How to Spend a Day in Fredericksburg, Texas

There’s something magical about hitting the road and heading to a small Texas town on a Saturday morning, and Fredericksburg has the magic of Texas and Germany combined. Wine tasting rooms, beer halls, shops, eateries, and attractions line the streets of Fredericksburg, which sits just west of Llano and just far enough from Austin to feel like it’s in another world. 

Make the most of your day trip with this tips and afterthoughts from my own experience!

General Tips

Get your alcohol first. Since it’s legal to walk around the streets and wander into shops with a drink in hand, head to a tasting room or for a quick lunch first! 

Pop into every shop. There were a few stores that are more tucked away than others, but those stores are the most fun to pop in! One of our favorites was store called T-Shirts, Etc. where we found plenty of hilarious cat tees and shirts with fun sayings. 

Park and walk. Most of the sights, shops, and eateries sit on or just off Main Street, so parking at one end is the way to go. Main Street spans roughly 8-10 blocks. 

Eat

Auslander

Walking into Auslander feels like walking into a beergarden in Germany. It’s dark, cozy, and smells simply amazing! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but I loved the Chicken Schnitzel with Sauerkraut and Spaetzel. They have tons of German beers on draft as well!

Pasta Bella

This cute little Italian haven is a local favorite! Walk through its cherry red doors with a big appetite for lunch, as the food is cheap and you'll want to try one of everything. 

Fredericksburg Pie Co.

Pie, quilts, and "vintage treasures"... What more do you need? This family-owned rustic pie house has everything from cream pies to fruit and pecan pies by the slice, by the half, or by the whole. Get there early, since they close once they sell out!

Sip

Becker Vineyard Tasting Room

This brand new development is half tasting room half lavender shop... An odd mix but an amazing one nonetheless! Multiple tasting options are available from the vineyards. Fredericksburg Winery is just down Main Street, but this tasting room has a much more enjoyable atmosphere.

Fredericksburg Brewery

In the heart of historic downtown Fredericksburg is a restored 1890's building with a dining space and air-conditioned biergarten, with the upstairs dedicated to "Bed & Brew" rooms which can be rented out and enjoyed by visitors.

Andreucci Wines

Bottled in the Italian Hill Country and shipped from Tuscany to Fredericksburg, these wines were once only available in Italy and are now available for tasting on the streets of this old Texas city. 

Caffeinate  

Ranch Road Roasters 

Grab a cup of Joe at Ranch Road Roasters, which boasts roasts inspired by Texas Hill Country roads. They roast on the bed of a 1946 Ford Truck that was once used to get goods to market. 

Twisted Sisters Bake Shop

Enjoy a colorful haven of sweet and savory baked goods just off Main Street. Take your pick of a sandwiches and pretzel or opt for a cookie or muffin instead. 

Jack's 1742

Homemade comfort bites, decadent French macarons, and a wide tea selection make this cozy cafe the perfect place to caffeinated and grab a bite to eat for the road. 

Shop

Dogologie 

If you are a dog person, this shop is for you! Dedicated to four-legged friends of the puppy type, this store has everything from leashes and sports team jerseys for your dog to breed artwork, greeting cards, and caps. 

Fredericksburg General Store

All the old-time candy you can possibly think of and toys that exude overwhelming nostalgia line the shelves of the Fredericksburg General Store. Consider this your go-to spot for Fredericksburg paraphernalia as well!

Rustlin' Rob's Texas Gourmet Foods

This store CANNOT be missed! Pickles, jams, butters, sauces, salsas, and every Texan food you can think of can be found at Rustlin' Rob's. The best part? Everything can be sampled! If you need to sober up before your drive back to Austin (or just need a snack), this store is your go-to.

Explore  

Pioneer Memorial Library

Originally built in the 1800s, the Pioneer Memorial Library is one of the most gorgeous buildings on Main Street. The first floor houses the library itself, and the second floor functions as a community hall. This would be a gorgeous backdrop for family photos as well!

Japanese Garden of Peace  + National Museum of the Pacific War

This gorgeous garden is America's only museum centered on World War II's Pacific campaign, and sprawls across 6 acres on the edges of downtown Fredericksburg. Be sure to take a look at the George H. W. Bush Gallery, a 33,000 sqft exhibition with over 40 media installations, 900 artifacts, and more.

Vereins Kirche Museum

In the center of Main Street sits the Vereins Kirche Museum, a beautiful iconic landmark of Fredericksburg known as "Society's Church." Inside is a collection of artifacts and photos from throughout the town's history. 

Fredericksburg takes the best of small Texas towns and combines it with a little hint of German culture to create the most picture-perfect small town west of Austin. There are tons of other wineries near Fredericksburg to enjoy before or after visiting Main Street, as well as Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. If you're planning on visiting Enchanted Rock and Fredericksburg in the same day, be sure to plan on visiting downtown Fredericksburg second. Enchanted rock fills up fast and you won't want to hike after eating and drinking in town. 

I hope this guide is helpful! DM me on Instagram and tell me if you've been, what your favorites are, or what you're looking to get out of the experience and I can share even more info with you.

Magnolia Market

It's been just over a year since the grand opening of Magnolia Market in Waco, an ample amount of time to let the craziness settle down before dragging myself to visit (or so I thought.)

My mom, sister and I packed our purses, grabbed our booties and made a pit stop at Starbucks before making the long trek to good ol' Wacotown this past Saturday. The sky was a disheartening shade of gray but our caffeine-induced excitement kept us hopeful on the way to the market.

The thing I love MOST about Waco -- and let's be real, it's a short list which includes Spice Village and Common Grounds -- is the parking. It's a rare thing to come across free parking in Austin and the free parking that can be found just a few blocks outside of the perimeter of Magnolia Market is a definite blessing.

We visited Silos Baking Co. upon our arrival, since the line was out the door and around the corner. As awful as the wait looked, however, the line moved relatively quickly and the workers like a well-oiled machine. We received an ordering card where we could check off the pastries we were going to be purchase as we weaved our way to the register. They bake everything from cupcakes to "biscuits", which were definitely my personal favorite. As much as I loved my mom's peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, my sister's orange cranberry biscuit was the star of the show. Silo Baking Co. offers a darling little seating area outside, but plenty of visitors bought pastries to eat while walking around the grounds or home in a Silo Baking Co. to-go box.

In typical tourist fashion, we visited the main attraction next -- the marketplace itself.

What ensued upon entering was something I couldn't have possibly prepared myself for that morning. There were hundreds upon hundreds of people crammed into the stuffy marketplace, where Christmas music was playing and people were unappreciative of my personal space bubble. Don't get me wrong, there are some CUTE trinkets to be purchased (if you're into spending $26 on a candle), but claustrophobia is a real thing for me and I definitely felt like we were playing a giant game of sardines in a can. The most striking thing about the store is the immaculate product displays and extreme attention to detail that Joanna is known for possessing. For a store that sees hundreds, maybe thousands, of people each day, everything was in its place.

I skipped the overpriced candles and settled for a small cream colored vase for my bathroom sink, as well as a fake flower because let's be real, my bank account can't keep up with my Central Market flower habit.

It may not look like it from the corner of the bakery, but the grounds of Magnolia Market is pretty expansive once you walk in a bit further. The green, where children can play with soccer balls and footballs kept neatly to the side in a giant bin, was far larger than I anticipated. This seemed to be a hub for families visiting, as women's kiddos (and hubbies) could relax and get out of the cramped marketplace as needed. The common area off to the side of the green had large wooden porch swings, individual swings and picnic tables.

We were lucky enough to be visiting on a day where they were having a large outdoor sale. The canopy was filled with mostly graphic t-shirts and various home products, but offered a nice alternative for people wanting to snag a souvenir and get the most bang for their buck.

Food trucks line the back of Magnolia Marketplace and include things like Common Grounds, Cheddar Box and Co-Town Crepes. Lines are long but the grub is worth it, especially if you're planning on making your trip an all-day affair.

Possibly my favorite part about the entire market was Magnolia Seed and Supply. The garden is complete with string lights and miniature gardens (like I said, the attention to detail.) It was so sweet being there with my little sister, because she used to have her very own "fairy garden" in our backyard as a kid, and I would leave notes for her to wake up to from the fairies. Talk about nostalgia!

Overall, it was a successful trip to Magnolia Market. While I tend to turn my brow up at all things touristy, sometimes it's nice to be a part of something like this while surrounded by people who are more than a little excited about it. The experience is worth it if you're willing to drive. Then again, the journey is just as important as the destination.

See my full photo story on the Austin Woman website!