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Amanda Koone, Communications Manager March 24, 2014
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Fredericksburg and Texas Hill Country Receive Recognition
As a Great Place to Visit and Live
FREDERICKSBURG, TX --- Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country have received numerous accolades in the past four months.
“I have always felt that Fredericksburg, located in the very heart of the Texas Hill Country, is both a great place to visit and a great place to live. This combination of independent rankings --- with high scores on both livability and appeal as a travel destination – lends credibility to my observations,” noted Kent Myers, City Manager, City of Fredericksburg. “We invite both visitors and potential new residents to discover our German heritage, our Hill Country wines and cuisine, our natural beauty and our Texan hospitality.”
Fredericksburg has just been recognized as a Top Destination for 2014 Spring Travel by FlipKey.com, the vacation rental site of TripAdvisor. “With their blooming bluebonnets in springtime, this Texan city can’t be beat. Southern charm will sweep you off your feet, and you are guaranteed a good time with all their seasonal events,” says the website.
The real estate website Movoto listed Fredericksburg as #1 on their “Best Places to Live in Texas” list. According to the listing, “This uniquely German city in Gillespie County, Texas, did well in nearly all of our criteria, but when it came to weather, unemployment rate, a median home price of $204,700 and education, this city did simply wunderbar.”
Fredericksburg was also named to the Forbes “25 Best Places to Retire in 2014” list for the United States. Data that was considered in the rankings was housing and living costs, taxes, weather and air quality, crime rates, doctor availability, and active lifestyle rankings for walkability, bicycling and volunteering.
In addition, Gillespie County was named as one of the top eight on CNN Money’s “Where the Middle Class Thrives” list for the United States. The website says, “These eight places have low unemployment, a good quality of life and decent incomes, according to government data compiled by CNN Money and nonprofits Opportunity Nation and Measure of America.” Speaking about Gillespie County, the site says, “A little over an hour’s drive north of San Antonio and west of Austin, Fredericksburg is the only sizable town in the county – and it’s making quite a name for itself on the tourism circuit.”
The Texas Hill Country was named to Travel & Leisure’s “America’s Most Romantic Winter Destinations” list this past December. The magazine said, “Turn up the heat this winter on a romantic getaway – no passport necessary.” The writer continued, “Although it’s just west of Austin, Texas Hill Country feels worlds away, with its cypress-fringed rivers, limestone canyons, and two–lane country roads. Hit the road, with stops at area wineries, and make your way to Fredericksburg, which comes alive for the holidays.”
The Texas Hill Country was also named one of the “10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2014” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The magazine says of its list, “From classic wine-touring regions to exciting newcomers, our editors guide you to the very best in wine, food and cultural adventure.” Writer Alexis Korman said, “Everything really is bigger in Texas: It’s the No. 5 wine-producing state in the U.S., the Texas Hill Country AVA is the second largest in the nation and its most promising wines boast supersized flavors. But the explosion of new wineries and tasting rooms along scenic Highway 290 west of Austin hasn’t lessened Hill Country’s old-fashioned country charm.”
For more information on visiting Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country, check out www.VisitFredericksburgTX.com. For information on living in Fredericksburg, visit the City of Fredericksburg’s official website at www.fbgtx.org or the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce website at www.fredericksburg-texas.com.
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