An Itinerary for a Day Trip to Amish Country, Lancaster County, PA

Amish Country in Lancaster County, PA, is the perfect day trip. If you've never been to Amish County you are in for a treat. Scenic farmland stretches for as far as the eye can see and visitors can sneak a peak into the lives of the local Amish people.

If it's shopping you are hoping to do, then you are going to the right location when heading towards Amish Country. Interested in having a nice meal? Delicious homemade goods await you. And there are hundreds of attractions and entertainment venues in Amish Country to enjoy as well.

I've been to Amish Country in Lancaster numerous times since I only live less than two hours away. And I have to say - you can never see everything and you always feel like you are missing something with so much to do.

I've put together a weekend getaway agenda for you that I think you'll enjoy. But don't limit yourself to just these things. Branch out and stop along the road at the homemade root beer stand, visit the local country store, or just stop to take pictures of the scenic landscape in Lancaster.

7:30 a.m. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Waffle House on Rt. 30.
2499 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA
1-717-207-0724

9:00 a.m. Visit Kitchen Kettle Village
Rt. 340, Intercourse, PA
1-800-732-3538
Open year-round from Monday through Saturday Kitchen Kettle Village in Lancaster County has almost 40 specialty shops filled with unique wares like pottery, leather, quilted bags, country-style lighting, handmade quilts, and engraved signs. Be sure to stop by their world famous canning kitchen offering homemade jams, jellies, dressings, sauces, and more. Part of the fun is sampling all the goodies! Kitchen Kettle also offers a café, an ice cream stand, kettle corn popcorn stand, and a sit-down restaurant serving their homemade condiments. A variety of festivals and activities run throughout the year.

12:00 p.m. Have lunch at the Kling House Restaurant at Kitchen Kettle Village
Enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the dining room or on the outdoor terrace through Labor Day. All condiments made in the canning kitchen are served at the restaurant.

1:30 p.m. Shopping at the Outlets in Lancaster County, PA
Rockvale Outlets
35 S. Willowdale Drive
Lancaster, PA 17602

And

Tanger Outlets (just 5 minutes from the Rockvale Outlets!)
311 Stanley K. Tanger Blvd
Lancaster, PA 17602-1467

Enjoy shopping for name brand clothing and house hold items at over 100 outlets at the Rockvale Outlet center and over 60 name brand outlets at the Tanger Outlets center. Outlets include famous names such as: Liz Claiborne, Nine West, Bath and Body Works, Izod, Coach Factory, Calvin Klein, Pottery Barn, and many more. Cafes and fast food available.

5:00 p.m. Dinner at Shady Maple Smorgasbord
1324 Main St., East Earl, PA
About 20 minutes away from the Outlets is Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the number one buffet in the general Lancaster area. With two lines of buffets that seem to stretch on for miles, each side often has something different - and all items are homemade and delicious! You can also make an entire meal off of the fresh food being prepared at six different grills. You can have just about whatever you want to drink and the desserts are out of this world. Be sure to shop downstairs at the Shady Maple gift shop which will take quite a while to cover, and stop by the Shady Maple supermarket to pick up a few things to take home.

7:00 p.m.Head to Sight and Sound Theater for a 7:30 show.
A Christian theater that produces spectacular shows that compete with Broadway! Sets are realistic, actors and actresses are talented, the show itself is inspiring, and live animals grace each show. Shows vary through the year and have included Noah, The Beginning, The Miracle of Christmas, Ruth, and many more. Behind the scenes tours are available at certain times of the day.

9:15 p.m.Check into the Fulton Steamboat Hotel if you are tired or head home
Rts. 30 & 896, Lancaster, PA
A hotel in the shape of a ship with a nautical and Victorian style combined. Choose from various style rooms with king sized beds with a sleeper sofa, queen sized beds, and rooms with bunk beds for the kids. The hotel has a restaurant, tavern, an indoor pool, a Whirpool, a duck pond, a gift shop, exercise room, and arcade. And the location is perfect! It's just across the street from the outlets and down the street from the Sight and Sound Theater!