Updated August 2024
The Texas Hill Country has changed a lot since I wrote this article ten years ago but it is still beautiful. There are dozens more wineries, many fancy new places to eat and drink, and more traffic. If you go on the weekend it will be crowded. All of the businesses mentioned in this article are still there. And no matter how many people crowd onto Fredericksburg’s narrow sidewalks, you can’t take away the Texas charm and history.
Go to the Texas Hill Country now, because even though it’s not exactly off the beaten track (Texas Highways, National Geographic, and Southern Living are just a few of the publications that have featured the Hill Country), it’s still far from crowded. However, based on what I understand from the locals, weekends are ridiculously busy. The many small towns that comprise the Hill Country receive 100,000 to 200,000 visitors on the weekends and during festivals. Go during the week if you can.
A big Texas landscape under a cloudy sky. Just another drive in the Texas Hill Country
Luckenbach, Texas More than a song Willie Nelson sang, it’s still a place where people gather for community and great music.
Poppies of all colors and varieties are blooming now. If you can, visit the Wild Seed Farm in Fredericksburg on Hwy. 290.
Go to the Texas Hill Country now to see the wide-open spaces, star-filled skies, drink award-winning wines, and enjoy some Texas-style hospitality with a German accent. Much of the Hill Country was settled by German immigrants and the original heritage and culture remain.
The Texas Hill Country was settled by German Immigrants
Good example of German architecture on Main St. Fredericksburg, Texas
Hye, Texas, so quirky and colorful I stopped to take photos. Hye is named after the founder, Hye Brown. In 1966 it was listed in the Register of Texas Historic Places. Hye is also the home of William Chris Vineyards and the oldest legal distillery in Texas, Garrison Brothers.
Wildflowers growing in the vineyards of Pedernales Cellars, a family-owned winery and one of the oldest in the Hill Country.
Blue bonnets, the state flower of Texas, are in full bloom now along highways.
Visit Fredericksburg’s Main Street for historic architecture and museums
Visit Fredericksburg, which is no longer a secret, but still a worthy destination. Main St. maintains much of the architecture of the original German settlers and the Pioneer Museum is a great place to learn more about them. There is an original schoolhouse and two family homesteads, all in excellent condition and furnished with heirlooms of the period. You can tour the buildings at your own pace. The Pioneer Museum is located on Main St.
The original classroom – Pioneer Museum. Notice the German to English lesson on the blackboard.
Original barber shop in the Pioneer Village Museum. Tools of the trade.
The Hill Country is the deep heart of Texas–smack dab in the center of the state. It’s an amazing landscape – from vineyards to farmland to granite domes and limestone cliffs, cut by spring-fed rivers and dotted with lakes. The locals refer to it as God’s country while newcomers say things like, “I’m not from Texas, but I got there as fast as I could.”
The “Texas White House” where the 36th president, Lyndon Johnson spent as much time as possible Located at the LBJ Park you can tour the house with a guide. The driving tour through the 674 acre ranch is self-guided.
Ancient oak trees are everywhere and provide much-needed shade for man and beast. A symbol of the Texas Hill Country.
Texans are very independent. No where is this more evident than in the Hill Country. They also have a great sense of humor. Hondo, is Hondo Crouch, a writer and humorist.
This is only a small slice of what the Hill Country has to offer. It is a huge area and you can’t see it all in a weekend, or even a week – maybe not even in a lifetime. Southern Living and National Geographic have a lot more great suggestions so check them out.
Llano, Texas hosted Earth Art Fest this March, and the first National Rock Stacking Championship. Next year promises to be even better. Just another Hill Country original.
Have you been to the Hill Country? If so, which is your favorite town? If not, when are you going?
24 comments
[…] Penny Sadler is a travel and wine writer based in Dallas, Texas. As a wine enthusiast, she has explored wine caves in Provence, picked grapes in Barolo and Napa Valley, and hosts wine adventures for fellow enthusiasts. You can follow her at Adventures of a Carry-On. […]
I am starting a website promoting the Texas Hill Country. I would love to use your article on the website if you agree. It adds such a nice personal touch.
https://momfabulous.com/2016/06/why-i-love-living-in-the-texas-hill-country/
Hello Sheree,
Thanks so much for the compliment. You are welcome to link to the article but you can’t use the article in it’s entirety because Google doesn’t like duplicate content. You can write a couple of paragraphs introducing int and use a sentence or two which would include the link. Good luck on your new site! Texas Hill Country is beautiful!
[…] du Gard made such an impression on me is because of the location, which reminded me somewhat of the Texas Hill Country, with its low growing scruffy plant life, oak trees, and hot dry […]
Boerne takes the cake! It’s the HUB of the Texas Hill Country. Stay there and explore the historic charm and great shopping and then take day trips to all the surrounding communities (and San Antonio if that’s your thing) since they are all less than 45min to an hour away!
I was in Boerne once, so long ago. Really enjoyed it. Probably time to revisit. Thanks for the reminder!
You are more than welcome! Come by the Boerne Visitor Center and say “Hi!” 1407 S. Main, http://www.visitboerne.org
are you still there?
I’d love to visit the area in spring.Absolutely beautiful.
Spring is the best time. Fall in Texas is pretty dang good too.
Penny, this is a lovely article. I’ve been to the Hill Country but this makes me want to drop everything and go now, especially because it’s gray and dark in Dallas today :)I’ll be sharing this on SM.
Thank you Anna. It’s likely grey down there too. 🙂 But you never know. Anyway, it’s prettier!
This is SO COOL. Those flowers! That architecture! That history! I MUST make it to Texas!
Hey Lillie, if you’ve never been to Texas before the Hill Country is the place to be.
The Earth Art Fest sounds really cool. Thanks for sharing these beautiful images of Texas’ wide open spaces. I love seeing all the green!
Thanks for stopping by Mary.
Some nice shots, Penny. I’ve buzzed through parts of Texas before, but never the Hill Country, which I’ve heard praised from many corners. Hope I make it there on some non-100-degree day.
So much history to be discovered!! I have never been to Texas other than its airports but I certainly will visit the hill country for sure! Loved the old school and general store pics!!
Thanks Jeff. There’s a lot going on there, you just need a car to be able to get around.
Just gorgeous! Those flowers!!
Conor and I were thinking of going to Wimberly. Fredericksburg was another option we were thinking about. Now I’m don’t know which to go to ..LOL!!!
I haven’t been to Wimberly in a long time. I don’t know. That’s a tough one. I think if you want to do the winery and art thing go to Fredericksburg.
More of your wonderful photos, Penny. We are ready for a road trip and the Texas Hill Country sounds like a real possibility.
If you do go I’ll meet you there!