Fredericksburg Off The Beaten Path

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This was probably the favorite part of the trip for my husband. He loves to garden and we spent a half a day here enjoying the outside garden area and the seed shop inside.
We could smell fresh coffe and biscuits cooking outside and when we located the source of the aroma, we discovered they were offering free samples with local jam. The weather could not have been nicer - what a great memory.

This drive is an excellent way to see some of the Hill Country. We drove through "open range" areas and saw some of the cattle grazing along the roadside and in the fields. Drive slowly, because this is a twisty road and it's impossible to see an animal up ahead if you're driving too fast.

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Take a trip to Luckenbach while you are in Fredericksburg, its pretty cool, but it is definately a short trip.. There's literally 4 buildings in this town. But they have GREAT cherry limeade.. and pretty cool music.. So defiately check it out.
Also, drive down Hwy 1, through the Lyndon B Johnson land, theres a pretty neat church and the cemetary thaat Lady Bird was buried in is right across from the church..

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The Pedernales River made itself evident as we toured The LBJ National Historic Park and it followed along the route we took on the shuttle bus.

It flows from "deep springs in the southeastern corner of Kimble County toward the northeast for 106 miles and crosses Gillespie, Blanco and Hays counties to its mouth on Lake Travis".

The Pedernales River Valley has been habitated by Paleo-Indians for at least 12,000 years. Archaeological evidence seems to indicate this from the discovery of projectile points (arrowheads). In the early 1700's, the Spanish moved into Texas in search of a suitable site for a mission. They named the river Pedernales, meaning River of Flint, because of the number of flint rocks strewn near the riverbed.

The Pedernales River Valley is a perfect location for growing peaches and vineyards.

*For more information see "History of the Perdenales River Valley by Ira Kennedy on www.pedernalesrivervalley.com/texashillcountryhistory.htm

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If you're driving up from San Antonio to Fredericksburg, the village of Comfort makes for a nice stop-over. Most of the buildings of this small German settlement's dowtown are on the National Register of Historic places, and the many limestone Victorian homes all contribute to giving the place a great country atmosphere. There are a few novelty stores and antique shops on Main street, and there's really great winery (Comfort Cellars Winery, 723 Front Street, 830-995-3274) - if you like sweet, German-type wine (Gerwurztraminer or Riesling) you'll love it!

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THIS IS THE BECKER VINEYARD AND WINERY, located 11 miles east of Fredericksburg on hwy 290. (2 miles east of the Grape Creek Winery). The Becker wines are sometimes used for banquets at the White House, at least they are while Texan George W. Bush is President.

The tasting room is elegant and beautiful, and is stocked with excellent wine-related gifts. our only problem is that we do not care for their wines. I think you might like them if you prefer dry wines. Ordinarily we like a semi-sweet Riesling, but we do not care for their Riesling. But thats just our personal preference. Tastings are free (except for reserve wines), so go ahead and try for yourself.

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NINE MILES EAST OF FREDERICKSBURG ON HIGHWAY 290 is where you will find this fine vineyard and winery. We actually prefer their wines over the nearby Becker winery, but that's just us. The business is named for the Grape Creek which flows by the vineyard. They grow high quality Vinifera grapes for their winemaking, and they do it very well.

No charge for tasting

hours: Mon-Sat 10 to 5 Sun noon-5

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"DAS PEACH HAUS" IS A NICE GIFT SHOP, AND THE OBERHOF WINERY IS PART OF THE SAME COMPLEX.

We think their best wine is in fact the peach wine. Tastings are free.

This is at 1406 South U.S. Highway 87.