72 Hours in Fredericksburg, Texas →

Wine and shopping in Texas Hill Country? Umm, yes please! My husband and I spent a lovely long weekend in Fredericksburg, Texas to celebrate our five-year wedding anniversary (has it really been that long?). Fredericksburg has seen a lot of growth and change over the years. I visited several years ago, and I didn’t even recognize it. These days, Main Street and the wineries are packed with bachelorette parties, clusters of women celebrating a girls’ weekend getaway, and husbands being dragged around by their wives on anniversary trips (that was us!).

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We had perfect weather when we arrived Thursday afternoon – sunny and warm, with low humidity – which made it the perfect day for drinking a glass of cab on the patio. By the next morning, the weather had turned cold and rainy.  We spent Friday perusing the shops on Main Street, and because of the turn in the weather, it kept the usual crowds at bay. We joked that we experienced three seasons in one weekend, because by Saturday afternoon it was quintessential fall weather (which was welcome after the warm summer temperatures on Thursday and the cold, bleary weather of winter on Friday).

Related Reading: The Ultimate Weekend Guide to OKC from a Local

Where to Stay

We stayed in a charming, beautifully decorated Airbnb outside of town. We enjoyed this farmhouse style retreat with it’s full kitchen, beautiful tub and shower, and comfortable living areas, and we would certainly consider staying there again.  The only thing I would mention is that this Airbnb is not for light sleepers or anyone bothered by noise. The noise from the highway is noticeable (it is RIGHT on Highway 290), and you can hear your neighbors a bit (the property is a duplex).

Photo Credit:

Side note: if you do not already use Airbnb, I highly suggest trying it out. I book most of my non-business-related travel on Airbnb and have had very positive experiences. If it’s your first time booking through Airbnb, you can get $55 off your first trip.

Where to Shop

My good-natured husband went with me into almost every single shop on Main Street (and Main Street is three solid blocks of shops). Most of the shops on Main Street were not my style – either they were largely clothing stores or overly touristy shops. However, Fredericksburg has a few real gems if you know where to look:

Simple Goods + Design

Located just off Main Street, this boutique shop is full of beautifully designed, upscale home goods. My husband found an elegant black and white print for his home office (who knew this guy had a great eye for art? Not me) and I walked away with several small but beautiful home décor treasures.

Photo Credit: Simple Goods + Design

Photo Credit: Simple Goods + Design

Black Chalk Home & Laundry

Black Chalk Home & Laundry is tucked away on Lincoln Street, a few blocks from Lincoln Street Wine Bar in what is deemed the Warehouse District. This shop had exactly what I was hoping to find while shopping in Fredericksburg. The welcoming store was filled to the brim with high-end, boutique home goods and unique, carefully curated décor items.   

Lock, Stock, & Barrel

This delightful shop is located on Main Street and I’m so glad we stopped in to sample their extensive selection of dips, seasonings, and salsas. I ended up purchasing a variety of dips that will come in handy for quick or last-minute entertaining. My three absolute favorites were the “Jalapeno Cilantro”, the “South of the Border”, and the “Chili, Cheese, and Bacon”.

Photo Credit: Lock, Stock, and Barrel

Photo Credit: Lock, Stock, and Barrel

Where to Dine

Hill Country Donuts & Kolaches

I had done some research before our trip on good breakfast spots. When we pulled up to Hill Country Donuts, it seemed like any other neighborhood donut and kolache shop. I was wrong. The donuts AND the kolaches were both delicious (it always seems that it’s one or the other).

I had a chocolate covered long-john donut stuffed with custard and a jalapeno, sausage, and cheese kolache (when in Rome, right?). The sausages inside the kolaches were much tastier than your average sausage rolls – that’s no surprise when you consider that we were in an area heavily influenced by Czech and German heritage.

We stopped in for breakfast every morning we were in Fredericksburg, and I will certainly come here again next trip.

Fredericksburg Brewery

Fredericksburg Brewery turned out to be the ideal stop for lunch during our Main Street shopping adventure.  The Mr. wanted a beer (he had been shopping all morning after all, who could blame him?) and I ordered the Cheddar Ale soup in a bread bowl - yum! It was possibly the best Cheddar Ale soup I have ever had (and I’m sure that the cold and rainy weather outside had nothing to do with how good the soup tasted…).

We sampled four of their beers and all were great. This watering hole will definitely make our return trip itinerary.

Photo Credit: Fredericksburg Brewing Company

Photo Credit: Fredericksburg Brewing Company

Lincoln Wine Bar

This place has been here forever and is a really cool experience. We went on a Thursday night and it was pretty quiet. The weather was nice, so we sat outside and enjoyed live acoustic guitar music. Lincoln Street is a little unique in the fact that they do not have a menu.

We walked in and the friendly guy behind the counter asked us to describe the kind of wine we like to drink. He poured us a sample from one of many bottles he had to offer. He wrote our names on an index card along with what we ordered.

The wine bar’s character and patio’s small town, personal feel made me feel right at home. This inviting bar offers cheese and charcuterie plates made upon request. I highly recommend this long time Fredericksburg institution for a glass of wine before dinner or as a place to unwind with your significant other on the patio.

Where to Wine

4.0 Cellars

Fredericksburg is Texas Wine Country after all! You can grab a shuttle or book a tour, but I really don’t think that’s necessary. Simply drive out to 4.0 Cellars (pronounced “four point”) and enjoy a relaxed wine tasting followed by a glass or bottle of wine on the patio.

When we visited, the live music and beautiful weather created a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere where we sipped wine, played cards, and enjoyed the afternoon. There was also a food truck parked just outside where we discovered delicious smoked meats and pulled-pork nachos. This winery visit was quite possibly the highlight of the entire weekend.

I highly recommend making 4.0 Cellars a must-see for your Fredericksburg trip.  

Related Reading: Temecula Wine Country: The Hidden Gem of Southern California

Where to Explore

While we did not get to experience any of the below activities on this trip, I look forward to exploring them in the future:

Enchanted Rock

Enchanted Rock is a beautiful and unique granite dome, protected within the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. I was lucky enough to visit as a kid and it was an experience that is not soon forgotten. A moderate hike brings visitors to the top of the dome where one can take in the striking views.

My husband has never visited, so the plan for this trip was to get up before dawn and hike to the top to see the sunrise. While in theory this sounded adventurous and romantic, in reality it was about 40 degrees and raining, and there was no way I was going to go hike a big hunk of granite in the dark. We slept in and maybe next time the weather will cooperate.

Either way, if a bit of nature is just what the doctor ordered, consider visiting Enchanted Rock. And if you do the sunrise hike, let me know how it goes!

National Museum of the Pacific War & Admiral Nimitz Gallery

We had planned to visit the highly praised National Museum of the Pacific War but ended up opting for a relaxed afternoon at 4.0 Cellars instead. We did stop into the gift shop on Main Street and we were told that the Admiral Nimitz Gallery, which is currently under renovation, should be finished by Spring of 2020. Both the hubs and I love WWII history, so we will certainly make time for both museums next trip.

Willow Room Spa

I could be in the middle of Siberia and I would sniff out a luxury spa. It runs in my blood. We decided against visiting Willow Room Spa during this trip due to time constraints (no one wants to be rushed at a spa!), but I hope to visit in the future. The pictures and reviews online make this destination retreat seem heavenly – and I’m sure the experience is one that is not soon forgotten.

So, tell me, have you been to Fredericksburg? Have you gone to any of the places listed here or did you find your own favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments below!