Kickin' It Up in the Amish Country:                                            Pennsylvania's Warm Welcome for Families by Teresa Thompson

It’s never too early to start planning your summer vacation. In fact, you should already have it planned. Travel experts agree the best time to plan summer travel is during the doldrums of winter. The explanation for this is two-fold. First, it gives you something warm to look forward to (and probably helps to prevent the dreaded “SAD”—Seasonal Affective Disorder) and also, summer reservations fill up fast, especially in “family friendly” locations like theme parks, beach resorts and tourist-y summer towns (like ours).

If you haven’t already planned for your family’s summer getaway this year, I have a fun, educational, inexpensive idea to offer: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This is a tried-and-true spot for serious family activity and it’s not going to cost a lot of money, either. How do I know? I’ve been going to Lancaster every year since I was 8, and I’m now 38. Believe me when I say that by now, I’ve perfected the Lancaster, Pennsylvania vacation.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is known for, among other things, its large settlement of Amish people. The Amish are a religious group who live in settlements throughout the county. The Old Order Amish are a group of about 16,000-18,000 people living in the Lancaster area. The Amish stress humility, family and community, and above all else, separation from the world. The Amish ways are steeped in tradition and they still live like their nineteenth-century ancestors did so many years ago. They farm the land, dress in old-style fashion and transport themselves by horse and buggy. They are one of the key reasons Lancaster County is so fascinating to the many visitors and tourists who flock there each year.

But Lancaster, Pennsylvania is so much more than just an Amish settlement, and if you are interested in vacationing here, the first thing you need to do is call 1-800-PA-DUTCH and order your Lancaster County Vacation Planning Guide (also available on line at 800padutch.com). Inside, you’ll find a wealth of information on lodging, dining and activities all over Lancaster County, plus some great coupons to use to make your vacation even more affordable.

Things To Do

You’re in Amish Country, and there’s no shortage of Amish things-to-do in Lancaster. You can learn all about the Amish heritage and people at the Amish House and Farm, take a horse and buggy ride and even meet some of the wonderful Amish people themselves.

Another favorite treat for children is to visit Dutch Wonderland, a fantastic amusement park owned by Hershey Entertainment Co. (yes, the chocolate people!). Unlike many traditional parks, Dutch Wonderland is best suited for children ages 12 and under. They have great rides, games, shows, and a brand-new water park. Admission is $29.95, but here’s our little secret: if you purchase a one-day ticket, you are allowed in the previous evening to “preview” the park. After 5pm, the lines are shorter, and you are able to get some respite from the sometimes brutal midday heat. We’ve found that the “Park Preview” works well for everyone—even the children are tired out by the time Dutch Wonderland closes at 8pm! Then, you can still stroll the park at your leisure the entire next day.

The best part of my Lancaster vacation? Shopping! Lancaster is home to some of the best outlet shopping in the Northeast. They have two large outlet malls, Tanger and Rockvale, located just minutes from one another. Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Stride-Rite, Nike, Sony, you will find them all here. One reason I like to travel here in August? Back to school shopping at rock-bottom prices!

In Lancaster, you will also find a vast array of other family friendly activities: miniature golf, theatre, museums (our favorite is the Pennsylvania Train Museum in Strasburg), farm stands, corn mazes, etc. And if you still need more entertainment, Hershey Park, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania is a mere thirty minute drive away!

Places to Stay

Up and down Lincoln Highway in Lancaster (Route 30), there are a host of lodging choices, and all at affordable prices. Since our children are young and the lure of Dutch Wonderland looms in the distance, we stay at Country Inns and Suites by Carlson. Room rates are very reasonable ($99-$129 range), and include a free, very-ample continental breakfast. They offer standard rooms, one and two-bedroom suites, an indoor pool, playground, and the location is perfect—directly across the street from Dutch Wonderland. Other lodging choices include the Lancaster Host Resort, Willow Valley, Hampton Inn, Best Western Eden Resort, Howard Johnson Inn, and a variety of bed and breakfasts.

Good Food and More

There are plenty of places to dine with your family while in Lancaster. As in other tourist destinations, you will find all your typical chain restaurants on Route 30. Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday’s, Friendly’s, McDonald’s, they are all there. But, while in Lancaster, you simply must sample some of the fabulous Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, including the signature Dutch dessert, shoo-fly pie. If you’re hungry, and I mean hungry, Miller’s Smorgasbord is the place to go. Pay one price, and you can eat until you burst. Turkey with all the trimmings, three types of peel & eat shrimp, roast beef, salmon, chicken dumplings, a huge salad bar, and that’s just the beginning! Top it all off with one of the many selections from the dessert bar and you will definitely not leave hungry! Another unique dining experience is the Strasburg “Dinner Train”. You can have a nice dinner (complete with fine linens and crystal) aboard the dining car of an old-fashioned steam engine while it rides through rolling hills and picturesque farmlands.

Other unique places to dine include Good & Plenty, where you will sit at a table and feast  family-style on baked ham, turkey, roast beef, potatoes, salads and great desserts. Lapp’s Restaurant, a diner-type eatery serves Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, along with more traditional American fare.

If you’re searching for a fun, reasonably-priced, summer vacation this year, I suggest you look no further. From our Hudson Valley home, it takes approximately 3.5 hours to drive to Lancaster, which is perfect for an overnight excursion or a week-long family vacation. Even after 30 years, I still love it!

Go Back to Features.