Fredericksburg, Texas – 4 Day Family Friendly Itinerary

Historic Fredericksburg is a popular vacation destination spot tucked into the rolling Hill Country of Texas. Located just outside of Austin and close to San Antonio, there are plenty of family-friendly attractions to keep both children and parents interested and engaged.

Here you’ll find our family’s personal, fun-filled 4-day Fredericksburg itinerary steeped in tradition and history but just right for kids with limited attention spans.  Just tweak it according to your interests and you’re off for a week of deep-diving into science and history as well as family bonding time and memories that will last a lifetime.

Day 1 Fredericksburg Itinerary: Downtown Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is well-known for its historic downtown area and super wide Main Street – the widest in Texas! Each side is lined with over 150 shops, restaurants, and thriving businesses. So, day 1 is exploring downtown Fredericksburg! It all begins with a stop at the Fredericksburg Visitor’s Center to pick up a walking map. Next, head down Main Street towards the Pioneer Museum. This is an outdoor museum boasting historical buildings and homesteads representing the early German settlers of this area. Visitors can walk through each and get a taste of the past experiencing hands-on a one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, original settlers’ homes, a Sunday house, and one of the first stores in the area, as well as barns, a barbershop, and more. For a detailed review of all you’ll see there and how to budget your time, check out my honest review of the Pioneer Museum.

After the Pioneer Museum, stroll back down Main Street for lunch at one of the restaurants along the way and then spend the afternoon window shopping or antique shopping at all the interesting boutiques!  You’ll enjoy all the unique architecture and individuality of the shops found here!  Don’t miss Dooley’s 5-10-25 Cent Store or the central market area, the Marketplatz.  Strolling  around munching popcorn or ice-cream makes for a fun afternoon!

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Day 2 Fredericksburg Itinerary: Presidential History

Day 2 is all about some presidential history, visiting the ranch and home of former president Lyndon B. Johnson. His ranch is in Stonewall, just 15 minutes outside of Fredericksburg and is well worth the short journey! Begin at the LBJ State Park, where there is a visitor’s center and super helpful park rangers who will give you a map to help you understand the layout of the self-guided tour. There is a 1.2 mile trail you can walk that meanders past 2 old log cabins – belonging to some early settlers – through the woods and over to the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm.

The Sauers, then later the Beckmanns, owned the farm adjacent to President Johnson’s family ranch many years ago. Two of their homes are on the property as well as a working farm complete with cows, sheep, and chickens. The park rangers dress up in period clothing and invite you to explore the buildings, ask questions, and interact with this amazing blast from the past. Just beyond the farm, there is a field with bison, too. When we were there in late spring, two baby buffalo had just been born. They were so cute!

Pack a picnic lunch because the entire area is covered with wide open fields full of wildflowers and plenty of picnic tables where you can enjoy your lunch.
During our picnic, we watched three beautiful deer grazing nearby. After lunch, take the path around to the National Historical Park, the official LBJ Ranch.
You’ll need to hop in your car, but it is just 2 minutes away, literally over the river and through the woods.

At the LBJ ranch you’ll get to meet President Johnson’s herd of Hereford cows that still graze on the property, see the family burial plot where he and his wife were laid to rest, the house where he was born, and drive through the fields of his vast land. Eventually, you arrive at his family home, where there is a small museum, one of his private jets, cars he owned, and his home known as the Texas White House. Unfortunately, the house was closed during our visit, but we still greatly enjoyed walking the property and touring it from the outside.

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Day 3 Fredericksburg Itinerary: Museums & Bats

On day 3 head back to downtown Fredericksburg to take in the National Museum of the Pacific War – a deeply thought provoking museum dedicated to the Pacific battles and everyday heroes of World War II.  This museum is extensive and may take longer than expected!  I’m writing up a full review soon, so check back to learn the details!  Set aside at least 3 hours but longer if you have older kids and like to go slowly through museums. 

After a stop for lunch at one of the downtown barbecue places or other restaurants along Main Street, walk a block or so over to the Admiral Nimitz Gallery housed in the historic Nimitz Hotel.  Entrance to this comes included with the National Museum of the Pacific War, but is in a separate facility, so save it for later in the day.

After time spent in the museums, you’ll be ready for some outdoor fun.  Reserve your spot at the Old Tunnel State Park to watch the bats emerge around sunset before calling it a day and heading back to your hotel or vacation rental.

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Day 4 Fredericksburg Itinerary: Outdoor Exploration

Time for some outdoor fun! In the morning, begin at Fort Martin Scott Historic Military Out Post.  The fort boasts a 1 mile trail and is an example of one of the earliest forts in operation in Texas, active from 1847-52.  This fort has had a fascinating past, having first housed American officers, then Texas Rangers, and later owned by the Braeutigam family. Besides being steeped in history, it also happens to be a wonderful place for bird watching and observing fields of native Texas wildflowers, especially in the spring and summer.

Next, grab some lunch or pack a picnic and head out for an afternoon of hiking the trails at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.  Add to the family fun by geocaching throughout the area – my crew always loves this!  Explore the great outdoors with 11 miles of trails, amazing scenery, and a granite dome that rises 425 feet above ground level to a peak of 1825 ft.  Finally, settle in after dark for a sensational display of the stars.  This beautiful park is an International Dark Sky Park making it one of the best star gazing sites in the United States!

Alternate Fredericksburg Activity: Orchards & Vineyards

If you have more than four days to spend in Fredericksburg or want to swap out some of the attractions, this area is well known for its wildflowers, peach orchards, and grape vineyards.  Families will enjoy learning about local agriculture with a tour through any of the many orchards or vineyards in the area.  There are signs boasting homemade peach ice-cream and pick-your-own local produce, too.  We didn’t get a chance to do this, but enjoyed even just driving by and observing how the plants grew.  Another local favorite is Wildseed Farms, the nation’s largest working wildflower seed farm covering 200 acres of stunning wildflowers.

As you plan your trip using the Fredericksburg itinerary, be forewarned that not much is open in the evenings that is kid-friendly except Walmart and What-a-burger.  However, since there is so much to do during the day, we thought this was perfect and allowed for great family rest time!  We spent our evenings playing board games and watching movies.  Even if you don’t get to all the places on the itinerary, a visit to this historic town steeped in tradition is sure to create some cherished family memories for your crew just like it did for ours!