Fredericksburg was recently named No. 2 on Southern Living’s “The South’s Best Small Towns 2017” list, noting that in addition to “a historic downtown straight out of a Western, this German town has a happening food, brew, and winery scene.” Southern Living went on to say that great small towns “all have a few things in common: a thriving downtown with locally owned restaurants, shops, and galleries; a touch of the artsy; and, of course, a beautiful location.” Fredericksburg has all these things – 150 shops, galleries and boutiques; a strong German heritage and culture; more than 40 area wineries and tasting rooms; family fun and outdoor adventures; more than 350 events and festivals; spring wildflowers and summer peaches; a fantastic live music scene – and so much more. Categories: Food and Wine,History and Heritage,Travel7 Hill Country towns to visit right now Sure, there's no shortage of things to do in Austin, but sometimes it's fun to get away—especially, this time of year, in an air-conditioned vehicle (we'll leave the hiking and camping guide for November).

Luckily, Central Texas is a full of interesting small towns with distinct cultures, highlights, and histories. We're planning on adding to this series from time to time, but for now, we'll start with a scenic drive though the Hill Country west of Austin—much of it along a gorgeous stretch called The Devil's Backbone. Important note: A stop at a Buc-ee's is absolutely mandatory on any Texas road trip. We'll let you discover those on your own. Are we missing any of your favorite Texas Hill Country destinations? Tell us in the comments, or drop us a line. Located on the three-mile Comal River, one of the shortest rivers in the world (it starts at a spring and feeds into the Guadalupe River shortly thereafter), New Braunfels is geographically special. The old-school, Bavarian-themed Schlitterbahn water park takes advantage of this proximity and should take priority over all of your other plans. Gruene Hall is technically in its namesake village, but New Braunfels claims its historic district: It’s billed as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas” and has hosted a fantastic array of country and songwriting legends.

It’s still a great place to see some of them. Tune into RFD tonight at 8:30 to catch a special episode of West of Wall Street with Red Steagall highlighting the history of the Hall! A photo posted by gruenehall (@gruenehall) on Aug 8, 2016 at 10:49am PDT In addition to being home to some of the area’s best swimming spots (The Blue Hole, Jacob’s Well) and other lovely stretches of cool water, Wimberley has wine tours and tastings galore, lots of laid-back meandering through vintage, thrift, and handcraft stores, and an entrance point to the Devil’s Backbone, one of the most scenic drives in the state.best red wine for beginners nz I saw the what had to be thee cutest street directory EVERRRRR !!! best flavor of wineA photo posted by Nikki Milan (@awordwithnikki) on Aug 8, 2016 at 4:48pm PDTbest wine brands in canada

Only a few miles north of San Antonio, Blanco nevertheless retains a small-town feel, partly due to its proximity to the gorgeous Blanco State Park. It’s home to the Real Ale Brewing Company as well as several lavender farms (being “The Lavender Capital of Texas” and all), horseback riding opportunities, and hiking and swimming opportunities galore. Just a glimpse of what @pluto911 sees when he clicks away. Thank you for sharing YOUR view of Texas. . . Photo by: @pluto911 . . . best wine for cheese pizza#texasfever #dontmesswithtexas #texastourism #visittexas #texasbackroads #igtexas #lavenderfields #blanco A photo posted by Texas Fever (@texasfever) on Aug 1, 2016 at 5:58pm PDTbaby blue wine rating Known as the “Crossroads of the Texas Hill Country,” Johnson City claims the LBJ National Historical Park, the place President Lyndon Baines Johnson made his “Texas White House” when he was in office. buying wine online tax

He grew up in the town, which was founded by one of his uncles. For those not inclined to tour the house and grounds, the Pedernales State Park nearby offers a refreshing dip in a cool, clear river. Pecan Street Brewing and Garrison Distillery offer still more forms of entertainment. As do longhorn sightings. A photo posted by Barb Carlson (@barbanddaniel) on Jul 3, 2016 at 9:05am PDT If you’re passing through the Hill Country, you might as well stop in Luckenbach, which is more of a country music reference and operating performance hall than a town. dry red wine photosThe town was primarily a trading post with a general store and a saloon for most of its life and was purchased by a rancher when the town’s population allegedly dwindled to 3. top 10 wine and spiritsCountry musician Jerry Jeff Walker recorded a live album there (somewhat confusingly called Viva Terlingua, after a different tiny Texas town), and it was made most famous in a song recorded by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. best wine festivals usa

The concert hall is hosts regular shows, and there are reportedly jam sessions there on Sunday nights. Also: great place for selfies. A photo posted by Gummi Delgadillo (@travelwithgummi) on Aug 6, 2016 at 5:55pm PDT Fredericksburg has long attracted visitors who appreciate its natural beauty, old-timey downtown strip, cute B&Bs, vineyards, and wineries. Lately, it has become a bit of a culinary destination as well. Along with nearby New Braunfels, it keeps alive and celebrates the heritage of German immigrants who came to Central Texas in the 1800s. Even if it’s too hot to hike (and for you, it might not be), a trip Enchanted Rock, near the town of Llano, is a must. A rock formation caused by the Llano Uplift, when granite pushed its way to the surface around the area, Enchanted Rock is a favorite of hikers and mystical wisdom-seekers. In addition to the odd formation itself, the area has a whole “rock culture” due to the fact that there are rare earth minerals that are scattered all over the county—including “Llanite,” a kind of granite unique to the area.