OCTOBER 30, 2014.
Downtown Fredericksburg.
LOTS TO SEE. There is a lot to see near our winter home in Kerrville. There are about half a dozen little towns in the area, each with its own distinct personality. The LBJ Presidential Library is located in nearby Austin, the state capital, and The Alamo in San Antonio sounds interesting, as well. Riverfront parks abound and many lakes await our visit. I bet there are some cowboys around here just waiting to chat with me, and I’m sure I can find some real Texas barbecue pit-masters just dying for a chance to show me “how it’s done.” We’re going to make it a point to take day trips to all of these spots and talk with all these folks. And I’m sure we’ll discover lots more to see and do the longer we’re here. So far, I like Texas! I’m not going to be in any rush to leave next Spring.
TODAY WE VISITED FREDERICKSBURG. Today we visited Fredericksburg. Founded in 1846 and with a population of 10,000, it’s only about half the size of Kerrville and was named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to it as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses today. The town is notable as the home of “Texas German,” a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. In 1970, the Fredericksburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.
You could spend a lot of time (and a lot of money) in this little town.
Windmill in a field of Bluebonnets.
The town has become known as the “Peach Capital of Texas” due to the number of orchards where 5 or 6 different varieties are grown. Herb farms, grape culture, lavender production and wildflower seeds have also become burgeoning businesses in Fredericksburg. President Johnson’s wife Lady Bird had a passion for Texas wildflowers, which sparked a high demand for seed. A farm in town now produces 88 varieties of wildflower seeds which are sold world-wide. There are annual wildflower celebrations in the area.
TEXAS BLUEBONNETS. Fredericksburg and the Hill Country are known for the proliferation of Bluebonnets each Spring. The town is also home to numerous restaurants, art galleries, tempting shops and boutiques, theaters and museums. It’s a fun place to visit.
FREDERICKSBURG…A FUN PLACE TO VISIT. And we’ll be back. I for sure want to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War. Ever heard of it? It’s the only institution in the United States exclusively dedicated to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in World War II. In addition to static exhibits, the Museum periodically offers Pacific Combat Living History Battle Re-enactments. True-to-scale battle re-enactments, with uniformed troops, tanks and flamethrowers. I’ll add a separate post about it when we visit.
