Visiting Amish Country, Museums, Shopping, Amusement Parks & More in Lancaster, PA

There is so much to see and do in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I live only about 30 minutes from the area and have visited many times and done many different things. There are quaint Amish attractions, museums, shopping, and amusement parks to see!

Lancaster, PA is originally Amish-country. There are still many Amish farms and families that live in Lancaster. One way you can explore this lifestyle is through the Amish House and Farm Tour. Located right in Lancaster, this place is amazing! You can visit the farm house, a one room schoolhouse and the farms. You can go for a buggy ride and you can check out the real Amish shops. You can taste authentic Amish foods from these shops including a wonderful shoofly pie among other items. There are probably other farm and Amish tours but this is the one I've been on and it is a a really great place to visit.

If you are more interested in museums, there are several to choose from. The Hand-On House is a childrens museum and includes lots of things for children to touch and play with and explore. It includes exhibits such as a grocery store, a farm area, and a machine shop among others. It is geared for kids through age 10 but my 11 year old daughter has enjoyed it as well! The Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum is a very different type of museum and a wonderful place to visit if you are interested in this type of attraction. The quilts are extraordinary and one of a kind. In short, they are pretty amazing!!! In addition, Lancaster has it's own Art Museum and several other smaller museums that would be fun to viist. Do check hours of operation because many are not open on Sundays and others have limited hours

There are a lot of shopping opportunities in Lancaster, PA. There are many Amish shops and one simply has to drive up and down the main highway, Route 30 to see such shops. Several are associated with restaurants such as the Shady Maple Restaurant and shops. Another huge buffet type Amish restaurant is Millers and there are several Amish shops located there as well! These stores sell such things as hand made goods such as quilts. And, if you like bargains, there are mainstream outlet stores in Lancaster as well. The Tanger Outlets have many stores where you can buy clothing,shoes, kitchen items, toys, books, and all sorts of other items.

As far as amusement parks, Dutch Wonderland park is also right on the main road, Route 30, in Lancaster. The park features rides and games for kids. It is mainly geared for the under 12 set as it does nto have huge roller coaster or thrill rides but it is a lot of fun. It also has a water park area that is great for those hot summer days. Duke the Dragon and the Princess are often seen wandering around the park and participate in activities. There are some several shoes that can be seen at the park each summer. As for winter time, The Carribbean Indoor Water Park and the Willow Valley Resort both offer indoor water park venues for those who enjoy water amusement parks These are available year round and make a great get-away on their own.

In addition to these attractions, there are others in nearby towns as well making this a great location to do lots of different activities. The train lovers will love Strasburg, about 20 minutes away, and Hershey, PA is only about 90 minutes away with a larger amusement park and Chocolate World. So much to see and do!