Are you planning a trip to Enchanted Rock? (DO IT, GO, IT’S AMAZING, WHY HAVEN’T YOU LEFT YET?) When you first plan a trip to Enchanted Rock, you’ll discover that you have a very important decision to make: Llano vs Fredericksburg, TX. Where’s the best place to stay? This post will help you decide where in Central Texas you should stay on your trip and includes a brief overview of the area, a comparison of Fredericksburg vs Llano, and 7 things to do when you visit Llano, Texas!

Have you stayed in LLano or Fredericksburg before? Leave me a comment and let me know how your trip went!

Planning a trip to Enchanted Rock? Check out these 7 things you should know before you go:

LLano, TX vs. Fredericksburg, TX

Fredericksburg is 18 miles south of Enchanted Rock, while Llano is a small town 24 miles north. While both are small towns, Fredericksburg has over three times the population of Llano. It has also fully and successfully embraced being a tourist destination.

Here’s the thing: Fredericksburg is touristy. Like, super touristy. Like, Kate-Spade-and-cheesy-souvenir-shops touristy. Like, moms-drunkenly-wandering-around-with-full-wine-glasses-at-11am touristy. On the other hand, there’s Llano, a sleepy little town with great bone structure and grit. I unabashedly love Llano, to the point that I insisted on stopping in the last time I drove through with friends coming back from Big Bend.

There are no bars in Llano, so you’re probably not going to be able to get white-girl-wasted in public, but you’re going to have a unique small town experience, which is much more of what I, at least, am looking for when I travel. In addition, the people are RIDICULOUSLY FRIENDLY. Like, the nicest people I’ve ever met. Everywhere.

Overview of Llano, TX

Llano was founded in 1856 under an oak tree near the river. Into the 1870s it was basically just a frontier trading post, with a small number of business establishments, a post office, and a few homes. Iron deposits were found in northwest Llano County in the 1890s, and Llano was expected to become the “Pittsburgh of the West.” The population reached 7,000 in 1890 (vs. under 4000 today). Unfortunately the mineral resources proved unable to be commercially exploitable, and the boom faded. Industries like granite finishing and cattle shipping came and went throughout the 20th century, and now the town predominately depends on tourism for its income.

7 Things to Do in Llano, TX

What I love about Llano is it is fully its own place. It’s not trying to be like every other tourist destination in the country, unlike Fredericksburg, which feels like every other tourist destination I’ve ever been to. Here’s what I suggest you do while you’re there to have a unique Central Texas experience:

Check out the courthouse and historic downtown. When we were there, there was even a parade and a town bbq, which felt like the perfect small town America experience.

Stay at the Dabbs Hotel, a historic railroad hotel built in 1907.

Go to Fuel Coffee Shop, a nonprofit coffee shop in the heart of town.

Try the pizza at Tommy’s Mesquite Flamed Pizza. These guys are amazing. When I was there there last year, they gave us both amazing pizza and amazing service, even letting us hang out on property after closing and leaving their cozy porch lights on for us. It’s BYOB, so grab a bottle of wine at the drive-through liquor store in town, Steve’s Liquor, and hang out.

 

Go look at the Bald Eagles nesting near town.

Collect Llanite, a beautiful mineral with chunks of the rare blue quartz found only in Llano County. (There’s also a great little rock shop in town called Enchanted Rocks and Jewelry that I adore.)

Go to some adorable little shops. This includes Texana Outfitters, where I bought this beautiful art that is now hanging in my bedroom. (The woman who was working behind the front desk was actually the daughter of the artist, J. Mason. I love it so much.)

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