FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — Fredericksburg, Texas, has scenic views, cute shops and plenty of wine for Mom and Dad to sip. For those reasons and more, Yelp has named the Hill Country city the No. 1 family-friendly travel destination in the U.S.
Yelp said its users are increasingly looking for travel destinations that are fun for the whole family. In fact, searches on Yelp for places that are "good for kids" surged 88% last year compared to 2021. To help parents find places to go for their summer vacations and other trips, the website analyzed data in cities where "family friendly" searches saw significant increases, then finalized its rankings with help from its trend expert.
Out of all of those cities, Fredericksburg came out on top. Here's what Yelp had to say about it:
"In the heart of the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg offers small town charm, just a drive away from bustling Austin and San Antonio. Experience the town’s German heritage at Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten for bites and sips, and a historical look at the Pioneer Museum. Visit the sprawling Wildseed Farms with acres of blooming wildflowers, and take home seeds for your own garden. For a family-friendly hike, head to nearby Enchanted Rock, a pink granite dome with views of Central Texas. While strolling and shopping Main Street, cool off with a Butter Pecan cone or Banana Split at Clear River Ice Cream."
Another large winery city, Napa, California, came in at No. 2 on Yelp's list. The other cities in the top 10 were Charlottesville, Virginia; Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; Breckenridge, Colorado; Burlington, Vermont; Ithaca, New York; Virginia Beach, Virginia; San Luis Obispo, California; and Salem, Oregon.
This isn't the first time the Texas Hill Country has received national recognition as a good spot to stop. Earlier this year, CNN Travel named the Hill Country one of the best places to visit in the world in 2024. And the area is sure to see its fair share of visitors even before the busy summer travel season this year, as it will be within the path of totality for the total solar eclipse on April 8.
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.