One of our favorite leisurely activities to recommend to guests staying with us at the Inn and Spa at Intercourse Village is to take a scenic drive on Lancaster County’s back roads and through our quaint small towns. You never know what you might discover – like the countless roadside farm stands that offer seasonal produce and homemade goods straight from the fields and farm kitchens to customers like you. These are the hidden gems of the Lancaster County countryside that remind us of the simplicity we all crave.
The fall harvest will yield an abundance of root vegetables, apples and pears, cranberries, pumpkins and squash, potatoes, leeks, fennel and more – perfect ingredients to take home and prepare for your Thanksgiving meal. Whether at a simple table set up at the edge of an Amish farm or at a local farmers market, you'll find not only farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, but also made-from-scratch baked goods, dairy products and other homemade treats.
Farm stands and markets are an excellent way to get a taste of what Lancaster County has to offer. Start by checking out those closest to our historic inn. Zook's Roadside Stand is touted as the oldest roadside stand in Lancaster County and is just 2 minutes east of the Inn and Spa on the Old Philadelphia Pike. Head west on the Pike and you'll find Busy Bee's Farm Market. Located on an Amish farm, you'll want to pop into their craft shed to see all of their handcrafted art pieces. Continue west on the Pike to Kauffman's Fruit Farm and Market, and don't leave without tasting their apple cider and cider donuts.
With these three farm stands just a stone's throw from our front doorstep, you can imagine how many markets you'll come across when you start exploring Lancaster's farmlands. Expand your search to neighboring towns, including Leola, New Holland and Ronks, for all things homegrown and homemade.
In Leola, check out Bubbling Spring Produce, Glenbrook Farm Market, King's Fresh Produce, and Stoltzfus Produce and Market Fare.
In New Holland, visit Hammond School Farm Market, Garden Spot Farm Market, EverFresh Produce, and Beiler's Fruit Farm.
In Ronks, go to Amish-owned Countryside Road Stand, Fisher's Festivals, and Pop's Produce Stand.