Das Peach Haus is a must stop in Fredericksburg.

The Wine

Texas and wine. Yes those two words go together, we promise! Not many people take a hard look or even think that Texas is home to a vibrant wine country. But it truly is. Fredericksburg is also Texas Hill Country, with its soft rolling hills and valleys, and dusty, dry earth has the same prime wine making climate as parts of Napa. So dotted in between those ranches and rows and rows of peach trees you’ll see in Fredericksburg (it’s also the land of some of America’s finest peaches), are vineyards with promising vines that produce the likes of Blanc du Bois, an American hybrid with Italian Muscat, Cabernet Franc, dry rosės and crisp Chardonnays. While there are many wineries to tour around, you don’t want to miss out on Becker Vineyards (try their Tempranillo) and Narrow Path Winery (test the Viongier). Both offer some of the region’s best wines to sip on, and they also offer some of the best views of Texas Hill Country to savour.

The quaint porch at a cottage at Hoffman Haus.

The Accommodation Situation

If you’re looking for a big name hotel chain in Fredericksburg, you’re not going to find it here. But, what you will find are tons of chic, cozy and quaint B&Bs with eclectic boarding options that range in price, but what will be a sure bet at all of them is that down home, Texas hospitality. The cottages at Hoffman Haus, are spacious, decked in the comfiest extras, tucked away off the main streets and comes with a breakfast delivered to your door each morning in a rustic little picnic basket. We don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s nice to bypass the standards and opt for something a bit more unique that will have those charming little touches that will make you remember your stay.

View from Enchanted Rock.

Those Views

There’s really nothing quite like the views you get in Fredericksburg and the Hill Country part of Texas. It’s not what you may expect from the big state, but it’s pretty spectacular. Acres of rolling hills are actually lush and green despite a hot climate and make for the best driving scenery you could imagine. If you happen to get to Fredericksburg in the springtime, you may even get a glimpse of the infamous Texas wildflowers in bloom.

Wildflowers in Texas. Photo courtesy of @visitfredtx

Lady Bird Johnson brought wildflowers to this region of Texas, and they have been blooming on each year cascading a sea of colourful bluebonnets and primroses across the countryside. To get an even better view of the whole area, do a hike up to the top of Enchanted Rock. The pretty, pink-hued stone is fairly easy to hike up and offers breathtaking views (even on a cloudy day)… and it gives you a bit of exercise in between all that food and wine.

Woerner’s Warehouse offers not only amazing food, but a cool atmosphere set in an antique shop.

The Food

One of the best things about Fredericksburg has to be the food. This part of Texas definitely comes with that southern, down-home, Texas comfort food, but the area also has a strong German influence still to this day, since it was settled by Germans. That fusion of Texas-German flavour is jam-packed in to pretty much anything you eat. Whether it be the peaches (a stop by Das Peach Haus is a must for anything and everything peach related, including mustards, hot sauces, jams and so, so much more), casual lunches at Woerner’s Warehouse (where the big portions come to you while you’re seated next to a hip and trendy antique shop), to Otto’s classic German dishes (and also one of the most-loved restaurants in town).

Sipping on a rosė in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

The Chill Factor

If you’re truly looking for a place in North America that moves at its own pace (which also happens to feel like a nice, leisurely stroll pace), Fredericksburg is it. You can get all the bustle and city life you want in San Antonio, but to breathe a breath of fresh, country air, sit on a porch with a cup of coffee (from Java Ranch, because you won’t find a Starbucks in town), and strike up a conversation with a local is what makes Fredericksburg a special place. It’s like a step back in time, but still with every hip and cool factor you would actually need.

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