Fredericksburg for Families: A Perfect Three Day Weekend

Fredericksburg, TX was settled by German immigrants in 1846 and patterned around the charming villages that lined the Rhine River of the settlers’ homeland.  This cozy atmosphere has continued throughout Fredericksburg’s history and has secured the city as the Bed and Breakfast capital of Texas.  Along with an abundance of B & B, Fredericksburg is filled with unique antique and collectible shops and plenty of intimate, gourmet restaurants.

With all that trifecta of amenities, it’s not surprising that Fredericksburg is the go to place for girls’ getaway weekends and retirement village field trips.  So does Fredericksburg really have anything to keep the younger set occupied, or if this is just an adults-only mecca?

Luckily, Fredericksburg has plenty to offer for family enjoyment and can serve as a charming home base for many nearby natural wonders that kids and parents will love to explore.  So what’s a family to do with a weekend in Fredericksburg?

 

Day One: Historical Happenings and Super Shopping

Start the day off in the center of Fredericksburg with a little history lesson.  The National Museum of the Pacific War is an artfully designed living history venue that retells the struggles of the Allies and the Japanese in the Pacific Theatre during WWII.  The museum is unique in its interactive retelling of some of the key elements of America’s involvement in WWII, including Pearl Harbor and the saga of the atom bomb.  The museum is best suited for school aged kids, with kids at fifth grade and up really getting the most out the experience.  Of course, if you have any boys in your party, they will be excited to be up close and personal with all those tanks, guns, and airplanes no matter their age.

A stop at the Pioneer Museum will suit both young and old and give everyone a glimpse into the city’s past.   This unique museum is spread out over 4 acres, and includes a general store, barn, and blacksmith shop among other 19th-century styled exhibits.   The entire complex can be toured in about an hour.

After all that studious history pursuit, it’s time to schedule some play.  Marktplatz Playground is within walking distance of both the Pacific War Museum and the Pioneer Museum and is nestled in a lush garden that commemorates the founders of the town of Fredericksburg.

A morning of history and playing works up an appetite, so let’s head over to Main Street for lunch.   Altdorf Restaurant and Biergarten has a perfect outdoor dining oasis with tons of shade that parents and kids will enjoy, and even welcomes four-legged friends.  If you want to stick with tradition, you will find traditional German dishes and beer on the menu, but something for every palette is also available.

With everyone full from lunch, you might be able to get away with ducking into a few shops.  Although most shops along Main Street carry the typical specialty crafts and clothing of a bed and breakfast town, but there are some stores that will appeal to kids. Fitz and Hollerin offers toys and games for all ages with a welcoming front porch that invites you to sit down for a story or blow some bubbles.  Old Tyme Fun Shop is stocked with a unique collection of gag gifts, wigs and disguises, and magic tricks that are perfect for the beginning magician.  Kids will be thrilled to watch the daily magic demonstrations or make friends with “Sunshine the Clown” and her artistic face painting and balloon animals.

If all that shopping leaves you hungry for an afternoon snack, head over to Fredericksburg Pie Company where you will find a mouthwatering selection of homemade pies that rival your best homemade memories.  While you are there you can pick up a signed copy of the History of Enchanted Rock in the gift shop and study up for your climb the next morning.

Many restaurants and most shops close by 6 pm, so make plans for an early dinner if you want to eat in town.  Just before dusk, take a 10 minute drive out of town to Old Tunnel State Park, an abandoned railroad tunnel that is home to millions of Mexican free-tail bats.  The bats emerge for their nightly bug eating spree just as the sun goes down, and make for a spectacular and educational end to your first day in Fredericksburg. 

Day Two: Nearby Natural Wonders

Rise and shine and enjoy a hearty breakfast so you are ready for your climb to the summit of Enchanted Rock.  Enchanted Rock State Park is a scenic 30 minute drive from the heart of the city and offers a great way to check out the Hill Country views and test your climbing skills.  It is a 425 foot climb to the top of the batholith, and although you may have to stop a few times to catch your breath check out the view, it is a doable climb, even for young kids.  Although the scenery below your feet looks more like the surface of Mars, the outlook from the top is the picture perfect view of the Hill country and makes the huffing and puffing worth it. 

Step back in time for casual lunch at Airport Diner.  This 1940s era diner offers classic favorites, like hamburgers and grilled cheese, as well as the thrill of ordering a thick milkshake or float from the soda fountain.  Best of all, you can enjoy your lunch as you watch the airplanes take off and land around you.

From 425 feet above ground, to 100 feet under the ground, your next natural exploration will take you to nearby Boerne to explore the Cave Without a Name.  The cave has remained nameless throughout its history because it is considered to be too beautiful for a name and it certainly does live up to its nameless moniker.   If the weather is warm, you will especially appreciate the constantly cool 66 degree temperatures in the cave as you explore with your one hour guided tour.

Day Three: Peaches and Picnics

Gillespie County produces 40% of all the peaches grown in the state of Texas, so why not pick a few to enjoy on a Hill Country picnic.  There are multiple farms available that offer all kinds of peaches and peach related products, but Marburger Orchard is a favorite for not only pick your peaches, but strawberries and blackberries, as well.  Check their website for picking seasons and enjoy the thrill of teaching your kids that fruit doesn’t grow in the supermarket.

With your basket full of sun- warmed, fresh fruit, you just need a few more ingredients to make the perfect picnic.  Stop by Opa’s Smoked Meats to pick up some perfectly smoked pork, chicken, turkey or beef.  With your picnic offerings complete, head to Lyndon B. Johnson State Park where you can enjoy the fruits of the land as you gaze at the wildflowers, longhorn cattle, and buffalo that call the park home.