Top 10 Things to See & Do in Lancaster Pennsylvania!

Top 10 Things To See and Do in Lancaster Pennsylvania!

Welcome back Joy who has previously blogged on this site on Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand! She is back to tell us about her trip to Lancaster Pennsylvania including Pennsylvania Dutch Country!

From Joy:

Lancaster Pennsylvania is the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. At 2½ hours from Washington DC, less than 3 hours from New York City, and 1½ hours from Philadelphia, it’s a great destination for a day trip or an extended stay. Many are drawn by the horse drawn buggies, bearded men in hats, and ladies in long dresses and bonnets, but there’s more to it! Here are just a few things to do and see:

#1- Amish Village Tour– Get first-hand experience of the Amish lifestyle with a guided tour explaining the history of the local Amish. Afterward, you have a chance to tour of 12 acres of Village grounds on your own.  Visit theamishvillage.net for more information.

#2- Li’l Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm-Your kids will love the saddle rides and cart rides with these adorable miniature horses. They also offer workshops on grooming and feeding. At the country store you can watch the woodworkers in action and purchase a variety of Amish crafts. Visit Lilcountrystoreandminifarm.com for more information.

#3- Buggy Ride- Experience Amish Country as the Amish do on your very own buggy ride. Check this site for options aaabuggyrides.com.

#4- Dutch Wonderland!– An amusement park in Pennsylvania Dutch country? Yes, Dutch Wonderland bills itself as “A Kingdom for Kids!” There are 44 acres of fun for young kids, including roller coasters, water slides, a castle and live entertainment. There is also a year-round 15 acre campground on site with cabins, full hook-ups, and tent sites. Visit dutchwonderland.com for more information.

#5-Outlets– If you travel all that way, you may as well hit up the outlets, especially since most clothing in PA is not subject to sales tax. Rockvale Outlets is a 560,000 square foot outlet with over 90 stores like Pottery Barn, Gymboree and Bose. Not enough? Tanger Outlets has another 60+ stores, such as Nautica, Coach and Nike.

#6-Sight & Sound– Sight & Sound is the largest Christian theater in the U.S. With a first class sound system and a 300 ft. wrap around stage, they spare no expense to bring you stories straight from the Bible. And, they always feature a large talented professional cast and a wide variety of live animals. This is not just at Christmas, this is year- round! I have seen several shows here and have been wowed by them all. While there are other theaters and play houses in the area, this one is a must see. Busloads of people from all over the region make the trek to experience a Sight & Sound show. Their current production is “Samson,” which runs through December 2016. Visit their website for more information.

 #7- Antiquing– If antique shopping is your thing, there are many shops and antique malls to choose from. In fact, Lancaster County has one of the largest concentrations of antiques in the country. The Strasburg Antique Market, the Old Mill Antique store, and the Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall are just a few.

#8-Furniture– Amish country is a destination for finely crafted Amish furniture. The Amish are known for being exceptional craftsmen, with skills passed down from one generation to the next. They specialize in high quality handcrafted and hand finished furniture from slow growth hardwoods. Whether you’re in the market for a rocking chair, cabinets, or an entire bedroom set, check out one of Amish stores such as Peaceful Valley Furniture for quality wares.

#9- National Christmas Center– Love Christmas? How about 20,000 square feet of Christmas shopping and exhibits open nearly year round? You will not want to miss this magical place. Visit nationalchristmascenter.com for more information.

#10- Food– While in Amish country, you must absolutely take advantage of Amish dining. Whether smorgasbord style, or family style, you will enjoy the fresh, farm to table offerings: fresh vegetables, made from scratch dumplings, fresh farm raised chicken, and the list goes on. Good ’N Plenty Restaurant is a favorite for family style Amish dining.  Make sure to stop at one of the markets to fill your basket for foods to take home as well. You won’t want to miss the fresh smoked sausages, natural cheeses, spreads and jams. For some of the best baked goods around, visit the Dutch Haven Shoo-Fly Pie Bakery, which has been famous for its Shoo-Fly pie since the 1940’s. dutchhaven.com

This is just a sampling! There’s so much more. Visit the Discover Lancaster website for more information!

Thank you Joy for all this great information on Lancaster Pennsylvania! Have you been there? If so share your thoughts with us below!