Every year, when June comes around I take my family on a trip to Fredericksburg where we go to peach orchards and pick our own fruit - not just peaches but blackberries, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables too.  The flavors are unbelievable!  Picked fresh and ripe, the produce tastes the way it's supposed to.  For information visit http://www.texaspeaches.com/  This site will tell you when and where the peaches are ripe in the Fredericksburg area.Visit us at www.sanantoniofoodshed.comor bolg with us at www.sanantoniofoodshed.blogspot.com   03/13/2008

If you love a beautiful country setting and a rich profusion of wildflowers in the spring, then Willow City Loop just north of Fredericksburg, TX is the place to see.Located 13 miles north of Fredericksburg in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas is where you'll find Willow City Loop. It's a 13mile drive, or bicycle ride through some of the prettiest countryside around. The loop winds through private ranches located along the way and you might even see deer and longhorn cattle along the road.I made a little slide-show for you to enjoy and I hope you do enjoy it and make a trip this spring to see how spectacular Texas can be when it's in bloom! Directions to Willow City Loop: from Fredericksburg take 290 W. to Fredericksburg, go 13 miles north on Hwy. 16, turn right at CR 1323 and the Loo... 01/21/2008

  The first weekend in October is the celebration of "Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg".  Great oompah, waltzes, polkas, German food and a variety of beverages makes for a good time for everyone.  Many thousands of tourists enjoy visiting Fredericksburg every year.  There is lots to do in this "historically preserved" downtown area.  The streets are wide and welcoming to all their guests. Walk down the sidewalk and enjoy shopping at the many quaint stores selling a variety of gift items, antiques, collectibles, furniture, apparel, and all sorts of goods.  You won't be able to pass up stopping at the bakery when you smell that fresh bread or streudel baking.  There are numerous spots to dine on great German cuisine or good 'ole American. Fredericksburg is known for "Peaches".  There are num... 10/16/2007

How Luckenbach got its name:   Luckenbach was established in 1849. One of the first settlers in the area was Jacob Luckenbach (1817-1911). A group of German nobility, the Adelsverein, hoped for great riches by establishing a colony in the New World. In 1845 Jacob signed up and sailed with his family on the Johann Dethardt to Indianola in December. Jacob's family was one of the first settlers to arrive in Fredericksburg. He was allocated a town lot and a 10-acre lot southwest of town, where he first settled his family. In 1852, he sold both properties and moved 12 miles southeast of the site that was later known as Luckenbach. He was instrumental in the creation of Gillespie County and served as county commissioner and school super-visor. Even though he opposed secession, he served in Ca... 03/12/2007

The Gillespie County Fair, now 119 years old, was founded in 1881 and is the oldest, continuously running county fair in Texas.  Annual fairs have been held with the exception of five years when it was not possible due to WW I and WWII. The Gillespie County Fairgrounds are located on Highway 16 South, about 2 miles south of Fredericksburg, Texas.2007 Schedule of Events: Thursday, August 23.Fairground Gates open at 5 p.m.Carnival and Midway open 5 p.m.Friday, August 24.119th GILLESPIE COUNTY FAIR Parade - Main Street in Fredericksburg - 10 a.m.Fairground gates open after the parade.Gillespie County Fair Queen Contest - 7 p.m.Dance - 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.Carnival opens 12 noon to midnightSaturday, August 25.Fairground Gates open - 10 a.m.Carnival opens 11 a.m.Pari-mutuel horse races - Post tim... 02/27/2007

Wildseed Farms is the largest working wildflower farm in the U.S. At its Hill Country headquarters, the farm has more than 200 acres under cultivation. In Eagle Lake, its growing, packing and distribution center has another 800 acres under production. Wildseed Farms produces 88 varieties of wildflower seeds, which are available individually and as regional mixes, specialty mixes or custom blends.There is a growing market for top-quality wildflower seeds. The farm attracts the attention of people all over the country through retail sales, catalog sales and consumer education. At its Wildflower Market Center, seven miles east of Fredericksburg on Highway 290, fields of wildflowers bloom from March through October, boosting retail sales. More than 350,000 people a year stop by the Center. ... 02/16/2007

Enchanted Rock is an enormous pink granite pluton just west of the Hill Country of central Texas in the United States. It is located in southern Llano County south of the Llano River, approximately 15 mi (24 km) north of Fredericksburg at 30°30′20.84″N, 98°49′6.58″W. It covers approximately 640 acres (3 km²) and rises approximately 425 ft (130 m) above the surrounding terrain to elevation of 1,825 ft (550 m) above sea level. It the second largest such granite monadnock in the United States after Stone Mountain in Georgia. It is currently part of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in the Texas state park system. The natural area covers 1,644 acres.source  In summary, Enchanted Rock is a really big rock that is fun to climb and explore.  Bring the kids and a tent.  Leave the XBox and iPod ... 02/13/2007

The past two decades have been a time of incredible growth for the Texas wine industry. Currently, Texas wine is enjoying a resurgence in quality and reputation. Many Texans don't even realize that our tradition of winemaking predates California's. Our state has more native species of grapes than any other region on earth. Wine production in the state surged from 14,000 gallons in 1979 to a high of 1.7 million gallons in 1997. Today, Texas is the country's fifth-leading wine-producing state in the nation and is home to more than 54 wineries that produce over one million gallons of wine. It is expected that production will exceed two million gallons within the next five years. More than half of the wineries in Texas are in the Hill Country. The climate and soil of the Texas Hill Country ... 02/12/2007

Fredericksburg Peddler Show Friday March 23 - Sunday March 25, 2007   Gillespie County Fairgrounds   This year, The Peddler Show celebrates 30 years as Texas' favorite shopping experience!  Join in the fun as we return to Fredericksburg, March 23-25!   Stroll the aisles full of quality arts, crafts, and unique gifts, featuring new artisans in 2007!  Entice your senses with new home fragrances and bath and body delights, or rejuvinate your creativity with fresh designs in home decor, handcrafted jewelry, Christian art, and chic clothing.  As part of the celebration, all shoppers turning 30 in 2007 will get in FREE!*  Come see why after 30 years, The Peddler Show is still Texas' favorite shopping experience! *proof of age requiredsource   Shopping has been the quintessential favorite past... 02/12/2007

"The Texas Hill Country is a region of Central Texas, USA, that features rolling, somewhat rugged, hills that consist primarily of limestone.  The Hill Country terrain can be seen in San Antonio's northern suburbs.  The region is the eastern portion of the Edwards Plateau bounded by the Balcones Fault on the east and the Llano Uplift to the west and north.  The terrain is punctuated by a large number of limestone rocks and boulders and a thin layer of topsoil which makes the region prone to flash flooding.Several cities, including Austin, San Marcos and New Braunfels were sited in the flat areas immediately to east of the Balcones Fault line where rivers flow across it, because of the limits of river navigation.  Due to its karst topography, the area also features a number of caves, suc... 02/08/2007

Progressive Farmer magazine recently named the "Best Places To Live In Rural America" for 2007.Out of the 300 counties scattered across America that made the list, Gillespie County, Texas came in at #4.Fredericksburg, Texas is located in Gillespie County and is the county seat.   Come see what all the hoopla is about.Call me when you get here.  Gregory Andersongregory@come2fredericksburg.comwww.come2fredericksburg.com 02/06/2007

Southern Living magazine's "Best of the South 2006 Readers' Choice Awards" is officially over.Fredericksburg, Texas was voted #3 in the "Best Small Southern Town" category.That's impressive.Even more impressive is the fact that I live there.However, according to sources close to Southern Living magazine, the fact that I currently reside in Fredericksburg apparently had no influence on the final results. I am still in denial.  Gregory Andersongregory@come2fredericksburg.comwww.come2fredericksburg.com 01/30/2007