Going to Lancaster this week any suggestions?

[ADisneyQueen]

It's not Disney, but will have to do until next year. We're going to Dutch Wonderland, Landis museum, and the Christmas shop/display in Paradise. Anyone have any suggestions for us for attractions or restaurants?

 

[htmom]

If your kids like trains ride Strasburg Raliroad, Choo Choo Barn, the Railroad museum.

Or
Try the Hands on House too! We go about three or four times a month!
http://www.handsonhouse.org/



Oh how could I forget the Maize Maze at Cherry Crest Farm!

 

[mericletwins]

It's not Disney, but will have to do until next year. We're going to Dutch Wonderland, Landis museum, and the Christmas shop/display in Paradise. Anyone have any suggestions for us for attractions or restaurants?

I would add the Cherry Crest Farm Maize Maze. Alsolots of other stuff to do there.
http://www.cherrycrestfarm.com/


We go to Lancaster fairly frequently. Our favorite place to stay is Willow Valley. Lots of activities right at the resort and amazing breakfast buffet. Where are you staying?

 

[ADisneyQueen]

We are staying at the Best Western Eden Resort in a two bedroom suite.

 

[htmom]

My brother had his wedding reception at that hotel. It is very pretty.

 

[Kies99]

My suggestion is to NOT go to Dutch Wonderland. We went last year with a 3yo and a 4yo and they even thought the park was pretty sad.

Skip that and head over to Hershey instead. It's only about 30min from your hotel.

 

[GraysMom]

If you like shopping, check out the Rockvale Square Outlets and the Tanger Outlet Center (more expensive stores that RS). Both are located right on Rte 30, about 5 minutes apart. RS has a couple of different kids clothing stores if you're looking for back to school clothes/shoes.

If you're looking for a yummy dessert, check out the general store at the main intersection in Stasburg (turn off of Rte 30 and go back along the side of RS-you will see the Fulton Steamboat hotel on your left as well, go about 2 miles and you'll see the little store on the right hand corner). They have homemade ice cream and homemade waffle cones , both of which are very tasty! They also have a little candy section in the back and serve a limited breakfast as well. Have fun!

 

[mericletwins]

My suggestion is to NOT go to Dutch Wonderland. We went last year with a 3yo and a 4yo and they even thought the park was pretty sad.

Skip that and head over to Hershey instead. It's only about 30min from your hotel.

Really? My kids who were 5 and 4 at the time enjoyed it. I think if we went back now they would still be okay with it and they are 8 and 7. We just took it for what it was, a couple hour diversion. It is not really an amusement park. To me, it is more like an exaggerated playground with rides. For the OP, just don't set your expectations too high and compare it to a true amusement park. We have never gotten to the water play area because we have only been there in the fall. It looks amusing.

I do have to say my kids are fairly easily entertained though. They are as happy being on a playground as being in amusement park and they are also not thrill seekers. That may play a part.

 

[Kristineamb]

Eat @Good-n-Plenty! Served family style, home cooking...yummy!

 

[Disney Pal]

Lancaster is a great place! Dutch Wonderland was great!
Have a great time!!!

 

[ntink]

Shady Maple
http://www.shady-maple.com/

 

[shelly3girls]

Eat @Good-n-Plenty! Served family style, home cooking...yummy!

ITA

If there is a wait when you get there don't be too concerned. The place is HUGE and seats many people! Try to sit in the original farm house area though.

Plain and Fancy is a similar meal and very good also.

 

[kmjmom]

Another vote for Good and Plenty!! Yum Yum!!

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

for Good-N-Plenty!! Also, try Dienner's Resturant(right next to the giant yellow windmill) is also really good. It is right on Route 30 about 5 minutes from all the outlets. They have a great buffet at a reasonable cost. If you go for lunch I think it is only $7.95. they have the best baked chicken I have ever tasted. It just melts in your mouth!! DD loves their mashed potatoes! We will be there tomorrow for lunch I cant wait!!!

 

[Beccabunny]

Kitchen Kettle Village has little shops, buggy rides, and the BEST icecream (Lapp's). The best place for a buggy ride is at Plain and Fancy. They take you through the back roads to an Amish farm where you can buy delicious homemade cookies. Also, MANY stores, restaurants, and attractions in Lancaster are closed on Sunday, so you'll want to plan accordingly.

 

[ferrytale]

Shady Maple
http://www.shady-maple.com/

ITA! Yum...mmmm....haven't been there for a while, but so worth the hour drive

 

[jetprincess]

Hands on House in Lancaster! Loads of fun!

 

[3jsmommy]

We stayed at the Eden resort a month ago in a family suite, it was a great hotel at a great price! We loved it
We went to Dutch Wonderland & Hershey, DW was nice for little ones, easy to do ,no lines & we didn't do the water park part because we were there for a half day, but it looked cute.
One word of warning DO NOT eat dinner there. Maybe the pizza would be ok, but we got there in the afternoon & some of the places were closing, we tried to eat at the big counter service towards th back of the park(can't recall the name) it was dirty, filled w/ flies & all they had were really gross looking chicken nuggets & some chinese food that had been sitting in a chaffing dish all day
We RAN out of there & hit the Pizza Hut across the road!!
After going to Hershey we wouldn't go back to DW, but the kids liked it. The entertainment is really lacking, but entertaining in that it had DH & I laughing at it!
Enjoy the Eden, my kids loved the pool & we did the breakfast buffet & we all enjoyed it. Have Fun!!!!

 

[lovethattink]

Shady Maple
http://www.shady-maple.com/

Yes!!! Shady Maple is our favorite. We ate there twice in June while on vacation up there!! The kids loved the refillable slushies, and I just loved the food!! We ate there for lunch twice, we enjoyed it that much.

We went to Hershey Park, the new water park area called the Boardwalk was great. It kept the crowds away from the rides.

Dutch Wonderland is a great park for children who do not like thrill rides. There are no thrill rides at Dutch Wonderland. That park is a little bit more like Cypress Gardens. Hershey Park is more like Busch Gardens.

There is a amish family that has dining at their house. You can write to this family and reserve a spot at their dinner table. They don't charge for the meal, but there is a donation plate that goes around. Most people give $20.

Green Dragon is a great farmer's market in Ephrata that is open on Fridays. Root's is a great farmer's market that is open on Tuesdays in Lancaster.

I grew up in Lebanon County, but after college lived in Lancaster County for years, til we moved to Central Florida.

 

[2tinkersmom]

I live in Lancaster, barely a mile down the road from where you will be staying! We think its a pretty great place to be!

You should definitely do the Hands on House - it is right next to the Landis Valley Museum. I think it would be feasible to do both in the same day, my girls are now 8 and 13 and they both still ask to go there once in a while.

Your resort is really nice and an easy location to get to other things. Our mall is about five minutes away, which would give you some other eating options like TGI Fridays, Damon's, Olive Garden, etc.

If you are going to Paradise, you will find some great shops on the way if you take RT. 340 to get there. There is a farmers market, some old fashioned general stores, quilt shops, a bakery all right together in Paradise. Then you can continue on that road past Paradise and it takes you to Intercourse which is where Kitchen Kettle Village is. That's a neat place for everyone to enjoy and I think they have both a kids playground area and a petting zoo there now.

Dutch Wonderland is a great park, its been improved even more the last couple years since it was bought by HersheyPark. We go once a year and it still keeps my 13 year old entertained. We prefer it to HersheyPark because we are not big thrill ride people and Dutch Wonderland is just a nice family park.

If you want to venture up to Hershey you don't have to just go to the park. You can go to ChocolateWorld, which gives a little "ride" tour through the history of Hershey and shows how the candy is made. It lets you off right at the gift shop where you get a free sample and you are then in candy heaven!
Hershey also has its own zoo which is all north american animals, easily done in a day, its kind of tucked away on the back side of the amusement park so some people miss it. Its pretty reasonable to get in I believe.

Shady Maple and Good and Plenty are both fun restaurants with more food than you can imagine!

Hope you have a good trip and enjoy our area!