Fredericksburg (Texas)

Fredericksburg is a city in Texas, west of Austin and north of San Antonio.

Understand

Fredericksburg was settled by immigrant families from Germany in 1846, led by John O. Meusebach. Although settlement was on Comanche frontier, the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty of following year established lasting peace. Many older buildings retain traditional German styles; several units comprise the National Historic District. German is still spoken occasionally, and old customs are regularly observed: Schuetzenfests (marksmanship tournaments), Oktoberfest, Weihnachten, and Kinderfest. Visitors are attracted by the scenic beauty, European atmosphere, historic landmarks, excellent fall and winter hunting, and famous bread and pastries. It is the birthplace of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II.

Get in

By car

Primary access to Fredericksburg is by private car. It's about 40 miles north of IH-10 on US-87, north west of San Antonio (71 mi total drive), or about 80 miles west of Austin on US-290.

By air

The closest commercial airport is San Antonio International (SAT ^IATA). Fly in there and rent a car.

However, if you have access to a small plane, you can fly into Gillespie County Airport which is right outside of town. There is a restaurant and very nice hotel at the airport.

Get around

Most of town is along Main Street and is easy to see on foot. Some of the attractions are just a little past walking distance.

See

Fredericksburg is a quaint town with many stone buildings and pretty views.

• Gish's Old West Museum, 502 North Milam, ☎ [phone]. Dedicated to old time cowboys and lawmen. 
• 🌍 The National Museum of the Pacific War, 340 East Main St, ☎ [phone]. 9AM-5PM daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Includes the Admiral Nimitz Museum, describing the life of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and his important role in World War II, the newly expanded George H.W. Bush Gallery with various WWII navy-related exhibits on show, the tour guide-led "Pacific Combat Zone" which takes you through life-like displays of war, and peaceful gardens and courtyards. Adults $12, students $6.  
• Pioneer Museum, 312 W. San Antonio St, ☎ [phone]. Shows early life in Gillespie County. $4. 

Do

Hunt

Fredericksburg is an outstanding spot for sportsmen to find year-round opportunities to hunt native and exotic species of animals. Fall hunting leases are available on many ranches throughout the area, and the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce offers a brochure on leases that is available at the Visitor Information Center.

• Hill Country Outfitters, 115 E Main St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Mo-Sa: 10AM - 5:30PM, seasonally. Gear and information. 
• Hill Country Deer Processing, 2162 US Highway 87 North, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Year Round 24/7. 

Wine

There are also a number of wineries in the area that offer free tours and tastings.

• Fredericksburg Winery, 247 West Main, ☎ [phone]. 
• Lincoln St. Wine Market, 111 South Lincoln, ☎ [phone]. Wine bar, bistro, lunch, etc. 
• Texas Wine Cellars, 217 1/2 East Main, ☎ [phone]. 

Events

• Night in Old Fredericksburg, on the Marketplatz (in the middle of main street, you can't miss it), ☎ [phone]. One weekend in July. The classic Fredericksburg event: German music, German food, German fun! Advance passes and online ordering available at the web site. Adults $6. Children under 12 are $1. Two-day passes $10.. 
• Oktoberfest, on the Marketplatz (in the middle of main street, you can't miss it), ☎ [phone]. Fr, 6PM to midnight, Sa, 10AM to midnight, Su, 10AM to 6PM. Held on the first weekend of October. Advance passes and online ordering available at the web site. $6 one day pass, $10 two day, $15 three day. 
• Pacific Combat Living History Program (2 blocks East of Nimitz Museum. Follow the signs.). March 15 & 16. 10:30AM, 1PM, and 3:30PM, daily. Watch a re-enactment of typical Pacific combat. Tickets are $5. 
• Weihnachten, on the Marketplatz (in the middle of main street, you can't miss it), ☎ [phone]. Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. A great event: Watch various performances by local groups or go through the Christmas Tree Forest. Advance passes and online ordering available at the web site. 

Learn

• Fredericksburg Culinary Arts, S. Washington St (At Fischer & Wieser's Das Peach Haus), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Sat 3-5PM. 

Buy

Fredericksburg has many unique and distinctive gifts and handcrafted items. Stroll down Main Street to take it all in, but allow yourself at least 3-4 hours for the experience!

• Tea Rose Quilts, 709 W. Main. 

Eat

You can stay a week and probably not have time to see all the local restaurants. German cuisine with a hill country flair is what you'll most often see. Most local places close at 9PM unless otherwise noted. A surprising number of places do not take credit cards, so check for a logo or a sign, or carry some cash.

• Altdorf Biergarten, 301 West Main, ☎ [phone]. W-M 11AM-9PM. The highlight is the nice outdoor seating, which indeed is most like what you would see in Germany. The kitchen serves up German, of course, along with steaks and Tex-Mex. There is also occasionally live music. 
• August E's, 203 East San Antonio (One block south of Main (take Llano Street)), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Lunch W-Sa 11AM-2PM, Dinner M-Su 5PM-10PM. Here you'll find seasonal "nouveau Texan" cuisine with a subtle Asian twist (and sometimes not so subtle - witness the sushi selection and "Thai Thursdays", in honor of executive chef Leu Savanh). Good service and wine selection, all in a very modern dining space. Significant savings can be had at lunch and on Thursdays. $22-$49. 
• Auslander, 323 East Main, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-12AM. A German biergarten with outdoor seating, live music, and a restaurant that also happens to offer steak, seafood, and Tex-Mex. It is undeniably popular with tourists. $8-$21. 
• Bejas Grill & Cantina, 209 East Main, ☎ [phone]. M-Th 11AM-8PM, F-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 10AM-3PM. Southwestern grill with nice gourmet touches and a bar. Pleasant patio seating and a good Sunday brunch. $9-$22. 
• Der Lindenbaum, 312 East Main, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-10PM. Homemade German food in a cozy historic restaurant with a nice stock of apropos bar beverages; the atmosphere is more mellow than some of the other rowdy tourist joints and the food is about what you'd expect. $10-$20. 
• Hondo's, 312 West Main, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu-Su 11AM-12AM. Expansive, rib-sticking menu including Tex-Mex and BBQ, with live music on the weekends and a good patio. The best burgers in town! $10-$15. 
• Navajo Grill, 803 East Main, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Su-Th 5:30PM-9PM, F-Sa 5:30PM-10PM. Modern, seasonal cuisine with inspirations from the South (including the zingy West and down-homey East). Good service and wine, plus a nice patio has been recently added. $18-$30. 
• The Peach Tree, 210 S. Adams, ☎ [phone]. M-F 11AM-2:30PM, Sa 11AM-3PM, Su 11AM-2PM. Homey cafe-style cooking by local personality Cynthia Pedregon, served in a pleasant old house. Expect sandwiches, soup, quiches and the like. A small bakery with homemade cookies and bread and a gift shop are attached. Popular with the locals. $5-$12. 
• Rathskeller Cellar Bistro, 260 East Main (below street level, look for the stairs outside), ☎ [phone]. Cozy atmosphere, attentive waitstaff, and serves bistro and local German food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, live music Saturday nights. $10-$25. 
• Rather Sweet Bakery & Cafe, 249 East Main, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 8AM-5PM. Delectable baked goods from renowned pastry chef Rebecca Rather are what's on display here; try the incredible kolaches and pastries. The cozy cafe offers up soup, salads, and sandwiches. $3-$10. 
• Silver Creek Beer Garden & Grille, 310 East Main, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. W-M 11AM-12AM. Grill serving up steaks, pasta, and seafood (and the mandatory German fare), with a brunch on Sundays. Food is okay but the bar is particularly well-stocked, there's nice outdoor seating, and they host live music throughout the week. Service can be frazzled on the weekends when the seats fill up. 

Nearby

• Alamo Springs Cafe, 107 Alamo Rd (From Main Street (US-290) head east out of town for 3 miles and turn south at Old San Antonio Road (a brown 'Old Tunnel Wildlife Area' sign will be here), continue for 10.5 miles and turn left on Alamo Road), ☎ [phone]. Known for their outstanding hamburgers (preferably with the jalapeno-cheese bun) and nightly dinner specials, they advertise that they are "inconveniently located", but worth the trip. And they're right! Getting there really is half the adventure - plus its situated right next to a bat cave (cool, eh?). Kick back, grab a beer, and check out the live music on Saturdays. 
• Cabernet Grill, 2805 S. Hwy 16 (From Main Street take Adams Street south for 2.5 miles), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M-F 11AM-2PM, 5PM-9PM, Sa 5PM-9PM. Upscale but casual wining and dining with attentive service in a nouveau-rustic dining room. Also offers a spiffy lunch buffet during the week. Located at the Cotton Gin bed & breakfast. $5-$33. 
• Hilltop Cafe, 10661 North US Hwy 87, Doss, TX (Head west-northwest on Main Street (US-290) until the intersection with US-87 North, take the intersection and continue for 10 miles), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Lunch 11AM-2PM, Dinner M-Th 5PM-9PM, F-Sa 5PM-10PM. An intriguing mix of Texan, Cajun, and Greek food offered in an offbeat dining room filled with doo-dads hanging from the ceiling and music memorabilia (not to mention the occasional live music). Friendly faces, good food, and can be very popular on weekends, where reservations are recommended. A bed-and-breakfast and meeting hall are also on the premises. $11-$30. 

Drink

Drinking in public areas such as on sidewalks is allowed provided the drinker remains well behaved.

• Fredericksburg Brewing Company Biergarten, 245 East Main St, ☎ [phone]. Mo-Th: 11:30AM - 9PM, Fr-Sa: 11:30AM - 10PM, Su: 11:30AM - 9PM. An indoor (air conditioned!) drinking area serving the on-tap brews off the adjoining brewery. The beer selection changes with the whim of the brewmaster, but is always good (although they pretty much only serve house beer). Also has a B&B next door and restaurant, but go for the beer. $4.50 pints. 
• Luckenbach Dance Hall, Ranch Road 1376 (Take 290 east about 5 mi, then 4.5 mi south (right) on Ranch Road 1376), ☎ [phone]. Dance hall with live music. 

Sleep

• Country Inn & Cottages, ☎ [phone]. 
• Hangar Hotel, 155 Airport Rd (From Main, take South Adams Street for 2 miles), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. This "World War II/aviation"-themed boutique not only marches to its own beat, but it does it very well. Everything from the service to the furnishings (selected to reflect the 1940s era) are a step above, and the attention to detail when it comes to the setting is fun. There's an "Officer's Club" for lounging and drinks, an observation deck where planes can be seen coming and going (this is an airport, after all), a retro diner for burgers and fries, and a "Pacific Showroom" complete with tiki bar. $119-$169. 
• La Quinta, 1465 E Main St (About a mile east of town), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Built in December of 2004, it provides free Wi-Fi in every room. $75. 

Bed and Breakfasts

• Bed and Brew, 245 East Main St (by the brewing company), ☎ [phone]. A unique lodging house by the Fredericksburg Brewery. All rooms are queen non-smoking and a sample of the local beer is served for breakfast. Be sure to specify B&B rooms when making your reservations as the booking location is the Hangar Hotel. $99. 
• Camp David Bed & Breakfast, 708 W. Main, ☎ [phone]. Pool, hot tub, and wireless internet access a short drive up Main Street. Pet friendly, all ground floor. $99-$140. 
• Cottages at Limestone on Main, 706 W. Main, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Full hot breakfast served in your own private, quiet cottage. Wi-Fi, cable TV, full kitchen. $129-149. 
• rDer Stall, 68 Cedar Hills Dr (4.5 miles west of Fredericksburg, just off US Highway 290 West.), ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM or earlier. Der Stall (The Barn) Bed and Breakfast is a replica of this German descendant's family barn in Reifenberg, Germany. This guesthouse was constructed by the innkeepers and two generations of the innkeeper's German descendants to include milling the hardwood floor boards from locally procured rough-cut pine. Guests get the whole barn to themselves, including a master bedroom featuring a queen-sized bed with a robust log headboard and footboard. Both were cut from nearby cedar trees and made by the innkeepers. The bedroom also has an in-floor two-person Jacuzzi. Climb the steep wooden steps to the hayloft for two full-size beds with a commanding view down into the living room. $120 per couple per night plus tax, $35 each additional person (over 12 years old) per night plus tax. (updated May 2015)
• Magnolia House, 101 E. Hackberry St. (7 blocks from Main St), toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Historic home with five guest rooms. Two-course breakfast served daily. $105-$165. 
• Palo Alto Creek Ranch, 231 West Main directions=, toll-free: [phone]. Offers four guest houses, each with private baths and stocked continental plus breakfast. Depending on the house, amenities also include fully equipped kitchens, whirlpools and fireplaces. $140-$300/ Nightly. 
• Schandua, ☎ [phone]. 

Connect

• Fredericksburg Visitors Bureau, 302 East Austin, toll-free: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Offers specific help and assistance, restrooms, internet access, maps, and local information. 

Cope

Go next

• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Offers views, trails, and camping around a huge pink granite exfoliation dome believed by the Tonkawa Indians to be haunted by spirits.
• Hill Country a more general overview of the area, most destinations are an easy day trip.
• New Braunfels - Located 72 miles southeast of Fredericksburg, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
• San Marcos - 70 miles southeast of Fredericksburg, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, as well as two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops.
• Pedernales Falls State Natural Area
• Stonewall about 15 minutes east of Fredericksburg.

Routes through Fredericksburg

San Angelo ← Brady ←	N  S	→ Comfort → San Antonio
El Paso ← Sonora ← merges onto ←	W  E	→ Stonewall → Austin
Jct W E ← Llano ←	N  S	→ Kerrville → San Antonio