Raising our family in Philadelphia meant we often made the 70-mile drive to Lancaster County, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It’s a great family destination and offers beautiful scenery and a view of the living history of the Amish people. The Amish are a devout Christian group who originally came to this country in the early 1700s. Even today, they shun modern conveniences, wear traditional clothes, and use only horse-drawn buggies for transportation.
We enjoyed driving through the countryside to eat the wonderful food and experience the rural lifestyle, Amish traditions, and other tourist attractions.
How to Get There
Lancaster is in south-central Pennsylvania, about 70 miles from Philadelphia, 160 miles from New York City, and 100 miles from Washington, D.C. It can be reached by many major highways, including U.S. Route 30 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Lancaster Airport (LNS) in Lititz, Pennsylvania, has daily flights by Cape Air to and from many cities on the East Coast.
Lancaster Attractions
The area is popularly known for its 18th century Pennsylvania Dutch origins and current tourist attractions, as well as the nearby Amish and Mennonite communities. On our visits, we always enjoyed buggy rides, working farm tours, family-style restaurants, handmade gifts, pretzels, homemade candy, and dozens of other delights. I recommend just pulling into places along the road you find interesting.
Dutch Wonderland is an amusement park for little kids that has been there for years. We took our kids there 30 years ago, and it remains a local favorite. It has bumper cars, a log flume, and other family-friendly rides, along with many attractions just for little kids like merry-go-rounds.
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Highway E
Lancaster, PA 17602
dutchwonderland.com
For a more organized Amish farm tour, the Amish Farm and House offers a thorough presentation about local history on a real, working farm. It’s been open since 1955 and is a great introduction to the Amish people and their unique lifestyle.
Amish Farm and House
2395 Lincoln Highway E
Lancaster, PA 17602
amishfarmandhouse.com
Our Favorite Restaurants
Lancaster County restaurants offer plentiful selections of farm-fresh food at reasonable prices. We enjoyed the local family-style eateries. That usually means large servings at tables for 10 and never-ending fill-ups. We love the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord. One of our favorites here is the $35 complete buffet dinner, which includes fresh sausages, pot roast, German potato salad, apple fritters, and shoo fly pie.
Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant & Smorgasbord
2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird in Hand, PA 17505
bird-in-hand.com .
Intercourse Village Restaurant is an authentic Amish restaurant, with Amish and Mennonite staff serving in local costumes. It’s a favorite place for local families who want good food at low prices. Among the great dishes are old-fashioned ham steak, chicken croquettes, baked sausage, and delicious homemade desserts. There’s also a daily all-you-can-eat special entree.
Intercourse Village Restaurant
Queen Road, Intercourse, PA 17534
amishcountryinns.com
Our Favorite Hotel
Because Lancaster is such a popular tourist area, there are scores of hotels, motels, campsites, and other facilities available to visitors. We’ve always found the Hotel Brunswick to be the most convenient, well-appointed, and economical hotel. A genuine Colonial inn that has been located in downtown Lancaster since 1776, it’s within walking distance of many restaurants, the Central Market, Fulton Opera House, and shopping. Rates are from $59 per night.
Hotel Brunswick
151 N. Queen St., Lancaster PA 17603
hotelbrunswick.com
You can follow travel writer Ted Sherman on Twitter @travel4seniors and check out his blog travel4seniors.com.
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