Country town, located about an hour from San Antonio and 1-1/2 hours from Austin, was founded in 1846 by German immigrants. Those early citizens maintained close ties with their homeland, bringing with them a wealth of talent, traditions, cooking styles, and the like that lend a great deal to the town’s present day charm. Today, over 700 historically significant and authentically preserved structures remain, providing a unique German backdrop to this Texas jewel.

The main drag through the Historic Downtown District (where about 24,000 people reside) is Main Street/Highway 290. Along and adjacent to it you’ll find an array of specialty shops selling food and chocolate, home accessories, and furnishings, antiques, clothing, jewelry, candles, German imports and more, all of which fosters a unique ambience that attracts visitors from across the state, the country, and beyond.

History, Past and Present

Underscoring the tourism experience here are unforgettable people and the Texas Hill Country proudly boasts several of them as their own.

About 20 minutes from downtown in Stonewall, the life and legacy of our 36th president are the focal points at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.The 700 plus-acre property encompasses several attractions. The Junction School is a one room schoolhouse where the President was taught as a young boy. There’s also the Johnson Family Cemetery, a working Hereford cattle barn, and a Visitor Center.

Lyndon and Lady Bird’s family home—known as “The Texas White House”—is where the President often worked, hosted world leaders, escaped the rigors and bureaucracy of Washington, and reconnected with the peaceful, picturesque Texas landscape that captivated him in his youth. Each room of the home and the accompanying structures reveal a different layer of the Johnson’s multifaceted lives until their deaths—his in 1973 and hers in 2007.

The 6-1/2 acre National Museum of the Pacific War complex is another big Fredericksburg draw and a tribute to the legacy of Fredericksburg son, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, former Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces, Pacific Ocean Area. The 33,000 square foot museum features 40 state of the art media installations and an incredible 900 artifacts, including photographs, letters, news articles, and war memorabilia along with interactive audio-visual exhibits which painstakingly detail the horrific social, physical, psychological, and financial costs of the Pacific-Asiatic Theater of Operations during World War II.

Fredericksburg Alfresco

Recreational options in and around Fredericksburg are plentiful, from bird watching to camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and cave exploration. Texas Hill Country is also popular with cyclists and considered by many the “Cycling Capital of Texas.”

One favorite excursion for residents and visitors alike is the Enchanted Rock StateNatural Area.Originally inhabited by Native Americans and believed to have been formed a billion years ago from a volcanic outcrop, Enchanted Rock—located 18 miles north of town—is the second largest granite dome in the U.S. (behind Stone Mountain in Georgia). Covering 640 acres and rising 425 feet above ground, this stunning natural wonder offers breathtaking vistas and a unique geological diversity that’s accentuated by beautiful pink-hued granite formations, a plethora of birds and wildlife, four major plant communities, and grassland pools that attract outdoor lovers of all ages and physical fitness levels.

Wine Me, Dine Me

Naturally, Fredericksburg is home to many eclectic restaurants and cafés serving everything from mom ‘n pop comfort food to multi-course, international fare.

Bejas Grill creates very tasty Southwestern fare with a twist, while Peach Tree Restaurant & Gifts features fresh salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. For authentic German cuisine try The Ausländer Restaurant and Biergarten, or upscale innovative Nouveau Texas Cuisine and traditional Continental menus at August E’s. And Hill Country cuisine encompassing fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef, wild game, and ranch fare are beautifully plated at the Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country Restaurant. In all, you’ll find over 70 places to tickle some part of your culinary fancy.

Unbeknownst to many, the Texas Hill Country is one of the fastest growing wine destinations in the country and is recognized as the second most visited wine region in the U.S. behind Napa Valley. Sippin’ at many of the region’s excellent breweries and wineries is another popular diversion here. Oenophile adventures can be had along Wine Road 290 Fredericksburg,a 45 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 290 that encompasses several viticulture areas where you’ll find some unique and visually stunning wineries. Visitors can imbibe while touring with or without a guide year-round, or one can leisurely meander among the handful of wine shops downtown.

Fredericksburg also possesses a burgeoning craft beer scene as well, highlighted by the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the oldest and most acclaimed brewpub in Texas and Pedernales Brewing Company, plus others.

A Place to Lay Your Head

For a town this size, Fredericksburg offers a surprising 385 B & B’s and guest houses,and 1,100 rooms ranging from hotels to rustic cabins, historic homes, single bedroom rentals in private homes, and apartments. Honorable mentions go to Diamond Belle, Palo Alto Creek Farm, Cotton Gin Village Cabins, the Inn on Barons Creek, the Hangar Hotel, Wild Sage Barn, and the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, which also has a jaw-dropping 5,000 square foot spa.

Additionally, the renovated Sunday Houses are popular accommodations here – small houses built by the early settlers for weekends in town away from their working farms outside of Fredericksburg.

An Unexpected Surprise

A wealth of history and charm, wonderful alfresco adventures, great food and drink, comfortable accommodations, and more, Fredericksburg, Texas is an unexpected surprise.

The area code for Fredericksburg is 830.