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Spotlight: Fredericksburg, TX

 Day Trippin’

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Willkommen to Fredericksburg

Spotlight Destination: Fredericksburg, TX / Images by Steve Rawls & Blake Mistich
A couple of people standing next to each other.

Located just 70 miles west of Austin, Fredericksburg is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Established by German settlers in 1846, Fredericksburg still rings true to its German roots.

With more than thirty wineries and tasting rooms located in Gillespie County, and dozens more within an hour’s drive of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg is well known as the epicenter of Texas Wine Country. Take a trip down Wine Road 290 with any of the wine tour companies headquartered in Fredericksburg, taste Texas wine standouts like Tempranillo and Viognier, and enjoy one of the “top 10 wine travel destinations in the world for 2014†according to Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

With more than 70 restaurants ranging from low-key local BBQ to fine dining establishments that blend art gallery and Hill Country cuisine, as well as traditional German restaurants, there is something to please every palate. While you’re here, leave plenty of time to explore Fredericksburg’s walkable downtown historic district. With more than 150 shops, boutiques, art galleries and museums, such as the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Pioneer Museum (both located along historic Main Street), you can discover one-of-a-kind finds like custom cowboy boots, antiques, home décor, Hill Country Couture clothing and more. An added bonus: you can purchase a glass of wine or beer and enjoy it while you shop Main Street.

Once you’ve had your fill of Texas wine and shopping, soak up the beauty of the Texas Hill Country with a hike to the summit of the nation’s second largest batholith (granite dome) and enjoy 360 degree views of the Texas Hill Country at nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Or if you’re looking to cover more ground, explore the miles of paved rural roads in Gillespie County on a bicycle–the paved roads and minimal traffic make Fredericksburg an ideal cycling destination.

After you’re explored the LBJ Presidential Library and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, get the rest of the story on the nation’s 36th president, with visits to the Lyndon B. Johnson State and National Historical Parks in Stonewall. Tour the “Texas White House†and the former president’s birthplace at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, and then visit the Sauer-Beck- mann Living History Farm at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site just across the river.A couple of people standing next to each other.

Fredericksburg is also home to more than 300 festivals and special events each year – including Oktoberfest, a three-day celebration of Fredericksburg’s German roots, that takes place the first weekend of October each year; the Texas Hill Country Film Festival, which takes places the first weekend in May each year; the Texas Hill Country Food Truck Festival that takes place each year at Luckenbach Texas; and more. That’s right, Luckenbach Texas, made famous by Willie, Waylon and the Boys, is only about 10 miles from downtown Fredericksburg. You can find live music in Luckenbach Texas 364 days a year.

Each Spring Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country are blanketed with wildflowers; fields of Texas bluebonnets make a scenic drive through the Texas Hill Country even more spectacular. Visitors can walk through fields of wildflowers and even purchase wildflower seeds at the nation’s largest working wildflower farm, Wildseed Farms, located just a few miles outside of Fredericksburg. Another seasonal favorite in Fredericksburg are the Fredericksburg peaches, which can be found at roadside stands and orchards across Gillespie County each summer. Fredericksburg peach season typically runs mid-

May through mid-August. Looking for a hands-on experience? A number of orchards offer pick your own peaches, as well as other seasonal fruits and vegetables.

For more information and a calendar of events visit VisitFredericksburgTX.com.