Diners in Downtown Fredericksburg
DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG
One of our favorite places just might be Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg – just over one hour from San Antonio and about 90 minutes from Austin. We spent most of our time in Fredericksburg and the surrounding area on the press trip we took. This street is lined with charming and quaint shops that you could spend hours exploring. To start your journey, head to the heart of downtown – Marktplatz von Fredericksburg. This open-air park is the site of many events and festivals and is also just a pleasant place to take a stroll. Be sure to see the octagon-shaped Vereins Kirche (also called the “VK”), the site of Fredericksburg’s first church and school. Inside, you’ll find a museum featuring paintings, photos and artifacts about the history of Fredericksburg and the building itself.
Main Street in Fredericksburg
WHERE TO SHOP
Housed in a Victorian building, must-see Vaudeville is a chic boutique/restaurant and art gallery that wouldn’t look out of place in any major city. On the first floor, you’ll find luxe brands from all over the world including handmade ceramic tableware from Hering Berlin, Tateossian cufflinks made in London and bath products from Antica Farmacista in scents like Prosecco. Downstairs, there’s a bistro that serves coffee, lunch during the week and on Sunday and lunch and dinner on the weekends. When in Texas, you must visit a cowboy boot shop. One of our favorites is Headquarters Hats. Housed in a historic limestone building since 1996, find jeans, Stetson and Resistol cowboy hats and shirts in one room. Head into the next one to find every cowboy boot imaginable from Lucchese, and take in the smell of leather all around you. Just off the main drag is the San Saba Soap Company. Located in a historic home complete with a limestone exterior and wood floors inside, this shop features handmade soaps, oils that are neatly displayed on shelves and tables throughout the store. We took home a bar of rosemary clay soap that leaves our hands feeling soft and smooth after repeated washings. Plus, it smells amazing inside.
Fredericksburg Main Street
WHERE TO GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE
Pair your coffee with some healthy eats that Caliche Coffee Bar & Ranch Road Roasters is known for. Dig into Avocado Toast, topped with mango pico, poached egg and honey doe feta and Granola toast that’s piled high with granola, peach chutney and whipped ricotta. Walk to the back of KaffeeHaus to order coffee and check out the baked goods under a glass case. While you’re waiting for your coffee, you can browse through racks of clothing and other goods as KaffeeHuas shares space with a retail shop. Drink espresso drinks and hearty breakfast entrees like egg and cheese biscuits at Java Ranch Espresso Bar & Café. What we loved most about this spot was the decidedly Texas decor: empty shotgun shell lights hang above the main bar and on the right wall is a sweeping Western mural.
InSight Gallery
WHERE TO SEE ART
Even if you don’t step inside, Gallery 330 is worth seeing for the setting alone. This light-filled gallery is housed in Fredericksburg’s historic August Itz building. This white limestone building – you’ll see many in the area since Texas Hill Country has plenty of limestone quarries – comes complete with white doors and enormous glass windows showcasing what’s inside. Seeing this place lit up at night is quite the site. Inside, you’ll find contemporary realism and impressionism art from regional and national artists. Our favorite pieces here were landscape paintings featuring the lush, green hills and flowing rivers of Texas. Find 60 nationally recognized artists at the InSight Gallery. Appreciate work from painters and sculptors working in landscape, impressionistic, still life, wildlife and Western art. If you pop in, you’ll probably see paintings of cowboys, hunting dogs, animal sculptures and breathtaking landscapes. Find work from artists including Jill Carver, Walt Gonske and Susan Lyon. Besides the high-quality art, the interior is beautiful. InSight is also inside a historical building but feels contemporary with wood floors and a bright white ceiling. There isn’t a bad seat in the house at the Rockbox Theater. This former furniture warehouse turned music venue hosts a variety of different musical acts like tribute groups for iconic artists including Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles.
Heath Sparkling Wines
WHERE TO WINE TASTE
Texas Hill Country is perhaps best known as a wine destination. Learn more about four places where you can taste Texas wine. Besides the gorgeous vineyard view out front, Kuhlman Cellars’ Wine and Food Experience is worth seeking out. You’ll taste five wines paired with five different foods as a Kuhlman staff member guides you through this tasting. Expect to learn more about how food influences how you taste wine. The staff member will point out specific flavors you should notice. Prepare to be wowed. One highlight is the addictive Herbed Almonds Kuhlman is known for. Once you start eating these, it will be hard to stop with the herbs giving these just enough spice. We brought home a full-bodied Zinfandel with a delightful oak finish that we savored long after it left our lips. Enjoy plenty of bubbly at Heath Sparkling Wines. You can sample four different sparkling wines here. Our personal favorite was the pink Adoration, a sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir grapes. Expect to find hints of strawberries if you pick this sweet wine. We also loved the gorgeous, contemporary setting. The tasting room is ultra-modern with sleek gray counters throughout, a spacious patio and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the vineyards surrounding the property.
Grape Creek Vineyards
If you’re at Heath, you might as well visit Heath’s neighbor Grape Creek Vineyards. Grape Creek Vineyards is housed inside a Tuscan-style building outfitted with large windows showcasing the nearby vineyards. We’d recommend having a meal at Stout Trattoria. Enjoy gorgeous views and hearty, filling dishes like fresh salads, stone-baked pizzas, hearty sandwiches like a French Dip and signature meatballs. You’ll want to pair your food with Grape Creek wine. Our top pick here was the sweet Riesling featuring notes of peach, green apple and honeydew melon.
Grape Creek Vineyards
If you don’t want to or don’t have time to make a trip out to wine country, consider visiting La Bergerie. This is an artisanal wine bar and market located off of Main Street. We couldn’t get enough of this charming setting: brick walls, wood floors and wood shelves filled with wine bottles all inside a white home. Try Texas wines – we loved a crisp rose from Round Mountain Vineyards – paired with fine cheeses, fresh baked bread and charcuterie.
Grape Creek Vineyards
WHERE TO EAT
August E’s is fine dining with no attitude. The walls are gray and dotted with striking paintings, the tables are covered in real white tablecloths, and the dining room comes complete with high ceilings. The portions are generous. Try the seafood. The sushi is fresh and creative. We ordered the stellar Honolulu Roll that’s made with Dungeness crab, avocado, mango and cucumber that’s all wrapped with ahi tuna. Other stand-out menu items include Low Country Crab Cake, a Crab Stack and Lobster Bisque. Every Tuesday, customers can order Thai dishes like Red Chicken Curry as part of Thai Tuesdays. Find Southwest and Mexican dishes at Bejas. For appetizers, consider classic queso, guacamole, salsa and bean dip. The Shrimp and Mango Enchiladas are one signature dish that’s both sweet and savory. The menu is rounded out by tacos, salads and sandwiches. Try the fresh peach cobbler to finish your meal. Fredericksburg is known for its peaches, with peach season running from mid-May to mid-August. Consider eating your meal outside with one of this spot’s renowned margaritas in hand as you watch people stroll by on Main Street. Enjoy live music and dig into hearty American eats at Western Edge Kitchen & Cocktails. Dig into Four Cheese Crab Dip, Lobster Mac & Cheese and finish with decadent Bourbon Bread Pudding. We personally loved the Western Edge Hamburger, a half-pound burger topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles and served with French fries that we devoured while a musician sang just a few feet away. The lively patio at Tubby’s Ice House is the place to be. Watch cars whiz by as you enjoy tacos and burgers at this joint. The best part? This menu caters to every taste. Vegetarians can try the Black Bean & Kale tacos. You also can find Curry Shrimp, Carne Asada and Grilled Fish tacos on this menu. Even if you’ve never heard the name Fischer & Wieser before, you (probably) have tasted the company’s products: these are the folks behind The Original Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. If you’ve never tasted this before, you’re in for a treat. This dark red sauce is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy that brings the right amount of balanced heat without being too overwhelming. Consider using this to glaze pork or over cream cheese.
Das Peach Haus
If that isn’t your jam (pun intended), the company has about food 150 products you can pick from. Das Peach Haus is the local company’s flagship shop. Fischer & Wieser does have another location on Main Street, but Das Peach Haus is worth seeking out. If you love cooking, you’ll be in heaven here. Find wines and a variety of creative, flavorful sauces including Peach Mango Chutney, Thai Peanut Coconut Sauce, Fig Mustard Dip, Champagne Honey Mustard, Das Peach Haus Peach Salsa and Peach Pecan Butter. But no matter what, don’t miss the raspberry chipotle. Before you head out, be sure to check out the back patio at Das Peach Haus. You’ll see a small pond, chairs surrounding it and a peach orchard nearby – one of the most bucolic scenes we’ve ever laid eyes on. A brandnew distillery on property should be open or close to opening by the time you’re reading this.
WHERE TO STAY
Unofficially, Fredericksburg is known as the “B&B capital of the world,” and the city is home to more than 400 bed and breakfasts. Located in a secluded place that’s also within walking distance of Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg is Hoffman Haus, a cozy bed and breakfast. Rooms and cottages here are farmhouse chic. The stand-alone cottage we stayed in included wooden beams, tall wood ceilings, rocking chairs on the front patio, a spacious bathroom with a soaking tub and a wood headboard. In the mornings, the staff drops off a basket that contains breakfast. We enjoyed fruit, sausage and pastries before we headed out for the day.
WHAT TO DO
Enchanted Rock
HIKE TO THE TOP OF ENCHANTED ROCK
If you love the great outdoors, you’ll quickly fall for Enchanted Rock (or “E-rock” to locals) at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Enchanted Rock is a pink granite dome that stands tall at 425 feet. Not long after you head toward the Summit Trail, you’ll spot this towering geologic form that dominates the skyline. Legend has it that Tonkawa Indians believed that Spanish conquistadors cast a spell – making magical ghost fires glow at top – of this natural formation. But whether the legend is true or not, you’ll want to tackle this hike to enjoy sweeping views of surrounding (and not to mention breathtaking) Hill Country covered with green trees. The entire park offers close to 11 miles of trails. If you find that you’re craving more, head up Turkey Pass Trail to climb Turkey Peak. After heading up to the top of E-rock, we climbed back down and took the Loop Trail past trees, water and even spotted a small snake on the way back. This park also offers rock climbing and camping. Please note that Enchanted Rock does close in wet weather as Enchanted Rock becomes slippery. If it’s raining, call the park before you head out.
National Museum of the Pacific War George W. Bush Gallery
VISIT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR
The National Museum of the Pacific War is a world class World War II museum. If you’re wondering why this museum is in Fredericksburg, it’s because the city is the boyhood home of Chester W. Nimitz, the commander in chief of the Pacific Ocean areas during World War II. This is the only museum in the continental United States dedicated to telling the story of World War II in the Pacific. Inside, the George H.W. Bush Museum, you can see a small Japanese submarine, a floatplane and a B-25 bomber as you learn about the history of the war. The museum is massive. Expect to spend a few hours wandering in and out of the different exhibits.
National Museum of the Pacific War George W. Bush Gallery
GO FOR A BIKE RIDE
Fredericksburg is also known as the “Cycling Capital of Texas.” The area’s rolling hills and rural roads with very little traffic make it ideal for bikers all stripes. We took a guided bike trip with Hill Country Bicycle Works and immediately saw the appeal. Except for a few tough, calf-pumping climbs, the roads were relatively flat during our 10 plus mile ride – making for a largely leisurely jaunt. We passed by farms, spotted and heard animals and took in stunning views of the area.
LBJ National Historic Park Birthplace
EXPLORE LYNDON B. JOHNSON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
President Lyndon B. Johnson was born and lived in the area for most of his life. Today, you can tour the 2,700-acre LBJ Ranch in Stonewall that’s about 20 minutes from Fredericksburg. The Ranch consists of two parts: The LBJ National Historical Park and the LBJ State Park and Historic Site. You can take a private driving tour of this park while you take in gorgeous views of the land and Pedernales River. The National Historical Park features the so-called “Texas White House” where the president and his wife Lady Bird Johnson lived.
LBJ Texas White House
You can see the exterior, but the interior is currently closed. Consider visiting the schoolhouse where he attended grade school, the family cemetery and the show barn housing prize-winning cattle. You can also explore the visitor center and hangar that features exhibits and a video of the former president and Lady Bird. The State Park and Historic Site has a visitor center where you can watch a video about the president reminiscing about his time growing up in Texas Hill Country. Visitors can explore the area by hiking on the Nature Trail. Expect to pass by longhorn cattle and a bison pasture.
Luckenbach
CHECK OUT LUCKENBACH
If the name Luckenbach sounds familiar, it’s probably because of the song that put this place on the map. Legendary country musicians Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson sang “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love).” Luckenbach is one neat spot. Wandering around the historical dance hall, saloon and bar feels like stepping back in time. Our favorite place here is the wooden general store and saloon – that dates back to the late 1800s. Step inside the tiny wood bar, and see photos from Willie’s Nelson’s massive Fourth of July picnic performances from the 1990s on the walls. Hear the floor creak underneath your feet as you look at items like Willie Nelson Christmas tree ornaments and guitar pick earrings. We have to admit we took home a pair of pink ones.
