As a former tourist and now a full time resident of Fredericksburg, I want to say that yes, Fredericksburg is geared for tourists in many ways. However, let me give an overview of what the guests of the B&B we own here have to say about Fredericksburg in general.
1. How wonderful it is to escape the city and come to a small and quaint town where the traffic is not horrendous and the atmosphere is still "small town".
2. They don't come just to shop. They love going downtown while here, but they also love going to the museums, Enchanted Rock, the wonderful restaurants here and taking the lovely drives all around the town. Willow City Loop is a favorite destination of many.
3. Fredericksburg is full of so many super places to stay. The Bed & Breakfasts, private guesthouses and the wonderful Hanger Hotel offer guests a huge variety of unusual places to stay. So many of our guests love coming back here after a day of sight-seeing and shopping and just relaxing. Our nights are quiet here in Fredericksburg and that makes for a wonderful night's sleep. There is a peacefulness here long gone from the larger towns and cities many of our visitors live in.
We have guests who return again and again and then never want to go home. Fredericksburg is no doubt growing and there are more and more tourists who come ever year....but there is a good reason. It's charm and quaintness overide any concept of the "pricey tourist" concept in my mind.
Don't miss out on our lovely little town. Fredericksburg is a memory maker.