Rolling meadows of bluebonnets, scarlet poppies and bright orange Indian paintbrush heralded our arrival in the Texas Hill Country, a bucolic region of wineries, strawberry fields and peach orchards just beyond the urban enclaves of Austin and San Antonio. We were headed for Fredericksburg, a quaint town brimming with gingerbread cottages, limestone storefronts and log structures that proudly proclaim its heritage as a 19th-century hub for German pioneers seeking a new life on the Texas frontier.
Today, Fredericksburg is a lively hub for weekenders drawn to its plethora of tasting rooms, gourmet bistros, art galleries, unique boutiques and other contemporary pleasures. Its population of 12,000 residents can easily swell to 40,000 on weekends, says Earl Loeffler, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg CVB, adding that the town is eager to increase its meetings business during the week.
“We have a feasibility study under way for a conference center and hope to announce something soon,” Loeffler says. “We do especially well with Texas associations, small corporate and incentive groups and military reunions.”
Upon arrival, we checked into what is now Fredericksburg’s main meetings location, the delightfully quirky Hangar Hotel and its adjacent Airport Conference Center. Located at a small private airport with a classic DC-3 airplane at its entrance, the 50-room hotel resembles a giant Quonset hut from the 1940s. Inside, it’s adorned with steamer trunks and vintage radios, and features a handsomely appointed Officers Club with leather furniture, a fireplace and space for up to 100 people. In a separate hangar-style building, the Pacific Showroom, with its classic Tiki bar, dance floor and wall murals, is the atmospheric setting for larger events, including USO-style theme parties and vintage car shows.
The next day the 1940s feeling continued with a visit to Fredericksburg’s outstanding National Museum of the Pacific War, which is filled with evocative exhibits pertaining to the Pacific battles fought in World War II. It also includes the tranquil Japanese Garden of Peace, a gift from Japan to the U.S., and a separate museum devoted to the life of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander of the Pacific fleet and a descendent of Fredericksburg pioneers.
Fredericksburg is also about food and wine, which we discovered that afternoon on a tour of several of the many wineries that lie just outside of town on Wine Road 290. It was easy to see why Wine Enthusiast named the region among the world’s Top 10 wine travel destinations in 2014.
Among the highlights was a stop at 4.0 Cellars, which represents Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery and McPherson Cellars, all of which produce award-winning wines. The winery’s stunning tasting room and adjoining patio is the scene for events that pair wines with local artisanal cheeses. Another welcoming wine venue is Grape Creek Vineyards, a beautiful 100-acre estate where an art-filled Tuscan-style villa nestled among the oaks and vineyards offers generous space for wine-tasting receptions and wine-pairing dinners.
Dining in Fredericksburg also brought the chance to sample more local wines, including those at the Navajo Grill, where we enjoyed venison tamales and asparagus soup prepared by chef Bryce Baker in an open-sided pavilion that can seat up to 100 for private dinners. Other great culinary experiences awaited at the Cabernet Grill— Texas Wine Country Restaurant, which features an extensive wine list from across the state, and Woerner Warehouse Country Market & Cafe, which serves abundant salads, paninis and fresh-baked items in a converted feed store that is popular for private evening events with live music.
For our final night, we dined at the enchanting Farm Haus Bistro, which is part of the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, a bed-and-breakfast property where cottages and a luxurious spa are scattered throughout flower and herb gardens. The restaurant and grounds are available for a wide variety of private events.
