A small town in Central Texas is getting its flowers — and not just because spring has arrived.
Each year, Southern Living magazine publishes “The South’s Best,” a compilation of surveys voted on by the magazine’s readers. The South’s Best 2026 features all the reader’s new favorites, spanning culture, food, shopping and more.
Fredericksburg stood out among Southern Living’s rankings, making an appearance on not one but two lists. Here’s why the town of fewer than 12,000 got so much attention.
Southern Living had this to say about Fredericksburg:
“With the opening of its first full-service hotel, The Albert Hotel, in 2025, this historic hamlet in the heart of the Texas Hill Country continues to emerge as an up-and-coming destination. Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals. Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside.”
Speaking of The Albert Hotel, it also ranked among Southern Living’s favorite hotels in the South.
“The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market,” the Southern Living ranking states. “Alongside the 105 minimalist guest rooms, a holistic spa and a limestone pool provide moments of quiet relaxation.”