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The top 5 reasons to plan a 'workcation' in Fredericksburg

Working outside the traditional office setting may be here to stay, but working remotely doesn't always have to mean working from home. Why not work from somewhere that inspires you and take a working vacation in Fredericksburg?

Located just over an hour from Austin or San Antonio and just four hours from Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston, Fredericksburg provides the ideal escape for a change of scenery, midweek getaway, or an extended stay to complete a work project.

Here are the top five reasons why you should head to the Texas Hill Country for a workcation:

1. Be inspired by the area's unique lodging options
There are plenty of hotels and motels in the area with set-ups that include office desks and chairs or onsite conference room space. In addition, Fredericksburg has nearly 1,500 bed-and-breakfasts, many of which feature dedicated workspaces and Wi-Fi.

And if you want to get out to the great outdoors, many accommodations include outdoor spaces like porches and patios — perfect for a natural mid-afternoon boost.

2. Experience award-winning restaurants and wine
Discover the flavors of Fredericksburg by grabbing lunch at some of the best restaurants the Texas Hill Country has to offer. The area includes spots for quick bites, fine dining, and casual eateries.

Enjoy a romantic dinner with sushi or steak or a more casual atmosphere with burgers, or try some of the area's acclaimed authentic German cuisine. Fredericksburg also has several restaurants with kid-friendly menus and dishes. After hours, participate in happy hour by grabbing drinks at a local winery, brewery, or bar — many spots also include nightly live music. Because of the pandemic, most restaurants are offering delivery, to-go orders, and patio dining.

3. Texas Hill Country views are the perfect cure for cubicle fatigue
It's no wonder people flock to the Texas Hill Country. The rolling hills, colorful wildflowers, and winding country roads are enough to make anyone want to commune with nature. If the outdoors is your cup of tea, you'll find it hard to fit all this is in on one trip.

For the binocular-toting crowd, the Fredericksburg area has everything from bats (and millions of them) to 300 species of birds. For the gotta-get-up-and-move types, it's also popular for hiking or rock climbing Enchanted Rock, and for bicycling and horseback riding.

4. Learn from the history that's around every corner
Fredericksburg's history dates back to the town's founding in 1846, when the first German settlers arrived in the Texas Hill Country. Throughout its long history (Fredericksburg celebrates it 175th birthday in 2021), the area has been home to several figures that have shaped the history of the world. Because of this, Fredericksburg is often named one of the top places to visit in the United States for history lovers.

The Pioneer Museum tells the story of those first German immigrants, while the Lyndon B. Johnson State and National Historical Parks tell the story of the president's larger than life personality and legacy.

Native son Chester W. Nimitz catapulted Fredericksburg on to the national map by commanding the United States Pacific Fleet in World War II — the National Museum of the Pacific War is in town because of his contributions.

5. Scout the activities that are can’t miss for your next trip to the area.
Once the workday is done, stroll through Fredericksburg's award-winning shops and art galleries or spend time relaxing at a spa. Celebrate the upcoming weekend by heading to a tasting at one of the area's 50 wineries and vineyards.

Can't work from Fredericksburg? The highlight of 2021 will be celebrating the city's 175th anniversary and the area's rich German culture in a year-long celebration.

Click here for the latest on COVID-19 guidelines in Fredericksburg. Plan ahead, please bring your mask (or buy a new one at a local boutique), and continue to practice social distancing while you visit.

Working remotely doesn't always mean work from home.

Photo courtesy of Fredericksburg CVB

Working remotely doesn't always mean work from home.

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Pack Your Patience

DFW declared No. 2 worst airport for flight delays and cancellations

Photo by Izyan Sultanali on Unsplash

DFW International also ranks as the second-worst airport for flight disruptions over the holiday travel season.

Ahead of the busy holiday season, North Texans should budget extra time into their travel plans before flying out of the metro's bustling Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

DFW was just declared the No. 2 worst airport in the nation for flight disruptions by consumer review platform ConsumerAffairs, which analyzed the rates of moderate and severe delays, diversions, and cancellations at the 29 biggest U.S. airports. DFW also appeared as the No. 2 worst airport where holiday travel causes the biggest disruptions.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia led the nation as the No. 1 worst airport overall — the only airport deemed more disruptive than DFW.

Unlike many other airports on the list that experience high cancellation rates, the report revealed DFW's biggest issue is its high volume of flight delays. DFW has the No. 1 highest moderate delay rate out of all the airports examined, with more than a quarter of all flights (25.18 percent) delayed by 15 minutes and up to three hours.

"It’s the kind of delay that eats into your day without necessarily blowing up your whole trip," the report's author wrote.

Nearly two percent of all flights are delayed over three hours, making DFW the fifth worst airport for severe delays. However, the study says there is a silver lining for travelers saddled with severe disruptions.

"DFW offered more scheduled backup flights to the same destination than many of the other airports on this list, giving travelers a decent shot at rebooking if a flight fell through," the report said.

These are the cancellation and diversion rates at DFW, per the report:

Cancellation rate: 2.31 percent
Diversion rate: 0.29 percent
Average same-day flights to the same destination: 3.95
Cancellations that were the last flight of the day to that destination: 24.88 percent

Flying at DFW will be even more stressful during the holidays, as 30 percent of flights will suffer from disruptions during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel periods — starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, and again from December 18 to January 5.

DFW has the eighth highest holiday disruption rate out of the biggest airports, and the fifth highest holiday severe delay rate. Put some padding on your itinerary, because about 2.5 percent of all flights will be delayed more than three hours during the holidays.

In ConsumerAffairs' separate list of the worst medium-sized airports, Dallas Love Field landed as the 15th worst out of 32 U.S. airports. About 22 percent of all flights at DAL experience moderate delays — the No. 1 highest rate in this category — and 1.07 percent are severely delayed.

Additionally, over 26 percent of all DAL flights will be disrupted during the holiday travel season, and two percent of flights will experience severe delays.

The top 10 worst U.S. airports for delays and cancellations are:

No. 1 – Ronald Reagan Washington National
No. 2 – Dallas Fort Worth International
No. 3 – Newark Liberty International
No. 4 – Miami International
No. 5 – Philadelphia International
No. 6 – Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
No. 7 – LaGuardia
No. 8 – Tampa International
No. 9 – Washington Dulles International
No. 10 – George Bush Intercontinental

Surprisingly, Los Angeles International Airport landed as the best major U.S. airport for avoiding travel disruptions. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (No. 2) and Seattle-Tacoma International (No. 3) round out the top three best airports for on-time travel.

The report offers the following suggestions to help anxious travelers avoid flight disruptions: look into travel insurance to protect against delays or cancellations; look for nonstop flights; or book flights with earlier departure times on an airline with multiple departures to your destination.

For flights that do get delayed or cancelled, travelers need to "act fast" to rectify their situation, says Jennifer Rykaczewski, the CEO of nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Affordable Skies.

"In the first 10 minutes, open the airline app, see whether you have already been rebooked and search for acceptable alternatives," Rykaczewski said. "Throughout the process, save any documentation of the delay or cancellation, plus receipts for meals or hotels, in case you need it for an insurance claim later."

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