The warming weather and frequent sunshine are the perfect recipe for a road trip. Austin is situated on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, arguably one of the most scenic areas of our state. The winding highway will take you through wineries, fields of Texas bluebonnets, and historic German towns like Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg, Texas, is most often thought of as the heart of the Texas wine country. There are numerous tour itineraries for wine tasting in the Texas Hill Country. However, there is so much more to do there than this!
Here are our five favorite things to do while out in the Fredericksburg area:
1. Learn a little history at the LBJ Ranch & National Historic Park
President Lyndon Baines Johnson was deeply attached to the Texas soil from which he came. He was born at what is now known as the LBJ Ranch and constantly returned there, even during his busy tenure in the White House. He spent so much time at the ranch while he was president that the home is now nicknamed the “Texas White House”.
Take a free driving tour of the ranch, followed by a park ranger guided tour of the Texas White House. We recommend purchasing the audio CD to accompany the ranch drive; the stories and songs from LBJ’s life are a wonderful addition to the scenery.
2. Get flower crazy at Wildseed Farms Springtime in Texas means wildflowers! Lady Bird Johnson was instrumental in beautifying Texas, and you don’t have to drive far to see some of her handiwork. Our state highways are lined with wildflowers, including the famed Texas bluebonnet.
Wildseed Farms provides a perfect backdrop for photos, as well as an incredible gift shop selling everything for the green thumb in your family.
3. Listen to live music in Luckenbach Waylon and Willie put this little town on the map, and it is now a must-see for all those traveling through the Texas Hill Country. Stop in at the general store for an ice cold Lone Star beer before heading out back to listen to the live tunes that play every weekend. Most evenings the dancehall will also be hopping, so make sure you break out your boots!
4. Discover how olive oil is made at the Texas Hill Country Olive Company
While almost everyone knows about our vineyards, few people realize olives are the other booming crop in Central Texas. Our Mediterranean-esque climate offers the sandy soils, dry heat, and constant sunshine of Greece or Italy. This provides the perfect backdrop for an olive orchard.
Tour the orchard for $6, then treat yourself to a light bite from the bistro while you sample the many olive oils on offer. We recommend mixing and matching. Current favorite combo: garlic olive oil with white lemon vinegar!
5. Eat a slice of peach pie
Fredericksburg peaches are the perfect addition to a warm summer day. All along the 290 Wine Route you will pass general stores and fruit stands touting local peaches and their byproducts.
We love stopping at Vogel Orchard’s stand along Hwy 290 for the peach ice cream.
Looking for more ideas for planning your trip to the Texas Hill Country? Let Twisted Texas plan the perfect day for you!