40+ Things To Do In Fredericksburg Besides Wineries.

Fredericksburg may be the capital of Texas Wine Country. But there are many other things to do in Fredericksburg besides wineries.

I fell in love with Fredericksburg when I visited the city for the very first time in 2003.

After that, my husband and I made an annual road trip here from our house south of Fort Worth. It continued after our son was born, and now our dog Snoopy has been with us for the past eight years.

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There are places that we like to revisit every time we are in town, and things that still need to be checked out.

Without further ado, let’s explore all the cool things to do in Fredericksburg, TX, besides wineries. Some of them are for adults, couples, kids, or families. Free things, budget-friendly, and you need to save money to do.

Things to do in Fredericksburg besides wineries (within walking distance)

Let’s start with things to do around downtown Fredericksburg.

1. Visit the Visitor Center for some info and flyers. Watch a 10-minute movie about Fredericksburg. Then, take a picture by the Fredericksburg love sign in the front yard.

Address: 302 E. Austin St.

2. Take the Fredericksburg Historical Walking Tour. You can either self-guide the tour by following the city’s brochure or join the guided tour. Your fur baby can even join the guided tour when it’s on a leash.

Pick up the self-guided city tour brochure at the Visitor Center. Address: 302 E Austin St.

Guided tours are held daily. The meeting point is the white gazebo behind the Pioneer Memorial Library at 115 W. Main St. Get your ticket.

3. Take a trolley tour if you don’t feel like walking.

Meeting point: 302 E Austin St. Book your ticket.

4. Stroll the Marktplatz. It’s been a social hub for centuries. If you’re lucky, there might be an art show in the pavilion. Find a statue commemorating the town’s peace treaty with Native Americans and the Maibaum (Maypole).

Address: 114 W. Main St.

5. Visit Vereins Kirche Museum. It is the most iconic structure in Fredericksburg. Inside, you will find artifacts, paintings, and photos depicting Fredericksburg’s rich history.

Address: 114 W. Main St.

6. Visit Pioneer Museum. You will get a glimpse of Fredericksburg’s German heritage, which stretches back over 175 years.

Address: 325 W. Main St.

7. Attend a mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. It is one of the painted churches in Texas. A short guided tour is held after the 9 a.m. and 11.15 a.m. mass every Sunday. Tours are also available by appointment.

Address: 304 W. San Antonio St.

8. Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War. It is dedicated to all those who served in the Pacific War during World War II. You will spend about four hours in the museum. It is one of the best history museums in the country. We have visited the museum twice. There’s a Japanese Garden of Peace on one side of the museum. Don’t forget to visit the Pacific Combat Zone about two blocks away.

Address: 340 E. Main St.

9. Visit the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Gillespie County. The church, established in 1887, is historically known as the Church of the Colored People in Gillespie County.

Address: 602 E. Main St.

10. Visit old cemeteries. Fredericksburg has two main historic cemeteries on the east and west sides of town. Der Stadt Friedhof is located at the 300 block of North Lee Street, and the Catholic Cemetery is on Catholic Cemetery Road. Both cemeteries are known for their striking granite markers and headstones, many in German.

11. Shopping! There are more than 150 stores in Fredericksburg that turned the town into a shopping heaven. You’ll find antiques to art galleries, locally-owned boutiques to specialty stores, home decor, fashion, gift shops, and much more. Weekend is the busiest, so parking can be challenging. Many shops around Main Street close around 5 p.m. daily, but lately some stores close between 6 and 7 p.m., even on Sundays. Some of the stores are pet-friendly, but dog strollers are not allowed. Watch for the sign that says you must be able to carry your dog. We’re out of luck with our 70 lbs. dog. Lol.

Now we are moving on to things you can do near Fredericksburg that require a car to visit.

Exploring Things To Do In Fredericksburg Besides Wineries With A Car

12. Visit Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Hiking the Summit Trail to the top of the Enchanted Rock is one of the popular things to do in Fredericksburg. Reserve your day passes, especially when visiting during weekends, holidays, or in the spring season. Pets are only allowed on the Loop Trail.

Address: 16710 Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg.

13. Visit Wildseed Farms. There’s always something blooming at Wildseed Farms, the nation’s largest working wildflower farm. When we visited in early October, the sunflowers and zinnias were carpeting the gardens. You can shop for seeds, gifts, home decor, and pottery. Don’t forget to grab ice cream at the Bewbonett Biergarten.

Address: 100 Legacy Drive, Fredericksburg.

14. Visit Fort Martin Scott Historic Site. It is one of the first frontier Army forts in Texas. Take a self-guided walk at this pre-Civil War military outpost site. There is no admission fee to visit Fort Martin Scott.

Address: 1606 E. Main St.

15. Climb to Cross Mountain Park. The park is rich in history and offers great views of the city from 1,951 feet. It was a lookout point for the Native Americans. The early settlers discovered a timber cross on this hilltop in 1847. They named the place “Kreuzberg” or Cross Mountain. There’s a trail to take you to the top. It’s about 10-15 minutes to climb.  

Address: N. Milam St.

16. Driving the Gillespie County Country School Trails. The historic country schools date from 1847 to 1936. Many of the schools along the trail were one-teacher schools teaching up to ten grades at a time. There were years when students still spoke German in the playground. We did the Country School Trails during Thanksgiving Break. Grab the free map at the Visitor Center.

17. Experience the Enchanted Fredericksburg Glassblowing. Do you want to blow your own Christmas ornament or drinking glass? Or watch the skilled artisans turn molten glass into a functional and beautiful work of art? Check out Enchanted Fredericksburg Glassblowing, where your dream will come true.

Address: 7991 Ranch Road 965.

18. Tour the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Parks. Start at the Visitor Center, where you will get detailed exhibits on President Johnson’s legislative legacy and his wife, Lady Bird. Move on to his Boyhood Home and the Johnson Settlement. Then visit the original Johnson dog trot cabin.

Address: 100 E Ladybird Ln., Johnson City.

19. Visit Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. The place brings you back to an early farm in Fredericksburg in the 1900s. You will see seasonal activities like sausage making, sheep shearing, and canning. There is no admission fee to visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm.  

Address: 199 State Park Road 52, Stonewall.

20. See the bats dancing at the Old Tunnel State Park. You can visit the Old Tunnel State Park during the day all year, but the main attraction at this park is to see the bats’ emergence at dusk. The best time to see them is from May through October. Visitors can watch the bats emerge seven nights a week. The park conducts educational presentations from Thursday through Sunday.

Address: 10619 Old San Antonio Rd.

21. Relaxing at Das Peach Haus. It’s a farmstead that offers cooking classes, preserves, jams, jellies, pasta sauces, fudge, candies, and more. The pond area at the back is so beautiful. You can walk around or relax on the chairs along the pond with your leashed dog. We stopped here every time we visited Fredericksburg.

Address: 1406 S US Highway 87.

22. Go to Luckenbach. Who doesn’t know or haven’t heard about Luckenbach? It’s where everybody’s somebody. Willie Nelson said, “Luckenbach is the place that gives Texas its bragging rights, and I’m proud to brag. Like the song says, Let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas.” 

Address: 412 Luckenbach Town Loop.

23. Visit the Texas White House at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. The Texas White House was where LBJ conducted his political activity during his presidency. Other things not to miss during your tour at the park are the one-room Junction School, the president’s reconstructed birthplace home, the Johnson Family Cemetery, LBJ’s grandparents’ home, the show barn, and the LBJ Ranch Hangar. The LBJ State Park and Historic Site is an official International Dark Sky site.

Address: 199 State Park Rd 52, Stonewall.

24. Experience Fredericksburg from above with Crosswind Aviation. The company offers scenic flight tours out of the Gillespie County Airport on Saturdays and by reservation on other days of the week.

Address: 75 Airport Road.

25. Golfing at Lady Bird Johnson Golf Course. Pack your golf bag if you want to play a round of golf in Fredericksburg. Or, to improve your swing, short game, or overall performance with a PGA-certified instructor at the club.

Address: 432 Lady Bird Dr.

26. Horse riding. Enjoy the best views, wildlife, and local history of Fredericksburg from the back of a horse. Check out GF Trail Rides, Circle K Trail Rides, or Bit & Bridle Stables.

27. Visit Albert Ice House and Dance Hall. The tradition of community gatherings and dances didn’t stop at Albert after the dance hall was established in 1922. Stop by to experience a bit of Texas tradition located between Fredericksburg and Johnson City.

Address: 5435 S. R.R. 1623, Albert-Stonewall.

28. Cycling the backroads of Gillespie County. The backroads provide miles of scenic views for road bicycle riders. It is lightly traveled, but obey the road rules for your safety.

29. Explore Fredericksburg on a moped. Here’s a different way to enjoy Fredericksburg’s country roads and even the main street. Fred Moped can deliver the moped to your accommodation and teach the new rider how to navigate it. Motorcycle licenses are not required.

30. Explore Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park for free. It is a crown jewel of Fredericksburg’s recreational park on 330 acres. Amenities include a pool, a creek, tennis and pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, several playgrounds and trails, a golf course, a pavilion, and an RV Campground.

Address: 432 Lady Bird Dr.

31. Skateboarding at Fredericksburg Skatepark. Bring your skateboard and ride it on an outdoor concrete riding surface. It is free.

Location: Old Fair Park at the corner of Ufer Street and Lincoln Street (behind the Boys and Girls Club and next door to HEB).

32. Rock climbing at the Enchanted Rock. Evidently, the pink granite domes and boulders of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area make it one of the best climbing venues in all of Texas. You will need to read through their climbing information before you visit.

Address: 16710 Ranch Road 965.

33. Become a ranch hand for a day. If you are seeking an immersive farm experience, it is for you. You are going to be tending over 300 animals, feeding capybaras, brushing rescue horses, and staying overnight in a cozy bunkhouse.

34. Birding at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. Birding in the Texas Hill Country is great all year. The Live Oaks Wilderness Nature Trail at the park is one of the best places to view the birds. Enchanted Rock is the other one. Stop by the park office for a bird checklist. 

Address: 432 Lady Bird Dr.

35. Fishing at Lady Bird. You can also fish at the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park. Additional fishing opportunities are available in Texas State Parks nearby and the area lakes.

Address: 432 Lady Bird Dr.

36. Stargazing. The Fredericksburg area now features two International Dark Sky Parks: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and LBJ State Park and Historic Site.

Seasonal Things To Do In Fredericksburg Besides Wineries

37. Visit Fredericksburg Farmers Market. It is a spring and summer farmers’ market, from the last Thursday in March to the second Thursday in August. Vendors consist of farmers, ranchers, and wineries around Gillespie County and adjacent counties.

Location: Marktplatz at 126 W Main St.

38. Find gems at Fredericksburg Trade Days. You will find seven barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, shabby chic, ranch furniture, jewelry, food, and much more. It is on the third Saturday of every month, from Friday to Sunday.

Location: 355 Sunday Farms Lane, Fredericksburg.

39. Enjoy wildflowers in the spring. The Fredericksburg area is one of the best places to see wildflowers in Texas. Unfortunately, the arrival and the location of wildflower fields are not the same every year. But at Wildseed Farms, you will most likely see something blooming in the fields.

40. Enchanted by the German Christmas Pyramid. The Christmas Pyramid is a beautiful display in front of the Vereins Kirche on the Marktplatz. It is a wooden carousel-like structure with several levels depicting Christmas motifs, including angels and a manger scene. The Pyramid was handcrafted in Germany and was first displayed at the Marktplatz in 2009. Next to it is the city’s Christmas Tree. It’s a solid reason to visit Fredericksburg during Christmas vacation.

Address: 114 W. Main St.

41. Ice skating. The Eisbahn Outdoor Ice Skating Rink may not be large, but it certainly brings joy and laughter to its visitors. This year it will start on November 22nd and end on January 4th, 2026.

Location: 100 block of W. Main, Kinderhalle Pavilion, at the Marktplatz.

42. Watch the Christmas Parade. Held annually on the first Friday of December at 6.30 p.m. The parade travels between Washington and Bowie Streets. After the parade, the festivities continue at AfterGlow in the Marktplatz, with food and beverage vendors, holiday music, and free photos with Santa.

43. Peach picking at Jenschke Orchards. We enjoyed peach picking with a group of friends in July. Dogs are welcome, but they are not allowed in a trailer. Our son walked behind the trailer with our dog.

Address: 8301 US-290.

I will update the list when I do or hear something new in Fredericksburg. So, come back often or save the pin below.

And don’t forget to take your picture by the City of Fredericksburg welcome sign!

Where to stay in Fredericksburg with a dog (with a free breakfast)

These are dog-friendly hotels in Fredericksburg that offer free breakfast and have an 8+ guest rating.

1. Hampton Inn & Suites Fredericksburg. 9-minute walk to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

2. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fredericksburg. 3-minute drive to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

3. Best Western Plus Fredericksburg. 2-minute drive to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

4. Comfort Inn & Suites Fredericksburg. 2-minute drive to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

5. Wine Country Inn. 2-minute drive from the National Museum of the Pacific War.