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Fredericksburg,
Texas If you're in the hill country and would like to explorer a quaint town - Fredericksburg is the place to go. It is located seventy miles west of Austin in the county seat of Gillespie County. The ride from Austin allows you to continue viewing the scenic Texas Hill Country. You pass through Johnson City where the LBJ National Historic Park is located, Stonewall where Lyndon B. Johnson was born and the site of LBJ Historic Park, and Luckenbach is just a short drive off highway 290 right outside of Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg was originally a German settlement that began in the 1840's. The town was named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. The town began with 120 settlers and now according to the Census Bureau, the populations is 11,305. One of the Organizations that devoted many hours to help make Fredericksburg an important tourist center is the Gillespie County Historical Society. Because of this group's hard work there are at least three informative historical sites all tourist must see when visiting Fredericksburg - the Pioneer Museum complex, the Admiral Nimitz Museum in conjunction with the National museum of the Pacific War, and the Vereins-Kirche Museum. |
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The
Pioneer Museum provides a look back at German
heritage in Texas during the pioneer days. Artifacts of furniture, tools,
farm equipment, kitchen items, as well as art and photographs are
displayed. The whole complex 3.5 acres with flowers dispersed throughout
the area making it a beautiful natural setting to daydream about life of a
pioneer. The Admiral Nimitz Museum is located in the Nimitz Hotel, a museum that is dedicated to Chester Nimitz, an Admiral and hero during WWll. He was born in Fredericksburg in 1885, grew up in the Nimitz Hotel that his family owned. Within the the past 10-15 years, the National Museum of the Pacific War was added on to the Nimitz Museum. Within the museum you can view live depictions and listen to stories of the Pasific Theater battles of World War ll. There are life-size replicas of Allied and Japanese aircrafts, campsites, tanks, and guns. |
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The Veriens-Kirche Museum houses historical exhibits.
The building is a replica of the first church, called the "Society's
Church". Inside this landmark you can learn about the history of the
church. This octagonal structure is located at Market Square - or
Marktplaz - which has been at the center of Fredericksburg since the
city's founding in 1846. Not only does this town have a rich heritage, it has become a town full of variety of shops that entertain the eye and restaurants that full fill the taste buds. You can spend an entire day just browsing through antique shops, craft stores, art galleries, gift shops, clothing stores, and variety stores mostly along Main Street. |
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| Adults may like to experience wine
tasting, envision a new living room while browsing through several
interior decorating and furniture galleries, and of course sit back and
enjoy live music at various places. The children can enjoy the
playground at the Marktplatz, and of course indulge in the
"sweet" shops.
Clear
River Pecan Company may sound like a shop that sells items made
with pecans. On the contrary, it is a nostalgic ice cream parlor, bakery,
and café. Once you walk in you feel like you stepped back in time during the 1950's with a jukebox, bubblegum machine, red booths, and Elvis serving ice cream. They have an assortment of pastries, pies and sweets. But do not leave without trying some award winning ice cream. |
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| Since Fredericksburg is a
German-influenced area, of course you will find several biergartens to
experience the German culture and food with German flare. If German food
does not suit you, then you have every other type of food to choose from.
There is Tex-Mex, barbecue, Italian, and an assortment of bistros and café
type dining. For those that desire more recreation, you have to experience Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The attraction is a 425 feet high granite exfoliation dome and covers 640 acres. This is a Texas State park that allows camping, hiking, and picnicking. The interesting aspect is seeing grasses and trees that have somehow grown in the rock-bottom pits throughout the huge rock structure. When you get to the top it is a stunning view of the Texas Hill Country. Of course, there is also all the natural Areas and State Parks to hike and explore. |
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Fredericksburg Nature Center
is situated inside the boundaries of the
Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, the
Fredericksburg Nature Center
offers a scenic and diverse blend of Texas Hill Country habitats. Flora
and fauna surveys indicate more than 250 flowering plants, 160 birds, 60
butterflies, and 45 dragonflies and damselflies. A 650 foot long handicap
accessible trail allows users to enjoy the essence of the nature area. The nature center features over 6000 feet of trails that wind through the scenic and diverse habitats. Facilities at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park include: campgrounds with RV hookups, picnic areas and covered pavilions, Olympic-size swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, municipal golf course, fishing and non-motorized boating. |
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Something you don't get to do very often is pick your own lavender, Hummingbird Farms, and the Miller Creek Lavender Farm in nearby Johnson City. They both have beautiful countryside and areas for for a nice picnic. If you desire even more beautiful scenery and love flowers and plants, then the Wildseed Farms and the Fredericksburg Herb Farm are exciting places to visit. The Wildseed Farms not only offers information about plants, but you can purchase a variety of items, sit at Brewbonnet Biergarten for a relaxing place to have a drink or eat, or visit the Butterfly Haus. It is fun to have all kinds of butterflies land on you or watch them fly in a flowery setting. The Fredericksburg Herb farm offers a more tranquil atmosphere with a restaurant, bed and breakfast, and spa. Throughout Fredericksburg there are many bed and breakfast establishments, guesthouses, country inns, hotels, and ranch houses to make your stay even more special. |
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Italian & Pizza Restaurants Domino's Pizza, 1425 Main #400, 830-997-4600 Fredericksburg Pizza Kitchen, 326 E Main, 830-990-4044 Gatties Pizza, 1408 E Main, 830-997-9797 Pasta Bella, 103 S Llano, 830-990-9778 Pizza Hut, 1104 E Main, 830-997-7222 West End Pizza Co., 232 W Main, 830-990-8646
German
Restaurants Bar-B-Que
Restaurants Burgers & fast Food
Coffee Houses &
Smoothie
Bakeries
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Fine Dining |
Mexican Restaurants El Gallo Mexican Restaurant, 11807 Hwy 290 W, 830-669-2406 El Maguey Mexican Restaurant, 116 N Crockett, 830-992-2139 Hilda's Tortilla Factory, 149 FM 2093, 830-997-6105 Mamacita's Mexican Restaurant, 506 E Main, 830-997-9546 Ruby's Taco, 911 E Main, 830-997-9546 Sammy's Mexican Restaurant, 803 S Adams, 830-997-3161 Taqueria Jalisco, 1410 E Main, 830-990-8554 Family Dining Wine
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| Attractions
National Museum of the Pacific War,
311 E Austin St, (830) 997-8600
Pioneer Museum Complex,
325 W. Main St., (830) 990-8441
Sauer-Beckmann Living History
Farm
Vereins Kirche Museum |
Inks Lake State Park Located in Burnet County, 9 miles west of Burnet off Texas 29, on Park Road 4, 512-793-2223 - Park camping, RVs, shelters, picnicking 7.5 miles of hiking trails, boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, golf, watchable wildlife facilities for handicapped, store.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Lyndon B Johnson State Historic
Site
Pedernales Falls State Park |
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Fredericksburg makes a great central
location from which to explore other towns and cities in the Texas Hill
Country region, a geographic area of rugged beauty along the 13alcones
Escarpment encompassing roughly 10,000 square miles. Here are a few
suggestions for day trips from Fredericksburg:
Kerrville, Medina and Bandera Visit the Museum of Western Art, the YO Ranch, the headquarters of James Avery Craftsman and art galleries in the Kerrville area, and then head to Medina to check out the local apple crop. Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of We World, whew horseback riding and boot-scootin to country western music are the order of the day, and night, is just down the road. Comfort, Boerne Sisterdale and Luckenbach |
Mason, Llano and Buchanan Lake Take Highway 87 north to Mason, home to historic Fort Mason, the 1928 Odeon Theatre and Sandstone Cellars Winery. Blue Topaz, the state gem, is found only in Mason County. Head east to Llano, known for its historic courthouse, barbecue restaurants, deer hunting and the Llano River. From Llano it is a short dive to impressive Lake Buchanan, covering over 23,000 acres. A thriving colony of bald eagles lives on the upper reaches of the lakeshore during the winter months. Arid don't miss Fall Creek Vineyard while in the area. Stonewall, Johnson City and Blanco |
| Bicycling The back roads of Gillespie County provide miles of scenic views for road bicycle riding. Although the area roads are lightly traveled compared to big cities, riders are encouraged to obey all rules of the road to ensure their safety. With the hilly terrain, autos can come upon bicyclist without much notice, so please stay as far to the right as possible. Mountain biking enthusiast will enjoy Hill Country State Natural Area, near Bandera and Pedernales Falls State Park, near Johnson City. Birding Quiet Hill Ranch |
Fishing The closest place for kids to drop a line in the water is Lady Bird Johnson Muniapal Park on I highway 16 South. With prior arrangement, Hill Country Outfitters, 109 Cast Main, will plan fly fishing lessons and/or expeditions for groups - The Country Flyfisher, 830-990-9453, can also help find places to fish around the area See city and state parks.
Golf Hidden Springs Golf Course
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| Fredericksburg Resources
City of Fredericksburg Official Site |
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Adventure at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area I woke up around 6:30 am to a clear, cold spring morning. I bundled up in a few layers then started to walk around the campsite, the nearby parking area, and the road trying to figure out the best way to photograph the fast approaching sunrise. |
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| Content copyright George L. Hosek. The articles and photographs on this site are for viewing on your computer only, absolutely, no commercial or personal reproduction without written consent from George Hosek. |
