Before you start booking plane reservations or reserving a rental car, do some reading about your destination. The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce web page is a good starting point: its features include a town map, an events calendar, and a weather forecast. If you want in-depth information about Fredericksburg from the local’s perspective, read the Fredericksburg Standard . The newspaper’s web site is easily navigable and includes photos with almost every article.

The Handbook of Texas Online is another useful resource; it’s the online edition of a handbook printed by the Texas State Historical Association. Their article on Fredericksburg is a concise, accurate history of the town that is well worth reading in its entirety. The Historical Association also publishes a number of other books, which can be ordered here .

For some lengthier practical reading, try Scenic Driving Texas by Laurence Parent . The book provides information about the best drives and hikes in Texas, many of which are in the Fredericksburg area. Parent’s own color photographs accompany his written descriptions. If you need a travel guide focused specifically on Gillespie County, browse through Richard Zelade’s Texas Hill Country , part of the Texas Monthly Guidebooks series. The book does a comprehensive job of explaining the history behind some of Fredericksburg’s best driving routes and roadside stops.