Nestled deep in the heart of Texas Hill Country, just an hour’s drive from San Antonio, is one of the Lonestar State’s most distinctive destinations. With wines to impress even denizens of the White House, one-of-a-kind accommodations, and historical attractions such as President Lyndon B. Johnson’s boyhood home and the Texas White House, Fredericksburg is proving it’s more than wildflowers and beer festivals.
Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by a group of 120 German immigrants under the support of the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas. Thus one of the first master-planned developments in the nation was born. The hallmark of the community has always been its 3.5 mile-long Main Street, built to be wide enough to accommodate a U-turning oxcart, and now large enough for the 18- wheelers that occasionally barrel through town. A tour of the area will reveal more than 700 historically significant structures, most built of century-old native limestone.
Fredericksburg is understandably proud of its German heritage, and has succeeded in keeping big businesses and corporations allocated to its outskirts; you might miss the limestone-façade McDonald’s on your drive in, it blends in so well.

If you don’t have the opportunity to stay in one of Fredericksburg’s many Sunday Houses during your visit, be sure to at least tour one.
The town’s first settlers were offered a package that included a town lot and an acreage or farm outside of town. Those whose farms were located in distant rural areas usually built a small cottage on their town lot. When the settlers came to town on the weekends for socials and church, they’d have a place to stay. In addition to the Sunday Houses, the majority of the guest accommodations are private residences where visitors are provided enough amenities and breakfast supplies to last the duration of their stay—and are otherwise left alone. It’s an interesting way to visit a place, feeling like you’re an actual resident.
One of the most unique accommodations is The Roadrunner Inn (830-997-1844; www.theroadrunnerinn.com), located on Main Street above two clothing boutiques and owned and managed by Cassel Heap. Stylishly decorated with a mix of vintage, industrial, and modern elements, the three guest rooms feature king-size platform beds dressed with luxurious linens and bathrooms with Jacuzzi tub. The daily homemade muffin and fruit basket, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and wall- mounted plasma television were enough to tempt me to move right in.
Oh, and there’s also high-speed Internet access.
Fredericksburg is fast becoming a culinary and wine destination, and Texas wines are literally taking off. The evidence lies not only in the 100 wineries currently operating in Texas, but also in the statistics: Texas is the fifth largest wine producing state in the nation, bringing more than $1 billion to the Texas economy annually, and number three in the nation for wine consumption. The Hill Country is being referred to as the Napa Valley of Texas Wines and is the second most popular place to visit for wine in the U.S. besides Napa.
A great way to experience the area’s wineries is to climb aboard the luxurious Texas Wine Tours’ Limousine Coach (www.texas-wine-tours.com). With plush leather seats and plenty of cup holders for on-the-go tastings, it’s an excellent way to visit up to five area wineries in a day. Texas Wine Tours will also design a tour around a group’s particular interests and time constraints.
A tour of the local wineries will more than likely include a stop at Becker Vineyards (www.beckervineyards.com). Securing a private tasting with Henri de Lobbe (the self-proclaimed French cowboy/wine-pusher) is highly recommended. He’ll take your group in the back room and give you not only his amusing personal tale, but also humorous wine anecdotes ("Always use real corks and always make Red Zinfandel.").

Each vintage of Becker wines is aged in new French and American oak barrels and stored in the largest underground wine cellar in Texas, which Henri can easily be cajoled into showing you, after sampling at least five of the more than 17 varietals on-hand.
Although steeped in German culture and heritage, the area is also home to some important national landmarks and points of interest.
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s boyhood home is a short 25-minute drive away, and the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is even closer. Anyone who fought in WWII or knows someone who did will want to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War (www.nimitxmuseum.org), located on nine acres in the heart of town. The interactive museum allows visitors to walk in the shadow of a B-52 bomber and prepare for a raid on Guadalcanal; there is also a display memorializing each individual battle. It is an impressive and moving preservation of history that visitors won’t soon forget.
The Hangar Hotel (www.hangarhotel.com) provides a unique take on meetings and corporate retreats, in keeping with the South Pacific/ WWII-era feel. There’s an old-fashioned 1940s diner adjacent to the conference room, which features a vintage neon theater marquee, and WWII Quonset-style break-out rooms. The large, hydraulic hangar doors allow easy outdoor access (weather permitting), and airplane and helicopter rides are available, as is a 1940 Cadillac Staff Car.

It’s rare that such a popular tourist destination can stay true to its roots, but the town and its residents have worked hard to preserve their identity and culture, and their passion is contagious. Sampling brews at a biergarten, listening to live music as you stroll down Main Street, hearing the wake-up call of a rooster at seven a.m.—even the most hard-boiled of city dwellers will be charmed and fantasize about shedding their desk job and joining the plein air painters on the side of the road once they’ve experienced this unique Texas treat.