Experience Pennsylvania Dutch Country with Our Guide to the Best Things To Do
When you’re longing for a gentler place and a slower pace, we’re your haven in the midst of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Each day, we direct our guests toward unforgettable experiences here in Lancaster County, where America’s oldest and largest Amish community thrives and shows us all a simpler way of life. As you’re planning your visit, here are some must-see attractions, along with our favorite tastes of the region (mmm… shoofly pie), as well as our picks for where to shop for Amish-made goods and other local delights.
Discover All That Makes Our Region Unique
Painting by: Anna Hoover local artist
The Amish Farm & House
For the best introduction to Lancaster County’s Amish people, visit the oldest attraction in America dedicated to Amish heritage. On a guided farmhouse tour, you’ll learn why the Amish do not use electricity… and more. Photo ops abound on a countryside bus tour. When you return, meet artisans, visit the farm animals, and step inside the one-room schoolhouse.
Abe's Buggy Rides
These rides through the countryside are as authentic as it gets. In business for more than 55 years, we recommend Abe’s because the company’s tours are private and affordable. Five options are available, from a short spin that will give you a feel for how the Amish travel to a longer jaunt to visit an Amish craft store and bake shop.
Taste What's Cooking in Amish Country
Miller’s has been a part of the local fabric since 1929, and it’s still the place to try Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. Their traditional buffet is an all-you-can-eat affair, and Anna Miller’s chicken & waffles are always one of the biggest highlights. It’s literally soup to nuts here if you finish with warm chocolate pecan pie. However, Lancaster offers so much more. You see, we grow the food here and many of our top restaurants have discovered that. So, if you have the taste for something a little better, we’ve got you covered. Places like Plough, Josephine’s and Luca will surely entice your desire to enjoy an over-the-top farm to table experience that only Lancaster county can deliver.
Fine Dining
Central Market
Lancaster is home to the oldest continuously operated public farmers’ market in America, and it is truly a foodie’s paradise. Open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, you’ll love all there is to nibble, savor and shop for, and you’ll appreciate being in a place where food has brought a community together since 1730.
Explore Our Cultural Riches
If antiquing’s your thing, there are two prime locales in our area you’ll want to know about. Start your hunt in Adamstown, which is known to many as the Antiques Capital of the U.S. The Adamstown Antique Mile—a stretch of Route 272 between Lancaster and Reading—features both independent shops and antique centers so large some house more than 500 dealers. Make a trip to Columbia, Pennsylvania, too, where multi-dealer antique complexes are housed inside antique brick buildings.
Arts in the City
(Painting by: Anna Hoover local artist)
History Through a President's Eyes
America’s 15th and only bachelor president, James Buchanan, purchased Wheatland on the outskirts of Lancaster eight years before he won the nation’s top office. He retired here with his country on the brink of Civil War. Tours of the Federal-style mansion allow you to know a personal side of the PA-born president who many historians deem the worst we’ve ever had.
Take in a Show
Lancaster County knows how to put on a show. From spectacular large-scale productions and Broadway favorites to dinner theater, concerts, comedy, and seasonal performances, there’s plenty to choose from. Whether you’re planning an evening out or looking to add a matinee to your itinerary, these local theaters offer some of the area’s best live entertainment.
Sight & Sound Theaters
Known for bringing biblical stories to life on an extraordinary scale, Sight & Sound Theatres combines enormous sets, live animals, music, and elaborate special effects in its 2,000-seat theater. The productions are immersive and visually spectacular, making the theater one of Lancaster County’s most distinctive attractions. Even guests who don’t regularly attend theater are often surprised by the sheer scale of the experience.
Photo Credit: Gabe McMullen
Fulton Theatre
Located in downtown Lancaster, the historic Fulton Theatre is one of the country’s oldest continuously operating theaters and a National Historic Landmark. Its professional productions range from Broadway musicals to dramas, comedies, and seasonal favorites. The beautifully restored Victorian theater makes an evening at the Fulton as much about the setting as the performance.
Photo Credit: Fulton Theatre
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre combines a traditional dinner-theater experience with professionally produced Broadway-style musicals and comedies. Guests enjoy dinner before settling in for the evening’s performance, making it an easy all-in-one night out. It’s a Lancaster favorite for visitors who enjoy classic musical theater in a relaxed setting.
Photo Credit: Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
American Music Theatre
American Music Theatre offers something different from Lancaster’s traditional theaters, presenting touring musicians, comedians, tribute acts, and other live entertainment throughout the year. Its annual Christmas production has also become a Lancaster County holiday tradition. With a constantly changing schedule, it’s always worth checking who will be appearing during your stay.
Photo Credit: American Music Theatre
Experience One-of-a-Kind Attractions
This Lancaster County working farm is the best place for true immersion in the Amish way of life. You can opt for a simple tour and hayride, but the real joy here is helping with spring or summer planting and getting your hands dirty. For a behind-the-scenes experience, book the Farmhand Tour, and help the Lapp family tend to animals and complete evening chores.
Lititz
About a half-hour drive from the inn, discover this enchanting village settled by Moravians from Germany in the 18th century. While Lititz’s unique historical character has been preserved, its downtown is now a trendy and vibrant kaleidoscope of cafes, shops and restaurants.
Make Time for Play
Buy yourself some peanuts and Cracker Jack, and cheer on our local Atlantic League baseball team. When the Stormers take the field at Clipper Magazine Stadium, it’s always a nostalgic good time. Check the promo calendar for Thirsty Thursday deals, giveaways and nights with post-game fireworks.
Turkey Hill Experience
Fulfill your childhood wishes in Columbia, PA, where you can be an ice cream maker for a day. A highlight of this immersive experience is creating your own Turkey Hill ice cream flavor in the company’s Taste Lab. You’ll also be able to milk mechanical cows and create your own TV commercial to share on social media.
