In the heart of the Texas Hill Country about an hour southwest of Austin of lies Fredericksburg. Established in 1846, Fredericksburg is the county seat of Gillespie County and one of the oldest German settlements in central Texas.  As such, it is home to some of the best German food and beer in the state. Friedhelm’s Bavarian Inn is one of the most popular restaurants in town, and even though there is usually a wait on weekends, it’s well worth it. Get anything with sauerkraut and you’ll be completely satisfied. Their classic German-style Weinerschnitzel is another dish that will not disappoint. The Ausländer Biergarten and Resturaunt on Main St. is another fine example of Bavarian-style food and Der Lindenbaum’s Rhineland-style dishes are always an excellent choice as well. But Fredericksburg isn’t just about German food and beer. They have an extensive variety of cuisines from steaks at The Cabernet Grill to Italian at Troisi’s to Seafood and Asian Fusion at August E’s. To boil it down, there is no shortage of excellent meals to be had when you’re in town.

Well, it probably goes without saying, but Fredericksburg also has an Oktoberfest the first weekend in October every year, the largest in the state in fact, featuring all the sausage, kraut, potato pancakes, beer and polka you can get. When you go, make sure you stop by the large dance floor in the back of the park to check out The Band-Aids, a group of doctors from the area playing a great selection of German folk tunes you won’t be able to help but dance to.

Fredericksburg is also home to the Garrison Brothers Distillery where they use local-grown organic grains to make sweet mash whiskey. And in the surrounding country side there are also a number of wineries and vineyards, most of which are open for tours and tastings, as well as the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, if you prefer a good brew. However, one of the most impressive and surprising attractions Fredericksburg has to offer is The National Museum of the Pacific War, dedicated to commemorating the battles in the Pacific during World War II. This six-acre property has a number of different galleries, both indoor and outdoor, as well as an excellent collection of artifacts on display in the Admiral Nimitz Museum (Nimitz was born and raised in Fredericksburg), including aircraft, artillery and infantry weapons. It is also the only museum in the Continental United States devoted to the stories of Pacific Theater. 

And if you are planning on heading down to Fredericksburg this weekend, be sure to check out http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com before you go and you'll have more options than you'll be able to fit into one weekend.