Often referred to as Hill Country, Fredericksburg, Texas shows respect to its history while progressing into the future. Architecture and museums provide opportunities to reflect on a town founded in 1846 while an inspired food scene is sparking new excitement for visitors and locals.
In the spring, Bluebonnets are in full bloom. The picturesque flower fields at Wildseed Farms will lure you to visit. In the fall, Oktoberfest calls for German-style beers brewed at Altstadt and Fredericksburg Brewing Company. While the winter holidays have the city’s downtown lit up with lights, dancing and décor. No matter what time of year you visit Fredericksburg, sample these places for a taste of local history accompanied by good eats and sweet treats.
The Lodge Above Town Creek (415 East Austin Street) offered us modern comforts in a rustic setting. Outside our front door each morning awaited a basket with pastries, fruit and additional nourishment all packaged with care. A walking path beside the property accessed the main road and allowed for easy access to explore neighborhood eateries such as Clear River Ice Cream, Bakery & Deli where we popped in for Kolache pastries (138 East Main Street).
It’s easy to satisfy your sweet tooth in this part of town. The family-owned Fredericksburg Pie Company (108 East Austin Street) doles out its cream, fruit and pecan selections Thursday through Saturday. The pie shop is open from 10 a.m. until they’ve sold the last slice. Some of the best flavors are featured in the rotating display case, plus don’t pass on anything topped with meringue. My newest revelation was a divine peach pecan made by the talented baker/husband, Merle Tully, behind the counter. A solid cup of coffee aids with our dessert action, while we polish off our treats in a modest, retro red dining space. A side room of quilts available for purchase plus a hallway decorated in vintage finds offers more eye candy to this already inviting spot.
Quintessential Chocolates (251-255 West Main Street) concocts delectable confections filled with potent flavors (often made with liqueur). Founded by Lecia Duke, a self-made businesswoman, the Fredericksburg treats up the ratio of filling to chocolate, which allows for perfect collaborations with specialty beverages such as tequila. Coordinate a time to drop by the viewing area and witness the steps taken to produce each handmade piece, I Love Lucy-style.
From beer warehouse to grocery storage to produce shop, Das Peach Haus (1406 South US Highway 87) served multiple purposes over its 100 plus years. Currently, it acts as the larger of the two retail outlets for Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods. Known for its famous roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, the gourmet products purveyor wins over all who enters its tasting room. For those seeking lessons, the Culinary Adventure Cooking School is on-site and offers immersive classes that include a glass of wine. If you find yourself at Das Peach Haus, remember to walk towards the back of the structure and stroll around the picturesque lake.
Since 1947, Opa’s Smoked Meat (410 South Washington Street) has supplied townspeople with freshly butchered options. Deli meats for custom sandwiches and a selection of popular sausages are available along with a line of jarred condiments produced in-house. I’m partial to the sausages flavored with mild Hatch chiles.
An evening at Altstadt Brewery (6120 East 290) signified the end of our trip. Altstadt specializes in German-style beers brewed by traditional practices and refined with modern-day technology. It’s direct-fire brewing system was discovered and shipped from a pre-WWII Bavarian brewhouse before being restored to its current working condition. In addition to Altstadt’s main dining area, a separate hall is available for private events and hearty eats (Read: Get the schnitzel!) plus a little live banjo paired well with our beer. The night made for a memorable end to our historic trip.
In between bites check out these historical spots in Fredericksburg:
For an educational outing, spend a morning at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm (501 State Park Road 52; Stonewall). When we visited we learned about life in the early 1900s. Docents dressed in historical costumes demonstrated blacksmith duties, milked cows and prepared meals for our group as scurrying chickens kept us company.
A short drive away from the farm is LBJ Ranch, the home of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Now a historical park, the ranch is also known as the Texas White House. The sprawling property offers ranger-led tours as well as self-guided driving routes. Renovations to the main house prevented us from touring it, so we roamed the show barn, which is still used today for ranching.
The National Museum of the Pacific War (311 East Austin Street) chronologically documents all events leading up to and during the Second World War. For his extensive contributions during wartime, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz is also recognized with his own museum down the main drag of his hometown. The surrounding grounds house a memorial courtyard and plaza of the 10 American presidents who served in the armed forces during WWII. Further away, the Pacific Combat Zone conducts year-round programs and reenactments for the public. Larger-scale artifacts such as a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber are also housed here.
For a quick breather, stop in at Luckenbach (412 Luckenbach Town Loop), a music venue with enough personality to light up all of Hill Country. We sat down on a bench and sipped bottles of Altstadt beer as a duo jammed on their instruments. The local hangout was adorned in license plates and gave us a cool spot to kick up our heels.
