This Small Texas Town Has The Best Downtown

The sprawling state of Texas has a unique history that includes countless cultural influences and even a brief, 10-year stint as its own country before joining the United States. When you think of Texas, you think of adages like “everything is bigger here,” but perhaps it should be “things are a lot more memorable here.” It is easy to find countless communities, especially in the Hill Country, where the distinct personality is unique to the Lone Star State. Take Fredericksburg, for example, with its deep, ongoing connection to its German settler roots, evident in its architecture, businesses, and annual events in the bustling downtown area. This is the one place in town you need to make time for, as there are many restaurants, attractions, and historic sites to explore.

Where Fredericksburg Got Its Flair

The community of Fredericksburg goes back nearly 180 years to 1846. A local society founded the settlement for the Protection of German Immigrants, better known to most as Adelsverein. Initially, this spot was little more than a frontier outpost in the untamed expanse of what would eventually become Texas Hill Country. Despite the difficult conditions, the most surprising element of the community's early development and history was the long-standing peace treaty, reached and honored, between these German settlers and the Penateka Comanche.

Early settlers were not entirely out there on their own, though. The budding town of Fredericksburg became a central hub for church, resupply, and personal connection. One way to still see this today is through the preserved tiny limestone homes once known as “Sunday Houses,” which offered a place for farmers to temporarily stay on the weekends away from their homesteads. History is also on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War, housed in the former home of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. This massive museum spans over six acres with authentic artifacts from World War II, including a Japanese submarine, a B-25 bomber, and many other one-of-a-kind exhibits.

Even The Food Tells a Story

Downtown Fredericksburg is a destination that foodies have been flocking to for decades, offering a unique blend of Texas cuisine, German influence, and other culinary roots picked up along the way. Start at the Auslander, the place where you are going to get your first honest look at how the German settler influence is still very much alive and well in the town. Here, you can enjoy authentic, old-school German dishes, from schnitzel and bratwurst to the steins of foamy brews that complete the biergarten aesthetic. The tables here are long, encouraging people to sit with other families and mingle as they enjoy the company.

Downtown is also home to Vaudeville, a completely different experience on Main Street. This is a strange blend of supper club, bistro, and art gallery. It is as fixed on the local arts scene as it is in the seasonal dishes people are raving about on Instagram.

Shops You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

When you evaluate the top downtown spots in Texas, you cannot do so without bringing shopping into the equation. Fredericksburg has a lot to offer in the way of boutiques and shops in its bustling downtown and has managed to sidestep many of the big-brand stores coming in and taking over. Instead, you have handmade goods and crafts, booths run by lifelong residents like the ones you find at the Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market at the Marktplatz. Here is where you are going to go when you want to get your hands on the famous peaches you can only find fresh here in this town.

People go out of their way to shop in downtown Fredericksburg because it has been labeled a “Shopping Heaven.” More than 150 locations range from antiques to home goods, including Lock, Stock & Barrel, known for specialty gourmet foods, sauces, and kitchenware. Remember Me, Too, is another popular option for shopping right on Main Street with multiple lines of exclusive clothing brands, vintage boots, and a curated selection of Native American and Western art and gifts.

What to See and Do

Have you ever wandered away from a downtown area, reached just outside the city limits, and encountered a massive pink granite dome formation that towers hundreds of feet above everything else? That might be because the outskirts of Fredericksburg are among the few known places where something like the aptly named Enchanted Rock exists. This should be something that gets on your itinerary of what to do when you take a break from the downtown area, as archaeologists have discovered evidence of human life around this amazing natural wonder as far back as 11,000 years ago.

Back in Fredericksburg, Marktplatz, better known to fluid English speakers as the Market Square, sits at the heart of everything. The Vereins Kirche, a replica of the first public building, is the heart of the square. That little building once served as a church, school, and shelter. Now, people come to the square and the surrounding structures for the annual events that make the town famous, such as Oktoberfest, a celebration of the German roots of the community every fall.

Don’t Sleep on This Downtown

Now that you are living by the mantra that ‘everything is more memorable in Texas,’ you should start your exploration of the Lone Star State at the one-of-a-kind community of Fredericksburg. The downtown area here is a shopper’s paradise with countless shops, galleries, and stores for every taste, but that’s not why people should really explore. Fredericksburg has a distinct personality that continually pays homage to its German settler roots through its architecture, popular dining options, and even annual events like Oktoberfest that draw in thousands.