Texas Traveler

A quick guide to Fredericksburg, the quintessential Texas Hill Country getaway

For an authentic taste of Texas Hill Country — as well as the delicious fruit of the Texas Wine Trail — look no further than Fredericksburg. This heritage community was settled by Germans in the 19th century and retains its old world charm even today.

Filled with unique shops, casual and sophisticated restaurants, a profusion of wildflowers, and friendly people, Fredericksburg is the perfect weekend getaway for Texans — and much more than just another sleepy little town.

What to do
You can easily spend an entire day wandering the shops and galleries on Main Street, or you might hop on a bicycle to pedal among the wildflowers or to nearby Enchanted Rock. Of course, the grape is king in this region, and you can taste wine at area vineyards such as Becker, Torre di Pietra and Grape Creek.

In fact, Fredericksburg is one of the top wine destinations in the U.S. Try a Texas Wine Tour, or meander through the newly developed Wine Road 290 yourself. Several special wine road events are scheduled throughout the year. Coming up June 21 is Vino al Pastor; on July 19, enjoy the Chili and Chillin' event.

If you are a history buff, visit the Vereins Kirche Museum in the Fredericksburg National Historic District for a taste of German folklore. Nearby Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site offers a look inside the “Texas White House” and ranch of the 36th U.S. President. The National Museum of the Pacific War is the only institution in the country dedicated to the story of the Pacific Theater in World War II. Recently expanded, the museum offers a new George H.W. Bush Gallery with a multimedia presentation and historical artifacts.

What to eat
For a small town, Fredericksburg is packed with culinary delights. Gourmet restaurants such as August E’s, Navajo Grill, Rock House and Austin’s dish up creative cuisine for the most discerning palate. There are plenty of casual and lunch spots as well; try El Milagro Twenty Twelve or Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the oldest brewpub in Texas serving up craft beer and offering a traditional biergarten in the back.

The town also knows how to celebrate its food. The Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival is going on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25. This annual party features activities for the whole family, including lots of great Cajun food, live music, crawfish races, and a Creole brunch with a special appearance by chef John Russ of the renowned Lüke San Antonio.

If you really want to get hands-on, Fredericksburg is a great place to take cooking classes. Jacque Rudman offers a variety of classes, from “feast of flavors” culinary delight samplers to “haute and healthy herbs” with ingredients picked straight from the chef’s own garden. Private group sessions can be arranged with recipe and menu development for a customized adventure.

How to splurge
Part of any good getaway is treating yourself, and there is no better place than Fredericksburg’s newest destination spa, Fredericksburg Herb Farm, done in the old "Sunday Haus" style with the help of local artisans.

"The Sunday Haus was a concept for people coming in from the country and enjoying the weekend attending church and then picking up supplies for the rest of the week," says owner Dick Estenson. "Each one of the 14 cottages is done in an architectural styling of the original Sunday Haus. We also have the old 1884 rock house that is now being restored into its original rock condition."

The 5,000-square-foot facility offers pampering of all types, and the Farm Haus Bistro will replenish you with garden-fresh food. You can enjoy a massage, facial or more at the day spa, or retreat entirely in one of the new guest cottages.

When to go
Any time of year is nice in Fredericksburg, whether in summertime when you can refresh at a nearby watering hole or during the light-filled winter holiday season. But spring is magical, with wildflowers in bloom and the best weather of the year.

From April 30-May 4, check out the Hill Country Film Festival, a five-day independent film event created to celebrate and showcase filmmakers from Texas and around the world. In 2013, HCFF screened more than 50 independent films, both short and feature length, and hosted filmmaker interviews, discussion panels and festival parties.

The July 4th celebration is also big, with a community parade and fireworks, and other celebrations in nearby Luckenbach.

Cycling is one way to see the Hill Country.

Photo by Steve Rawls

Cycling is one way to see the Hill Country.

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Train News

Dallas transportation advocates rally to encourage support of DART

Photo courtesy of DART

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Dallas transportation advocates are rallying in support of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the public transportation system that provides accessible transportation including buses and trains, to Dallas and surrounding cities.

It's a pushback against four Dallas-area cities that are discussing withdrawing their support. Highland Park, Farmers Branch, Plano, and Irving are all dissatisfied, claiming they don't receive enough service for what they invest.

Pulling out of DART means they would stop all service in those cities. In addition, DART’s yearly budget would decrease by millions, which would have a negative effect on the entire system.

The decision would affect more than train routes — it would impact how people across the region move, connect, and access opportunity including working people who use transit to commute. For some residents, it's their only source of transportation.

At least two of the cities — Irving and Plano — are both considering elections. Both state they'll "explore" replacement mobility solutions.

When DART was formed, the federal government required local cities to buy into the project in order to keep highway funding coming to the region. If cities are successful in pulling out of DART, that will endanger future funding opportunities.

A majority of DART’s revenue comes from a one-cent sales and use tax that its member cities pay.

Some cities, including Garland and Richardson, have expressed their support of DART.

Public transportation advocates like BikeDFW note that "when we weaken transit, we weaken connection — between neighborhoods, opportunities, and people."

Their post notes that "DART isn’t perfect — no large system is — but it’s one of the few truly regional transit networks in Texas. It connects 13 cities through rail, bus, and paratransit service. Every day, thousands of people use DART to get to work, school, and essential appointments. Pulling out of DART would not just remove train and bus routes. It would also weaken bike-to-transit connections that make multimodal trips possible, trail and sidewalk funding that often comes through DART partnerships, and regional collaboration that helps us plan safer streets and reduce congestion."

And a release from The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) stressed the importance of public transit for the future, when the region will grow to 12.4 million residents by 2050.

"It is also important that those who live, work and go to school in cities that are members of a transit system today are provided with a seamless transit service that works for them," the statement from NCTCOG said.

The four meetings are as follows:

Highland Park's meeting was on November 4 at 8 am.
Farmers Branch is November 4 at 6 pm, at Farmers Branch City Hall.
Plano is November 5 at 5 pm, at Plano City Hall.
Irving is November 6 at 7 pm, at Irving City Hall.

Advocates also recommend contacting city council members of all four of these cities to persuade them to continue their support of DART.

transportation