10 Fun Things to Do In and Around Fredericksburg, TX
If you haven’t already ridden your motorcycle in Fredericksburg, TX, you’re missing out. Located in the hill country of central Texas, this city is close to great riding roads, from the Willow City Loop to the Twisted Sisters.
The fun doesn’t end when the ride does, though. Fredericksburg is full of things to see and experience, whether you’re a history buff, art enthusiast, or wine connoisseur.
Here are 10 things you shouldn’t miss when visiting the Fredericksburg area in Texas.
Wine Tasting
There are dozens of wineries in and around Fredericksburg, with most offering tours, tastings, or both. Take a walk down Main St, stop in a wine shop, or hop on a winery bus tour.
Frozen sangria from Fat Ass Ranch and Winery on Main St is perfect on a hot summer day.
Rustlin’ Rob’s
Rustlin’ Rob’s is a unique condiment on Fredericksburg’s Main St. It boasts sauces, salsas, jars of jelly and jam, and a room in the back for hot sauces not for the timid.
Seriously, no one under 18 is allowed back there.
Free samples are available on almost everything, so bring an appetite and a credit card because you’re not getting out of here without buying something.
National Museum of the Pacific War
This museum displays an extensive history of what led to WWII in the Pacific. Indoor and outdoor exhibits, like planes, submarines, and artillery, mix with fascinating and sobering stories of the fighting men and women.
If you like it loud, battle reenactments happen monthly, while the Memorial Courtyard and the Japanese Garden of Peace offer quiet places for remembrance.
Pedernales Falls State Park
One of many state parks in the area, with miles of hiking and bike trails, horseback riding, fishing, camping spots, and multiple waterfalls in the Pedernales River. Pedernales Falls is a photographer’s and bird watcher’s paradise, and if you’re up for swimming, a short hike takes you to an old-fashioned swimmin’ hole.
Old Tunnel State Park
At sunset from May to October, three million bats emerge from an old railroad tunnel in search of food, devouring up to 25 tons of insects nightly. Park rangers are on hand to talk about the life cycle of the bats, and if you’re close enough to the tunnel entrance, you can feel the wind from millions of tiny wings.
Peach Season
Peaches are in season from May to August and you don’t want to miss them. Fresh peaches are everywhere you look, from ice cream to cobbler to anything else you can think of, and they are delicious.
Oktoberfest
Because German immigrants founded Fredericksburg, German culture abounds. Wear your lederhosen, raise a beer stein, eat your weight in bratwurst, and spend three days in the fall waltzing through the festival with thousands of your soon-to-be closest friends.
Art Galleries
If you’re a fan of local artists who create Texan and Southwestern art, Fredericksburg is the place for you. A walk down Main St reveals several galleries to help you tastefully decorate any room back home.
It’s not just paintings, either. Jewelry, sculptures, and glassworks abound, and the artists themselves make an appearance every now and then.
Luckenbach
Country music fans of a certain age will recognize the name Luckenbach, even if they’ve never visited. Waylon, Willie, and the Boys may not be on stage, but live music happens just about every day, and cold beer and great food are always available. What else do you need?
Trade Days
One weekend a month, eight miles from Main St, Trade Days takes over Sunday Farms with more than 300 shops and food vendors as live music keeps the place moving. As they say, “If you can’t find it at Trade Days, you don’t need it!”