Episode 127: Destination Fredericksburg, Texas with Amanda Koone
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On this weeks show I interview Amanda Koone, Director of Communications for the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Fredericksburg, Texas. This Texas Hill Country town settled by Germans in the mid 1840’s offers something for everyone. Museums, restaurants, shopping, festivals, wineries, art galleries and lots of campgrounds! It’s a great destination for couples, girlfriend weekends and family getaways.
I had the opportunity to spend a few days just scratching the surface of this classic Texas town. As a fan of all things “pioneer” I really loved the Pioneer Museum. This is more like a living history museum with many original buildings relocated to its Main Street location. I enjoyed being able to tour the buildings and hear the motion activated commentary on the history of the White-Oaks School House where families paid an annual $8 fee and 45 cents per month for their children to attend; the Sunday House once owned by the August Weber family as a place to spend the day away from the farm while attending church services, visiting friends or keeping a doctors appointment; the Walton-Smith Cabin which has been restored as closely as possible to what it would have looked like when it was originally occupied. The museum offers a glimpse into life in Gillespie County in the mid 1800’s to mid 1900’s and is well worth the $3 admission fee.
The August Weber Sunday House used by family on Sunday afternoons.
The interior of the Weber Family Sunday House at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.
I also visited the National Museum of the Pacific War located across the street from the Visitors Center. It is a six acre, three building complex with many interactive exhibits and artifacts displayed in a meandering path that leads the visitor through the history of World War II and Admiral Chester Nimitz, a Fredericksburg native. A 48 hour pass is offered for $14.
Fredericksburg is also a great place for shopping, dining and experiencing the nearly 1000 Bed and Breakfasts available. City code prohibits chain stores in the historic section and as a result the town has more than 150 unique Mom and Pop shops to browse. My hands down favorite was Camp Hayden at 306 E Main St. This family owned shop was chock full of vintage camp items on display among a great selection of funny t-shirts, felt pennants, great vintage style camping items and Pendleton beach towels.
There are more than 150 Mom and Pop shops in Fredericksburg. My favorite was Camp Hayden, the hands down winner of the funny t shirt contest.
There are over 80 restaurants in Fredericksburg including the Woerner Cafe in the warehouse district where I enjoyed a great lunch in a restored grain mill and then hit the Carol Hicks Bolton Antiquities mart next door.
The Woerner Cafe is in an old feed store in the warehouse district in Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg and all of Hill Country in Texas is a great RV destination with over 761 RV sites available in the area. I stayed at the Lady Bird Johnson RV Park for the bargain rate of $40 a night for a full hook up site with better than average RV Park Wifi and cable included. The park is a city owned park connected to the Lady Bird Golf Course and a small county airport where I really enjoyed watching the single engine planes come and go.
The Lady Bird Johnson RV Park offered neat sites, old but clean bathrooms and full hookups with cable and good wifi for $40 a night.
You can learn more about visiting Fredericksburg here.
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