Romantic Lodgings near German-Influenced Town

German immigrants settled in Fredericksburg in 1846, and it’s still common for locals to greet one another with “Guten Tag.” Many staff members at First Class Lodging Reservation Service, which offers romantic accommodations, were born and raised here.

The staffers use their firsthand knowledge to recommend exhibits at the National Museum of the Pacific War or put together custom tours, from wine-tasting trips to spa days. Sample cuisine at any of six local restaurants with the $20 dining voucher included in this Getaway. Andy’s Steak and Seafood Grille serves hand-cut country-fried steak, and Clear River Pecan Company is a ’50s-style diner that loads sandwiches with ingredients such as maple turkey and pepper jelly.

After checking in at the main office, you can head to your chosen abode. Many of First Class’s suites stand near Fredericksburg’s historical Main Street, which also goes by the name “Hauptstrasse.” Among the possibilities are 115 Austin Place, suite 2, which has a two-person jacuzzi and a private sun deck, and Alte Welt suite 1, which features antique furnishings and a four-poster bed.

You can also opt for quieter digs outside city limits, where, according to staff member Barney, “on a clear night, you’ll see every star in the sky.” The Appian Way cottages feature full kitchens and porches outfitted with hot tubs overlooking 40 acres of Hill Country scrub.

Fredericksburg, Texas: Historical German Town in Texas Hill Country

In Texas Hill Country, it’s easy to tell when you’re getting close to the town of Fredericksburg: you’ll start spotting ”Willkommen” on the signs pointing toward town. German immigrants settled here in 1846, blending Teutonic traditions with cowboy-style farming and ranching. Nowadays, the farms have blossomed into colorful lavender fields and wineries. Between the bluebonnets that spring up in March and April and the toasts during Oktoberfest in early October, Fredericksburg has become an attractive side trip from Austin (80 miles east) and San Antonio (70 miles south).

One of Fredericksburg’s main attractions is tied to one of its most historic residents—Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who commanded US Pacific forces in World War II. Nimitz’s father owned a steamboat-shaped hotel that was transformed into the National Museum of the Pacific War in the 1960s. The museum features a Japanese submarine used at Pearl Harbor, an American B-25, and many war artifacts. Continue a history-themed day by visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, located about 19 miles east in Stonewall. The park is home to the LBJ Ranch and the Texas White House, where the 36th president routinely met with his cabinet and hosted visiting dignitaries.

Fredericksburg’s streets are lined with charming German shops and restaurants, as well as quaint clothing and furniture stores. The area is also home to 14 local wineries, with even more wineries just an hour or two away.

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