As a Texas local, I skip the crowds in Austin and head west to a charming nearby city with amazing wineries

Fredericksburg, Texas, and its surrounding areas have some incredible scenery and wineries. Malachi Jacobs/Shutterstock I've lived in Texas for many years, and Fredericksburg is one of my favorite places to visit . Fredericksburg has incredible wineries, and I like that it isn't too far from Austin or San Antonio. The small city has a charming, walkable Main Street with some great shops and restaurants. After more than 15 years of driving between San Antonio and Austin as a longtime Texas local, I've found my favorite detour: Fredericksburg. Part of the scenic Texas Hill Country, it's a walkable city with German roots, popular for its array of wineries, boutique hotels, and lively downtown. Although I love Austin and San Antonio , Fredericksburg provides a small-town feel that the aforementioned cities — with populations close to a million each — could never quite achieve.