Escape to Texas Hill Country: Fun Things To Do in Fredericksburg, Texas

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Article written by: Rebecca
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Located in the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is one of the oldest German-settled towns in the area. Founded in 1846, it’s maintained much of its charm and German influence. It’s a lovely place for a relaxing weekend (or even a few days mid-week after the weekend day-trippers have headed home). Book one of the many bed and breakfasts and get ready to explore. Here are my tips on some very fun things to do in Fredericksburg, Texas.

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Taste wine

Did you know that Texas is one of the top five wine-producing states in the Unites States? Granted, its production is a looong way behind that of California, but it’s a surprising fact nonetheless.

The wine area around Fredericksburg covers 110 miles and most wineries are have tasting rooms (for a fee). There are far too many wineries to visit in one weekend, but you can try to get to as many as possible.

The wineries in Fredericksburg, TX, are a highlight of a visit to this charming town in the Texas Hill Country
You can't visit Fredericksburg, TX, without trying some of the local wine

You can visit the wineries by yourself – but better to keep it safe and book a seat on the 290 Wine Shuttle. This weekend shuttle stops off at 16 different wineries. You’re free to jump on and off as you like so you can visit as many wineries as you like.

If you’d prefer something more structured, book a half-day or full-day wine tour.

Visit Luckenbach

About 15 minutes from Fredericksburg is Luckenbach, a trading post established in the mid-1800s.

Head there on a weekend to check out the old dance hall. Even on weeknights you’re likely to find a few musicians sitting around the bar in a planned – or impromptu – jam session. It’s one of the coolest places to visit in the USA for casual, live music.

One of the coolest things to do in Fredericksburg, TX, is head to Luckenbach and catch an impromptu jam at the old dance hall
A must-do when in Fredericksburg, TX, is visit Luckenbach for a beer at the bar
A trip to Fredericksburg, TX, isn't complete without a visit to Luckenbach, an old trading post town
One of the best things to do in Fredericksburg, TX, is visit the small trading post of Luckenbach

Eat at Vaudeville

A post of mine wouldn’t be complete without food. Our first meal was at Vaudeville, located on the cute Main Street. Upstairs is a rather pricey home decor store, but head downstairs and you’ll be surrounded by a delectable range of cheeses, meats, sweet things and local wines.

The Bistro features new American comfort food, and I ate a more-ish pork belly taco with Asian slaw and roasted peanuts.

There are some great places to eat in Fredericksburg, TX, including Vaudeville, a lovely bistro

More things to do in Fredericksburg

While we managed to squeeze quite a bit in to our day and a half in Fredericksburg, there are so many more things I had planned to do. So I’ve already made a list of the things we need to do when we inevitably return:

  • More wineries! Preferably on one of the driven tours so I can taste to my heart’s content
  • Do a couple of hikes in Enchanted Rock State Park, famous for its huge pink granite dome
  • Come back in spring to see the bluebonnets in bloom and drive the Willow City Loop
  • Explore the farms in the area – we saw so many signs advertising fresh peaches for sale
  • Finally eat at Otto’s German Bistro. We tried to visit twice during our time there but both times were confronted with a two-hour wait time!
  • Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War

Best time to visit Fredericksburg, Texas

The great thing about Fredericksburg is that it can be visited all year round. On our trip, we visited just after Christmas. It was chilly but pleasant. In summer, Fredericksburg can be swelteringly hot (like the rest of Texas!) but there are plenty of places to cool down.

Holiday weekends like July 4 and Memorial Day are always busy in this small town, so plan ahead.

Where to stay in Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg, we’ll be back!

Fredericksburg, TX, is a great place in the Texas Hill Country for a weekend getaway

What are your tips for fun things to do in Fredericksburg, TX? Let me know so I can add them to our list when we return!

USA TRIP ESSENTIALS

  • Book flights to and around the USA online with Skyscanner. I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
  • Find a great hotel in the USA. Check prices on Booking.com and Expedia online.
  • Check out the huge range of day tours throughout the USA on GetYourGuide or Viator. There’s something for everyone.
  • A copy of the Lonely Planet guide to the USA will be handy.
  • One thing I always purchase is travel insurance! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.

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Save this guide to things to do in Fredericksburg, Texas, to Pinterest so you can plan your visit later!

About REBECCA

I'm a travel junkie who started dreaming about seeing the world from a very young age. I've visited more than 40 countries and have a Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management. A former expat, I've lived in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and the United States. I share travel resources, tips and stories based on my personal experiences, and my goal is to make travel planning just that bit easier.

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