Fredericksburg, Texas has been our family’s go-to weekend destination for the past few years. There are so many things to do with your family in this charming Germantown in the Texas Hill Country. Seems like its history, nature, and food are calling our names all the time.

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From our visits to Fredericksburg in all four seasons, I give you here the first 7 things to do in the city when visiting with your family for the very first time. I recommend you visit for a couple of days since each place requires more than a 1-hour visit. They are not been there done that kind of place and don’t be surprised if you want to stay longer than my time spending suggestions on each place.

So, here are the first 7 things to do in Fredericksburg, Texas with your family for your first visit to town.  

7 First Things To Do In Fredericksburg Texas With Your Family

1. Climb the pink granite dome at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Without a doubt, visiting this location where a massive pink granite dome rises above Central Texas is a must. The scenery from the summit is breathtaking, as are the park’s rock formations and legends! The Summit Trail is the most popular route to the top, but if you’re not up for it after standing at the bottom and watching people hike the trail, try Echo Canyon Trail. Take a right to the summit before the trail becomes scrambling rocks. It’s less difficult, and you don’t have to rush to the top, right?

Children and adults will enjoy exploring the summit’s rocks and looking for vernal pools, which are home to the delicate fairy shrimp and rock quillwort. However, no touching is permitted.

Dogs are only permitted in the picnic areas, Loop Trail, and campgrounds when visiting.

Enchanted Rock is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with an admission fee of $7 for adults and free for children under the age of 12. Their busiest times of the year are weekends, holidays, and school breaks. To guarantee a spot, arrive before 8 a.m. You’ll need at least 2-3 hours here if you want to explore beyond the summit area.

The park is located 18 miles north of Fredericksburg on Ranch Road 965, or from Llano, or 14 miles south of Llano on SH-16, then west on Ranch Road 965.

Other activities at the park include rock climbing, camping, backpacking, bird watching, nature study, picnicking, geocaching, and stargazing.

Address: 

16710 Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

2. Dig into Fredericksburg history at Pioneer Museum

Fredericksburg has the Texas Hill Country’s largest Germantown. A stroll through the Pioneer Museum grounds will give you an idea of what life was like in the pioneer communities. A one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, a Sunday house, a bathhouse, a barn, and a smokehouse were all donated by Gillespie County’s founding families (descendants of the pioneers). The museum will take you about 1 to 1,5 hours to complete. Don’t forget to stop by the Gift Shop before you leave. They have a variety of Fredericksburg and Texas souvenirs to choose from.

Hours: 

Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday (October and November), 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

Admission:

$7.50 – adults

$3 – children (6-17)

Free – children (5 and under)

Address:

325 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

3. Find out more about pioneers in Vereins Kirche

There’s a chance you’ve seen Vereins Kirche’s picture, the most iconic structure in Fredericksburg. This octagonal structure is located in the heart of the town in the Marktplatz, about a block away from Pioneer Museum. Vereins Kirche, or the Society Church, was the first public building in Fredericksburg and served as a town hall, school, fort, and church for all denominations during the pioneer years.

The original Vereins Kirche was demolished in 1896 and the one you will see was built in 1935. Inside, you will see the stories of Fredericksburg’s past and the bell that was hung in the bell tower of the original Vereins Kirche. The Kirche is not big, so it only takes around 15-30 minutes of your time in town here. 

Before you leave the Kirche, walk to the back of the building to see the Lasting Friendship statues of the German settler and founder of Fredericksburg, John O. Meusebach, and Penatuka Comanche Chief Santanna. They share a peace pipe when the two signed a peace treaty on May 9, 1847. There’s a standing Comanche statue just a few feet away, which represents the other 20 chiefs that also participated in the treaty. The treaty between the people of Fredericksburg and the Comanche Nation was the only one known that had never been broken in U.S. history.

There’s no entrance fee to the Vereins Kirche, but donations are appreciated. It’s open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. 

Address:

100 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

4. Test your knowledge about World War II in the Pacific at the National Museum of the Pacific War

The National Museum of the Pacific War is the right place to learn about the experiences and stories of those affected by World War II in the Asia Pacific. Walking through the exhibits from the entrance to the exit is like transporting you back to the Pacific War. One of the best museums I’ve ever visited. 

Don’t forget to visit the Pacific Combat Zone located about 2 blocks from here. It’s an essential component of the museum’s educational programming. You’ll also see more of the planes used in the war here. A wonderful place for the little ones who like airplanes.

And if your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents served in the Pacific War, you might want to walk through the Memorial Courtyard. The walls surrounding the garden bear plaques that recognize the heroic contributions of individuals to the war effort in the Pacific. Go find their names here.

Some people say you need at least 2 hours for visiting the museum, but there are people saying 4 hours is the best time to learn everything about the Pacific War. As we checked the clock at the end of our visit, we realized that we’d spent 4 hours at the museum. So, be prepared if you like learning history! 

Museum Hours: 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Days.

Admission:

FREE – WWII Veterans

$18 – adults

$14 – seniors (65+)

$12 – military with ID, active or retired (ID must be presented at the museum)

$8 – children 6+ & student with ID (ID must be presented at the museum)  

FREE – children 5 and under

Address:

340 E Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

5. Visit the Texas White House at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

Yes! There is a White House in Texas. It’s where our 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, did his political activity during his presidential. You will also learn a lot about his birth, childhood, political career, retirement, and death in this park. You will visit the one-room school where he started school at the age of 4, his reconstructed birthplace, the cemetery, his private jet (you can walk inside), and a few others.

There is no entrance fee to enter this park, but you need to obtain a free driving permit from the Visitor Center to be able to drive your vehicle around the park. For the White House Tour, there’s a $3 fee for ages 18 and older, while ages 17 and younger are free. (But, as of May 8, 2019, the White House Tour is closed due to structural issues.) Expect to spend 1 to 1,5 hours visiting the park.

Children are encouraged to do the Junior Ranger Program here. I think your children will enjoy it as much as my son.  

Hours:

9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., every day, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Address:

199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671.

6. Back to the 1900s in Sauer-Beckmann Farm

A visit to Sauer-Beckmann Farm brings you back to an early farm living in Fredericksburg in the 1900s. It is a living history farm where interpreters wear period clothing, and do the farm and household chores as they were done back in the 1900s. When we were there, we got to learn how they made and preserved sausages without a freezer! We also walked a short trail to the back of the farm to see the bison, but they were grazing grass in a different location at that time. It’s a neat place for hands-on learning.

Sauer-Beckmann Farm is part of the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Historical Park. Tours of the farm are self-guided, with rangers and volunteers on hand to answer questions. No admission to get in, but donations are welcome. Expect to spend 1-1,5 hours here.

Hours:

9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., daily, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Address:

199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX 78671.

7. Strolling along Main Street

Main Street Fredericksburg is a place for shopping, eating, or just hunting for historical buildings. There are so many stores here that 2-3 visits are still not enough to explore them all. From modern chic clothing to jewelry and art, western wear and children’s clothing to antiques and kitchen stuff, you will find what you want along Main Street. The Christmas Store and Dogologie are two of our favorites.

You can find German food easily here, and of course, American Food like burgers and BBQs are plenty. We like to spoil ourselves with a treat from Clear River Ice Cream and Bakery, just a few stores away from Dogologie. They are sooo good!

Next, I will break these places into a 2-day itinerary to help you with your first visit. 

2 Day Itinerary in Fredericksburg, Texas for First Timers

Assuming you arrive in the morning, here’s what you can do on your first visit to the city.

Day 1

• Visit Pioneer Museum & Vereins Kirche from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Quick browse and lunch along Main Street from 12 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.
• Visit Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park & Sauer Beckmann Farm from 2 p.m. to close.
• Back to Main Street for browsing stores and supper (most of the stores are closed at these hours, but you can use this opportunity to explore the historical buildings and take pictures)

Day 2

• Explore Enchanted Rock State Natural Area from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Shopping and lunch at Main Street from 11.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War from 2 p.m. to 4 or 5 p.m.
• Home

Notes:

• If your children don’t like shopping, let them take a break. You can find benches along the sidewalk, or your husband can take them for (another) ice cream treats at Clear River. 😉
• If you don’t like shopping, you can extend your visit at the 7 places I mentioned above (assuming you have extra time), or add Das Peach Haus* and Fort Martin Scott** to your itinerary.
• I don’t include Wildseed Farms in the list because the last time we went there (Spring Break 2019), they already changed the front part of the farm. What used to be a field of wildflowers, now is wine grapes. We were disappointed.

*Das Peach Haus is another favorite stop of ours where you can taste all kinds of jams, jellies, preserves, sauces, ciders, and wines. (I really like their peach cider.) Their location is at 1406 S US Highway 87. But you can also go to their retail store on Main Street, Fischer & Wieser’s, at 411 South Lincoln Street.  

**At Fort Martin Scott you will learn about the history of one of the first frontier Army forts in Texas, pre-Civil War. Open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Take a self-guided walk (docent is on site), or go on interpreted tours, by appointment only, for a fee of $5 per person with a minimum of two people. Fort Martin Scott is located at 1606 E. Main St. You will pass this fort on your way to LBJ National Historical Park in Stonewall.

Last but not least, don’t forget to take a family picture in front of the city of Fredericksburg sign. You will see the sign all over town, but this one is on E. Main St. by Fort Martin Scott.

Enjoy your visit to the German town of Fredericksburg, Texas! I know you will have lots of fun, but, please don’t blame me if you want to go back again. And again. 😉

(You might also want to check Boerne, another charming German town in the Texas Hill Country. Just around 45 minutes to the south of Fredericksburg.)