Fredericksburg Fun

The quintessential Hill Country getaway awaits in charming Fredericksburg

There are so many great places in Texas to stop for a long weekend, an overnight visit, or an extended stay. Too many to count, really. But Fredericksburg is one of those towns that is a must-visit on any Texan's list of travels.

Located about four hours south of Dallas, the town is known for hosting great bachelorette parties and romantic weekends, mostly thanks to Wine Road 290. There are 15 Texas wineries along the famed highway, and Fredericksburg alone has 45 wineries — it's the No. 2 wine destination in all of America.

Where to wine
A favorite is Fat Ass Ranch Winery, which usually has live music, a taco truck, and offers frozen sangria and peach sweet tea (infused with wine). If you’re a red wine drinker, check out the Texas Red, which is a blend of six Texas grapes. (If you do a tasting, it’s on both the standard and dry tasting menu, so you won’t miss it.) The winery has a fun outdoor area with adorable seating and horseshoes to keep you entertained.

Another great winery is Hilmy, which is considered a working farm. They give much bigger tasting pours than most other wineries and are extremely informative, not only on wine but also with tips on where to hang out while in town. If you’re new to wine, this is an incredibly educational tasting, just ask for Ace.

But it's not just about wine. With places like Hye and unique varieties like a whiskey chardonnay at Six Cellar Shooters, there's truly something for everyone. If you’re still not sold, check out the Texas Hill Country Beer Trail, which is packed with independent breweries (more than 20) offering unique tasting rooms, sample flights, and growlers to take home.

Let them do the driving
If you plan to hit up the wineries farther away, use caution driving. Majesty Wine Tours is a locally owned and operated service that will take you and your group to a few of the best wineries, get you there safely, provide insight into the area, and even give you a snack during your afternoon. Scout out a few of your favorites, then come back the next day for more.

Luckenbach is an absolute must while in the area. Missing this spot would be like traveling all the way to Paris for the first time and not stopping for a quick glance at the Eiffel Tower. The dance hall/bar/general store has live music daily, and you never know who’ll show up. (Pro tip: They don’t have Uber in Fredericksburg, but Majesty Tours will get you there and back for $15 per person.)

Where to stay
Fredericksburg is home to more than 900 guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts. B&B complexes have become popular in the area, and some favorites include Sugarberry Inn, Hoffman Haus, Splendid Inn, Blacksmith Quarters, Cotton Gin Village, and Magnolia House (named one of the best in the country). The Fredericksburg Herb Farm Spa offers a collection of Sunday houses, and the 1894 Private Pullman Palace Car is a unique place to stay too.

If you’re looking for something slightly more traditional, check out the Inn on Barons Creek, which is just blocks from Main Street, so you can easily park your car and walk around. The inn also has a spa; a heated pool; and a full breakfast bar, complimentary for guests.

Get outdoors
A huge attraction while in the area is Enchanted Rock. The short but magnificent trek provides some of the most beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country. Take your camera. Also check out Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, offering a variety of activities (hint: pack a picnic!). You can fish or wade in the Pedernales River, go on a hike, or take a guided tour.

A weekend in Fredericksburg will re-ignite the passion you have for all things Texas, guaranteed.

There are 15 Texas wineries along Wine Road 290.

Photo by McCabe Rawls

There are 15 Texas wineries along Wine Road 290.

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News for campers

New 650-acre state park coming to Lake Palestine in East Texas

Photo courtesy of TexasLand

Lake Palestine

East Texas is gaining a new state park at Lake Palestine that will include amenities like hike-and-bike trails, campsites, and lakefront access.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has paid more than $10 million for a 650-acre ranch at Lake Palestine that will be converted into a state park, the agency says. If the park opened today, it would be the 90th state park in Texas.

The ranch, roughly 100 miles southeast of Dallas, had been on the market for a little less than $10 million. Roughly 60 percent of the ranch is wooded, and about 40 percent is pastureland.

The foundation will make improvements to the site, about 18 miles west of Tyler, before handing it over to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in late 2027. That’s when funding from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund will become available for the department to acquire the property.

The deal preserves one of the last large habitat sites in that part of East Texas and will ultimately expand public access to Lake Palestine. The lake encompasses more than 25,500 acres and touches four counties. White-tailed deer, bobcats, and waterfowl are among the creatures that populate the habitat.

“Opportunities to protect a property like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, timing is critical,” Anne Brown, the foundation’s executive director, said in a release. She said the land will “ultimately become a place where generations of Texans can enjoy the outdoors.”

The Pollard family had owned the ranch, which housed their pecan farm, since 1940. Aside from the pecan orchard, the property includes pine forests, ponds, a seven-acre lake, and Lake Palestine frontage.

Sam Pollard, president of Texas Pecan Nursery, said the property “is part of my soul. It means a lot to me that we can leave a legacy for people to enjoy.”

The foundation says visitors to the future park will be able to enjoy blufftop views of the lake, watch wildlife and birds, and walk around the pecan orchard. They’ll also be able to take advantage of boating, paddling, swimming, and fishing at Lake Palestine.

Rodney Franklin, director of the state park system, called the site an “East Texas gem” and thanked the Pollards for enabling “this special slice of the Pineywoods to be accessible for generations of Texans.”

The parks and wildlife agency plans to create the park in phases, starting with guided access, followed by daytime access and then full-day and overnight access. The agency will invite public input about the park’s development.

Planned amenities include hike-and-bike trails, traditional and primitive campsites, day-use areas and lakefront access.

The NextEra Energy Foundation, a philanthropic arm of NextEra Energy and NextEra Energy Resources, chipped in $100,000 to support the future park. NextEra supplies electricity to about one million customers in Texas, mostly through its Gexa Energy subsidiary.

In addition, the wildlife foundation tapped into the state’s Land Conservation Loan Fund for the ranch purchase. The voter-approved, donor-supported fund aids land conservation efforts. Dallas-based Lyda Hill Philanthropies was an inaugural backer of the loan fund.

lake palestine parks state park texas