Hanging Out in Fredericksburg, Texas

Ever since we put our buns in the sun at the Schlitterbahn and Comal River back in 2022, we’ve had the hankering to return to South Texas to explore some towns we didn’t get the chance to visit on that particular road trip adventure.

We heard Fredericksburg was a place we needed to check out, so back in March, we were finally able to make it happen, and thankfully, it was during their famous Trade Days at Sunday Farms.

So, how did it all turn out?

Visiting Fredericksburg

OMG, it was so damn busy!!! 😱

We had forgotten it was spring break in Texas, and the traffic and crowds were overwhelming. Finding a parking spot took a while, and once we got into the enormous throngs of people, my highest priority was quickly making my way to the Fredericksburg Brewing Company.

Like a madman on a mission and Moses parting the Red Sea, we made our way over a mile before reaching the Promised Land, where I could alleviate my insane anxiety by quickly consuming two cold beers.

Overall, the brewery was nice, and despite the beers being pricy for the size, they were good. Would I go back? Probably not. But I was feeling less stressed after consuming them, and it made the rest of the journey a little more enjoyable, so that was a win!

We then spent a few hours walking around East Main Street on US-290, checking out the many local shops and tourist attractions.

Fredericksburg was founded by German settlers in 1846 and was named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. The town boasts a rich European heritage, evidenced by the many German bakeries and restaurants, as well as some of the architecture. It’s a beautiful community with a wide range of activities, making it a great destination for shopping, eating, sightseeing, and drinking wine.

Speaking of. As for wineries. WOW!

Never in our lives have we seen so many incredible-looking vineyards lining the highways. It was like visiting Las Vegas with all the casinos everywhere, only it was all upscale wineries begging for our attention, ones we would likely never fit in with or be able to afford. If this is your thing, you will hit the jackpot!!

Because the town was so busy, we only visited a few of the local establishments before moving on to other locations, but we did get to experience Trade Days.

Trade Days is a monthly flea market event that includes acres of tools, collectibles, antiques, clothing, jewelry, and a whole lot more, some out in the open, while most of it’s stashed in the seven barns on the property. It’s like a little town itself, which also includes a Biergarten, live music, and food vendors. There is something for everyone, and it’s easy to drop some serious money quickly, not that we’d know. 😉

Unfortunately, it was windy as hell, thanks to the jet stream causing all the high wind problems throughout Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas, and we were constantly sand-blasted by the flying dirt. Otherwise, it would have been a perfect time. If you ever get to this area, we highly recommend checking it out.

Other places worth mentioning.

Luckenbach, Texas

Located only 15 miles southwest of Fredericksburg, Luckenbach is not what you’d expect, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you enjoy beer, BBQ, and live music. The old post office and general store are the highlights, though you can spend time walking around the property while drinking an adult beverage, while listening to the local talent.

Wimberley, Texas

Despite the large crowds and traffic, we loved the time spent in Wimberley, a small town with an amazing arts and culture experience. You’ll quickly notice the quirky hand-painted cowboy boots throughout the vicinity, hear the outdoor live music, and smell the incredible flavors of the local restaurants. It’s got a groovy vibe that will make you want to stay as long as possible.

We stopped at Ceremonial Botanical as we walked the streets, which was one of the coolest shops we’ve ever visited, and the plants were stunning! The Budaful Hiker also had some fantastic hiking t-shirts and other gifts. Cypress Creek Coffee House served us up some kick-ass cold brews and provided a nice break from the heat of the day.

Our final destination was The Let Go so I could grab an overpriced can of McConauHaze IPA and enjoy a lackluster experience, but to be fair, it was busy and chaotic. Better luck next time, maybe.

Rockport, Texas

The city of Rockport was on our way to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (which will be a separate post), and even though we didn’t take time to venture around, we did discover a hidden gem on our quest for caffeine.

Main Street Coffee House is located at 802 East Main Street, and their shop, as well as their drinks, were magical. They have an Alice in Wonderland theme, which is really fun and different, but the owners and team were super friendly and welcoming. I also spent an hour talking with locals about traveling, business, and art.

Canyon Lake, Texas

Donetta and I spent two nights truck camping at the Lake Pointe Resort at Canyon Lake while hanging out with 30 deer roaming the grounds. This was an incredible place to stay because of the location, the peacefulness, the entire facility, and the people who work and live there. Plus, they allow rooftop tents.

Unfortunately, the lake was down and very dry, so we didn’t do much there, and some of the other local places we wanted to visit were closed.

We also visited the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Dinosaur Valley State Park, and Padre Island National Seashore, but those places deserve individual posts.

There were also some rough patches during this road life adventure!

The Texas heat, which we didn’t expect to happen so early, and our truck's air conditioner not working, made some of those days brutal. 🔥 We also encountered a large hailstorm in Georgetown, Texas, which damaged our truck, tonneau cover, and rooftop tent. ⛈️ And there were excessively high winds with sustained gusts of 50+ mph in the region, which caused major damage and fires. 🌬️

Aside from the weather, we had a fantastic time in the Hill Country of South Texas.

If you’re looking for other recommendations, let us know; we still have a list of “must-sees” and stops we can put in the comments below. Donetta always has a handy spreadsheet of places we stop and her input as well.

Enjoy your day.

Thanks so much for reading!