I Found Serenity in Texas Hill Country
Relaxing and Recharging in Fredericksburg
Whenever I cross state borders, I’m always amazed at how different even the air feels. We might all be part of the United States, but the more I see this country, the more I feel that each state is a country all its own. Nowhere is this more true than in Texas.
The way of living in the Lone Star state is a different speed — different taste — than the rest of the country. As I stood on former president Lyndon B. Johnson’s farm, looking out over Texas hill country on a blustery fall day, I could see why he and so many others preferred this place, with the quiet, the big skies, and the room to breathe.
Returning to Texas feels like crossing the border into a true Vacationland, one far from the breakneck pace of East Coast living. Fredericksburg, in particular – an hour outside of Austin and San Antonio – is a world away from the stresses of day-to-day life. That’s why if you’re looking for a place to spend a wellness weekend away from a big city, I highly recommend Fredericksburg, Texas.
Where to sleep
Fredericksburg was founded as a part-time town, where German settlers would come on weekends for church and markets before heading back to their farms for the week. Once Lyndon B. Johnson took office in the 1960s, Fredericksburg once again became a travel destination as the press traveled to the area to follow the president, who spent as much time as he could at his Texas homestead and “second” White House.
The tradition continues, with more than 1,500 B&Bs, rentals, and guest houses visitors can book, along with more traditional hotels.
Hill Country Herb Garden
405 Whitney St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
For wellness travelers seeking all the comforts of a resort but who want the privacy of a cottage, Hill Country Herb Garden – only a block away from Main Street – is the perfect choice. With 14 carefully curated cottages on-premises, you can tailor your stay to suit the goal of your trip.
Besides cozy rooms, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner at the on-premises restaurant. They can also book a massage or yoga class at the Hill Country Herb Garden Spa. Don’t worry about breakfast, either; this is complimentary and delivered in a picnic basket every morning directly to your porch.
Ololo
161 Smokehouse Rd
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
If you want a more solitary experience, book one of the spacious cottages at Ololo. Centered around a century-old cypress tree, each cottage has a porch with a sliding glass door and a back patio with a hot tub and fireplace.
Inside, there’s a large bathroom, fridge, microwave, TV, and large, cozy bed with decor (some of which you can grab in town at HOME simple goods + design) meant to soothe and inspire.
At sunset and sunrise, deer wander by your door, grazing in the surrounding fields, nonplussed by people passing people. For city dwellers not used to the complete darkness of a country night, the golden glow of the cypress tree, wrapped with fairy lights, is a gentle beacon (easily blocked by the curtains in your cabin).
Where to eat
Germany meets Texas on many of the tables across Fredericksburg. However, you will also find some of the best Italian in the state – at least in my limited experience – along with other surprising flavors and dishes across the town.
Caliche Coffee Roasters
338 W Main St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
Even when you’re taking the weekend off, you still need caffeine. That’s where Caliche Coffee Roasters comes in — a roastery and cafe serving breakfast and lunch.
The brainchild of the owners of Alla Camapagna and a few other local hot spots, the serene space is filled daily with locals and visitors alike enjoying locally sourced dishes and coffee whose beans were roasted on-premises.
Piccolina
301 E Main St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
Walking Main Street isn’t complete without stopping at Piccolina’s. This TikTok-famous Italian ice shop uses local ingredients to make homemade, small-batch, dairy-free, gluten-free sweet treats all year.
If you enjoy alcoholic beverages, don’t pass up a Proseccolina. Your dish of Italian ice will be doused with prosecco, leaving you with a refreshing and bubbly pick-me-up after — or before — a long day of shopping.
Hill & Vine
210 S Adams St
Fredericksburg
TX 78624
For the feeling of coming home for dinner without having to do the dishes, come to Hill & Vine. The restaurant’s main dining room feels more like someone’s open-concept living space than any formal eating area.
The menu is as carefully curated as the restaurant is, with farm-to-table dishes inspired by Fredericksburg’s unique cultural DNA. HIll & Vine was created as a way to honor and celebrate the rich agriculture, gastronomy, and wine culture Texas has, which is why ingredients — including meat and 1015 sweet onions — are locally sourced.
The wine list is as intentional as the menu, featuring many Texas wine labels. I loved enjoying a glass of Lubbock’s McPherson Cellars with bigger-than-my-face onion rings on my first night in town — for the taste, quality, and story behind how the wine and the onion ring were crafted with care.
Alla Campagna
342 W Main St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
Despite being raised on homemade marinara my whole life, meatballs made by hand on Saturday mornings, I only really started eating homemade pasta this past year. Texas's cooking culture has a lot of things going for it, and the way restaurants handle homemade pasta is no exception to this rule.
This is why if you’re planning a trip to Fredericksburg, make reservations at Alla Campagna. Owned and operated by the same husband-and-wife team that heads Caliche Coffee, this little restaurant packs a big punch. Between sophisticated decor reflecting Hill Country’s particular rustic vibe and to-die-for dishes, dinner at Alla Campagna is worth planning a trip to Fredericksburg for.
The dish I still dream about is the Paparadelle served with Wild Boar Ragu. With perfectly sized proportions and light-as-a-feather pasta, it was easy for me to forget — for a little while, anyway — about the anxiety of eating pasta. The focaccia and burrata are also not to be missed.
Hill Country Herb Garden
405 Whitney St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
For a serene, farm-to-table food experience, book lunch or dinner at Hill Country Herb Garden. The flavors of Texas Hill Country come alive in these wellness-inspired drinks and dishes.
Order plates to share or individual dishes. Either way, you can’t go wrong with any item on the menu. When the group of travel writers I was with stopped in to check out the property, we split the Burrata and Garden Fresh Flatbread while we ordered individual lunch entrees. Speaking from experience, the Mediterranian Quinoa Salad pairs well with Blackberry Bliss, a mocktail made with blackberries, basil, lemon, hibiscus tea, and sparkling water.
Where to drink
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For those who indulge in alcohol, Fredericksburg has no shortage of breweries, tap rooms, wineries, and distilleries. In fact, drinking wine and beer on Main Street is legal, so don’t be surprised if you see people wandering around with a drink in their hands.
Dietz Distillery
1434 S US Hwy 87
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
Grabbing a cocktail is a great way to start an afternoon in Fredericksburg, and there’s no better place to grab a drink during the day than Dietz Distillery.
Led by Dietz Fischer, son of Fischer & Wieser Speciality Foods owners, this distillery focuses on small batches of juniper-forward, London-style gin (Five Judges) as well as other liquors, liqueurs, and cocktail mixes made with locally grown fruit. Stop in for a French 75 (my personal favorite) and learn about the old-world distilling process Dietz uses.
Hill Country Wineries
Wine lovers can hop between wineries and taste Texas wine on Fredericksburg Wine Road 290. You can drive yourself or hop a shuttle or wine tour that takes you through all of the wine rooms and wineries in Fredericksburg
Not sure where to start first? The Texas Wine Collective is a must-stop for anyone new to Texas wine, where you can get a history of a sample from some of the best wines made in the state.
Where to breathe
Experiencing so many new things, even when the intention is supposed to be relaxing and energizing, can be exhausting. Be sure to book time to sit still and recharge, whether that’s through gentle movement in a yoga class or booking at a massage at one of the amazing spas in Fredericksburg.
The Spa at Hill Country Herb Garden
405 Whitney St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
No wellness weekend is complete without a spa trip and no matter if you’re staying at Hill Country Herb Garden or one of the other thousands of bed-and-breakfasts in town, booking a massage at Hill Country Herb Garden Spa is a must.
Guests walk by the on-premises zen garden into the serene reception and relaxation area in the designated spa building on the Herb Garden’s property.
European Day Spa
402 Granite Ave
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
If you’re looking for services beyond a massage, check out the award-winning European Day Spa. One of a few different choices of spas in the area, their selection is one of the most unique spa menus in Fredericksburg.
Beyond different types of massages, you can book a reiki treatment to align your energy or body therapies like Cellulite Control or Fluid Control, designed to help make you look and feel your best.
Good Foundation
613 W Main St
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
I know I’m not alone in struggling to stay present these days. Even since before the pandemic, I’ve struggled with PTSD, anxiety, and depression — a lot of things that make being creative, let alone focusing, almost impossible. Studies show that yoga can help bring relief, and speaking from experience, picking up a yoga class (or two) during a weekend away can make all the difference when you return to work.
That’s why you should book a yoga class in a historic home on Main Street in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg. Good Foundation, whose tagline says coffee and yoga are a “good foundation” to the day, offers daily morning, afternoon, and evening classes. They also have special events like their Women’s Circle: Moon Meditation, a community-focused experience where women come together for gentle yoga, a cacao ceremony, guided meditation, and intention setting.
Classes are pay-what-you-can and intended for all levels. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can also book ahead.
Lyndon B Johnson State Park + LBJ Ranch
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Regardless of whether or not you’re a history buff, visiting Lyndon B. Johnson Hisotric Park and the Texas White House is something everyone needs to experience, just for the views.
Take a look back at the history of the living homestead, where the land and animals are still tended to as if it were the 1800s. Then, head to the LBJ Ranch to see where the former president was born (literally), raised, and ran the country when he wasn’t in Washington. Experience 1960s Texas Hill Country and visit with the cows still bred to be the same way they were when Johnson was still alive.
Main Street + Antique Shopping
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We all joke about retail therapy, but there’s something to be said about taking time to be present and look, touch, and/or taste what’s in front of us. Feed all of your senses in the different shops that line Fredericksburg’s Main Street.
Be sure to stop in at Quintessential Chocolate, where you can find bite-sized, booze-filled chocolate – the only chocolatier in the United States making chocolate this way. Each chocolate is meant to be devoured whole, as biting through the shell will release the small serving of tequila, wine, or whisky trapped inside.
Whether or not you’re a fan of shopping for antiques, also be sure to stop into Carol Hicks Bolton Antiques. The shop always has cool, unique things that fit perfectly into any rustic or eclectic space.
Das Peach Haus
1406 S US Hwy 87
Fredericksburg, TX
78624
What started as a family-run farm stand selling peaches at the height of the season has grown into a multi-branch business spanning retail stores to distilleries. Today, you can visit Das Peach House to see what new products the creative minds at Fischer & Wieser have come up with now.
The store and bakery are open daily, however, for shopping. Curious about a Fischer & Wieser product, but not sure if you’ll like it? You can taste-test every single product when you come visit the specialty store. I recommend the Roasted Raspberry Chipotle sauce, something I love having on hand for rice bowls or even just to go with goat cheese and bread like the Das Peach House team served the group of journalists I was visiting Fredericksburg with. Those interested can book either a private dinner or a cooking class.
Dietz Distillery shares a parking lot with Das Peach House, making shop hopping easy.
