The Amish fled Europe during the early 18th century and settled in this part of the state, as well as other parts of the US. In addition to being deeply religious, they strive to live as simply as possible, avoiding modern devices and electronics and relying on simple and old fashioned techniques. If you drive anywhere in Lancaster County, you will almost certainly have to slow down at some point for a traditional Amish horse and buggy.
Several homes and museums offer a glimpse into the Amish way of life, including the 10 room Amish farm and house in Lancaster, and for the ultimate authentic experience, an Amish bed and breakfast is recommended. The Amish Village near Strasburg also offers the chance to tour several homes and a farm, and to experience and better understand the daily life of the local Amish people.
One of the best things about visiting this area is the food. Several restaurants serve authentic Amish food, which is plain and simple, yet delicious. Shoofly pie, a sweet dessert is one of the specialties of the area, and lavish buffets Like the one at the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn are popular. In addition to the food, the shopping is also excellent there and some of the best buys include quilts and homemade furniture. Antique and collectible shops abound, although I hear that one of the best places for antiques is Adamstown.
There are plenty of family oriented attractions, making Lancaster County PA a great family vacation destination. At the top of our list was Dutch Wonderland. Dutch Wonderland is a traditional amusement park with over 30 rides which is geared to younger children. We also visited Cherry Crest Adventure Farm which was a ton of fun for the whole family.
In the nearby town of Strasburg, which is the home of several railway themed attractions, We visited the Strasburg Railroad and the Choo Choo barn.
I will be writing reviews about all of the places we visited so please stay tuned!
Have you taken any mini-vacations lately? Where did you go?