If you love flowers and colorful vistas, there is no better way to spend a couple of spring days than wandering through Fredericksburg and the Texas hill country. We recently ventured out to Fredericksburg, Texas (80 miles west of Austin) for a two day stay to take in the gorgeous wildflowers, enjoy a few meals in Fredericksburg, and spend some time hiking around Enchanted Rock. This is a perfect time of year to visit the hill country, because the roadsides and fields are filled with bluebonnets, Indian blankets, phlox, cornflowers, Texas paintbrush, and wine cups among others. It’s so hard not to stop every few minutes to snap a photo, because it’s truly breathtaking! Another fun excursion while in the area is to drive or cycle the Willow City Wildflower Loop. It’s just about 15 miles northeast of Fredericksburg and this time of year is a showcase for Fredericksburg, Texas & Hill Country wildflowers.🌺
Our very favorite place to stay in Fredericksburg is Barons CreekSide, which is about 2 miles east of downtown Fredericksburg. The resort is situated on 26 hilly acres with lots of trees and two creeks meandering in between cabins. There are 12 charming Swiss cabins, each named after a Swiss town, constructed with authentic bits and pieces of cabins deconstructed in Europe and shipped here to Texas. There are also four larger homes on the property available to rent for larger groups. You can’t help but feel you’re in a Swiss mountain village as you sit on the deck overlooking the creek. Plenty of fowl make the ponds and creek their playground, so you can enjoy some wild life at the same time.
Each cabin has a barbecue and a kitchen, so you can plan to stay in for dinner, or head out for a dinner on the town. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but we just love being in the Swiss cabins so much, and sitting out on the deck, that we usually bring food to cook. There is no oven, but you can cook just about anything you need on the grill or in the microwave or toaster oven. We generally head into town for breakfast and lunch and our favorites spots are Sunday Supply for breakfast. They have amazing scones and good espresso drinks. This last time they had maple pecan scones and fresh strawberry scones — both were delicious! You can sit out on the front porch or take your breakfast inside. For lunch, we love Woerner Warehouse. They recently moved from the original location, literally in a warehouse, which was lots of fun, to a brand new building, which is really spectacular. You can dine in or out on the patios. They have a little bakery inside the restaurant, too, so you won’t be waiting too long for a delicious sweet treat after your meal.
Fun Excursions just outside of Fredericksburg
About 17 miles northwest of Fredericksburg, you’ll find Enchanted Rock State Park, which offers camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, bird watching, and scenic views. Enchanted Rock is a huge pink granite dome, rising some 1,825 feet above sea level. The hike up the Summit Trail is .8 miles long, so you’re in for a 1.6 mile hike to the top and back. But don’t stop there, there are all sorts of trails winding their way in and around the dome, ranging from easy to moderate and some a little more difficult. It’s best to consult the trail maps before heading out for an adventure. Remember that dogs are only allowed in the campgrounds and on the loop trail. Some of the other trails prohibit pets in an effort to better preserve these trails.
Willow City Loop — Driving or Cycling excursion about 16 miles northeast of Fredericksburg
This is a fun bike ride or drive through some amazing wildflowers and beautiful scenery along a dirt road lined with private homes. See our Willow City Wildflower Ride for more information and photos.
