FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — In 1846, the city of Fredericksburg was officially on the map.
Named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, it was a haven for German settlers.
It's about an hour and 40 minute drive from Austin, so KVUE's Quita Culpepper, Mike Rush, Albert Ramon and Mike Barnes decided to say "guten tag" to this Central Texas town and see some of what makes this place so special.
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The first stop was Becker Vineyards, one of many found around Gillespie County.
Established in 1992, Becker is 308 acres -- a peaceful setting filled with seasonal flowers, wide grassy lawns and grapes destined to deliver their essence into a bottle.
A private tasting reveals why some of the vineyard's most popular wines have been served in famous restaurants, at the Texas Governor's mansion and the White House.
Next up was Das Peach Haus. The historic building was an old grocery warehouse until the Wieser family bought it. Inside is a culinary adventure where more than 150 aromatic oils, sauces and other products take center stage. One of its best sellers is roasted raspberry chipotle sauce. There's peach cider, peach wine, peach jams and jellies and, of course, peach pie.
A visit to Fredericksburg wouldn't be complete without a stop at the National Museum of the Pacific War. It's one of the premier military museums in the United States.
This gallery tells a chronological story of World War II in the Pacific, starting 100 years before the attack on Pearl Harbor, following all the way through to the signing of the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
The museum showcases nearly 900 artifacts, including a steel door once on the USS Arizona. On Dec. 7, 1941, more than 1,100 sailors and Marines died on board that battleship when the Japanese attacked.
There are hundreds of items including historical photos and letters that help tell the human story from both sides of a war that ripped the world apart.
While the museum draws more than 150,000 visitors to Fredericksburg every year, Main Street is a place people love to stroll as well.
It's where you'll find shops of all kinds, including art galleries filled with vibrant photographs, sculptures and paintings.
There's even a store that celebrates the holidays every day of the year. It's hard to resist examining all the tiny villages that have snowmen, ice skaters and Santas of all kinds. And delicate handmade European blown glass ornaments await to decorate your tree.
After all that sightseeing, a good meal is in order.
Ottos Resturant is the perfect place to taste the city's German roots.
One of the favorites on the menu is a pizza-like dish called flammkuchen, which means flaming cake. The menu also features duck schnitzle, and jäger huhn, which is herb-roasted pheasant.
It's a delicious way to end a day of exploring the delightful city of Fredericksburg.