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Begin Planning Your Visit to Lancaster
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After you’ve spent just a few days in the Pennsylvania Dutch country, you might never want to leave!
We love the place we’ve called home for the past fourteen years. We are surrounded by pristine farmland, friendly down-home people, and have gotten to know our Amish and Mennonite “neighbors.” My two children have lived their whole lives here, and even my wife, a native Philadelphian, has been converted to our beautiful rural surroundings.
A word of caution though. . .
If you stick to the interstate and main highways, you’ll drive right through our County and miss all of its quaint charm. So you’ll have to slow down just a bit, and we’ll show you how to get off the main arteries, and get onto the back roads so you can really discover the allure of Pennsylvania Dutch country.
There are many reasons why people visit here. Some are for the more popular and busy tourist spots. We won’t steer you away from those for the reasons that be, but we will make it our business to point out the less traveled places us locals like to frequent.
Lancaster County is located in south-central Pennsylvania a little over 60 miles west of Philadelphia, and about 70 miles north from Baltimore. We’re also pretty close to Hershey and Gettysburg. In fact, it’s only about a 3 to 3 ½ hour drive from New York City.
So, what are some of our favorite activities to do and places to go? Well, the Pennsylvania Dutch country has much to offer all ages which we will introduce you to on this website, such as:
- Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the farmland as we travel through places where the Amish and Mennonite still use age-old methods to farm
- Farmers’ markets and road-side stands stocked with the very best local farm-fresh produce
- Flea markets and yard sales
- Antique shopping in Adamstown, the Antiques Capital U.S.A.
- Watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset from just about anywhere in Lancaster County
- Taking the kids to an amusement park attraction for a day of fun at Hersheypark® or Dutch Wonderland®
- Riding the steam powered Strasburg Rail Road
- Working our way through one of the many corn mazes in our area
- A night at the ballpark to watch some good minor league baseball with the Lancaster Barnstormers
- Fine dining on a date with my wife, or taking the family to a kid-friendly restaurant
- Exploring museums, art galleries and studios
- Catching a show onstage at one of the many theaters
- Spending a day or evening at one of the many festivals held throughout the year
- Outlet shopping
We want you the experience the real Lancaster County, the one we live in. We’re going to show you the don’t miss places, as well as the secret places those of us who call this beautiful countryside home.
But, before we get going, one last thing. . .
It’s pronounced Lancaster, not Lancaster.
O.K., so they both look the same, but really, the correct sound is as follows: Lank-uh-ster with the emphasis on the letter K. We can always tell those of you who aren’t from the area when you pronounce it as Lan-caster with the emphasis on the letter N.
Anyway, no harm done. Now, where to start?
| Lancaster Blog The Lancaster Blog keeps you up-to-date with all additions and changes to the lancaster-travel-guide.com Web site. Subscribe here. |
| Lancaster County Pennsylvania Attractions If you have the time and energy, Pennsylvania Dutch country has enough attractions to keep you busy from when the roosters wake up until the cows come home. |
| Shopping in Pennsylvania Dutch Country This Lancaster shopping page points you in the right direction to find antiques, art, baskets, books, clothing, gifts and collectibles, home accessories, furniture, jewelry, and factory outlets. |
| Tours of Lancaster County PA By buggy or bus, bicycle seat or balloon basket, horse or four-wheeled horsepower - or your own two feet - a great way to discover PA Dutch country is on one of these tours. |
| Best Lancaster Hotels and Motels If you are looking for lodging in Lancaster County PA, you have come to the right place. Here, you will find a wide range of accommodation experiences, from hotels and motels, to inns and resorts. |
| Jobs Searches for Southeastern PA: Lancaster County Look for jobs in Lancaster County, and the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Provides links to regional and local online job searches. |
| Buy Real Estate in Southeastern PA: Lancaster County Look for real estate in Lancaster County, and the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Provides links to regional and local online realtors. |
| The Best Bed and Breakfasts in Lancaster County Choosing from one of Lancaster Counties bed and breakfasts is the hard part; locating them is not. The numerous inns located in our area emphasize the history and beauty of Pennsylvania Dutch country. |
| Farm House Stays in Lancaster County PA Nature did not intend for us to rise and shine every morning to the clanging of an alarm clock. That is why there are roosters. A farm house stay can be a great wake-up call in more ways than one. |
| Check Out These Lancaster Attractions for Family Fun No matter what time of year you come to visit, you won’t run out of interesting Lancaster attractions to see. Take an Amish buggy ride, visit the Strasburg Rail Road, Dutch Wonderland, and more. |
| Outlet Shopping In Lancaster County Pennsylvania People don’t just come to Lancaster County for the beautiful scenery. Many come for the great outlet shopping. From clothes and shoes, to toys, and food, to home and electronics, you’ll find it here. |
| Lancaster Museums Provide History, Culture, and Fun! You can touch, taste and truly experience the rich past that gives guests in Central Pennsylvania the unique sense of place at these Lancaster museums and historic sites. |
| Lancaster Farm Markets: Farm Fresh Produce and More The aroma of fresh baked goods, the rows of just-picked produce, and more await you at Lancaster County’s farm markets. Get there early for the best selection! |
| Contact Lancaster Travel Guide.com Contact us. |
| Bird in Hand Pennsylvania: Bears, Buggies and Bakeries Of the many unique village names that dot the Amish countryside, one of the more interesting is Bird in Hand. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| Strasburg – America’s Train Town With an eclectic mix of attractions, shops, and museums, Strasburg offers an enjoyable experience for everyone. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| Blue Ball: Unique Shops Off the Beaten Path The northeastern part of Lancaster County, which includes Blue Ball, offers many intriguing small towns and attractions. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| New Holland: Unique Shops Off the Beaten Path The northeastern part of Lancaster County, which includes New Holland, offers many intriguing small towns and attractions. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| You’ll Love Leola if You’re Looking for Amish Quilts The northeastern part of Lancaster County, which includes Leola, offers many intriguing small towns and attractions. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| Historic Lititz: A Small Town Treasure Lititz has the small town charm that has made Lancaster County’s villages famous across the nation. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| Enjoy Shopping in Paradise Paradise has always offered a little bit of everything to travelers. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| The Village of Intercourse – the Heart of Amish Country Few towns in Pennsylvania catch the fancy of visitors as much as the village of Intercourse. Start here for an itinerary of things to do, and places to go. |
| Live Theater in Lancaster County, PA Lancaster County’s fantastic array of live theater will make you part of the action, transport you back in time, and open your eyes to new worlds. |
| Antique Shopping in Lancaster County, PA Find your treasure while antique shopping in Lancaster County, PA. Start here for a listing of the best antiques, markets, auctions, and collectibles spots in the area. |
| Best Lancaster Hotels If you’re looking for Lancaster hotels for your lodging needs, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll find a wide range of accommodation experiences, from hotels to motels, from inns to resorts. |
| Best B and B in Lancaster County Choosing a B and B (Bed and Breakfast) is the hard part; locating them, isn’t. The numerous inns located in our area emphasize the history and beauty of Pennsylvania Dutch country. |
