lancaster, bird in hand, etc. Pa trip info?

[piglet50]

we plan on going in september to this area. any recommendations on places to stay. we won't be going to hershey park because my mom will be with us and won't be able to go there. would like either connecting rooms or 2 br suite that's sort of centrally located. please share your experiences with hotels and activities. thank you.

 

[GraysMom]

How long will you be staying there? Do you need elevators? Microwave/fridge? What attractions are you planning on going to?

We're headed to Lancaster tomorrow. I'll check on this thread when we get back.

 

[monkeybug]

Kitchen Kettle Village has rooms over the little shops. They are very nice, and you get a little basket of treats with the room (travel mugs, jam, ect.)
We also like the working farms that are also Bed and Breakfasts. We've stayed at Eby farm and Rocky Acre Farm Bed & Breakfast. Both places included a large fresh home cooked breakfast and lots of farm activities, and both are very affordable. We enjoyed them both, but Rocky Acre had the best ambiance of the two.
Eat at Diener's! Most locals will tell you that it's the best buffet in the area, and every time we've been there, there are Amish families eating there. I figure it must be authentic if that's where they go out to dinner.
We didn't like Millers.

 

[aprilgail2]

We didn't like Millers.

We did not care for Millers either but we loved Good and Plenty!
We have stayed at Green Acres Bed and Breakfast farmhouse. They have swings, a trampoline and animals for the kids. In the morning you can go out with the owner and collect eggs from the chickens and then he takes you on a hayride each morning. My kids loved it there!
We also stayed at the Red Caboose but I wouldn't recommend it LOL- kids loved it---adults not so much....

 

[cybrkitn]

My family and I love going to the Lancaster area. We usually stay at the Fulton Steamboat Inn (www.fultonsteamboatinn.com). It looks just like a steamboat on the outside and has a small indoor pool. It's right across the street from the Rockvale Outlets and Tangier (sp?) outlets is pretty much next door to the Rockvale Outlets. You will still need a car to get to each.

Another great place to stay is Willow Valley (www.willowvalley.com). I absolutely their bedding. It's so comfortable that I usually can fall asleep within 5 minutes . They have 1 outdoor pool and 3 indoor pool areas. One of which has a slide and play area for the kids, across the hall from that is the main indoor pool with separate hot tub areas. The other indoor pool is much smaller and have rooms around the pool area. The restaurant on site is good and the on-site bakery smells oh so good.

Fulton Steamboat Inn is lower in price compared to Willow Valley. But both are great places to stay depending on your budget and when in September you are looking at going.

Good luck in your plans.

 

[piglet50]

thanks for the info so far. i should have given more info. for you to go on. we will be staying wed. through sat. we'd like a fridge and microwave. mom isn't too keen on staying in working farms or bed and breakfasts. dh and i would love it, but this trip is for her, so... i guess i'm looking for a good general location so that we can ride and see the farms, the beautiful country and the shops, etc. it's been almost 10 years since we were there, and i know hotels and things are different now probably. thanks again for any help.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

We stayed at a the Best Western Revere Inn , I think it is in Paradise. It has really good ratings and a free breakfast. We were in a 2 br suite with a small kitchen and 1 1/2 baths and the prices are reasonable. I think I got the reviews from trip advisor and from a forum on there and it had great recommendations. Also it is close to a lot of stuff. Make sure you go to Dienners for a meal, it is the best food!

 

[monkeybug]

http://www.kitchenkettle.com/sleep-over/accommodations.asp

This is the link to the rooms at Kitchen Kettle. We really liked these because it had the charm of the farm rooms, but more modern amenities like a regular hotel. (fridge & microwaves in the rooms) It was nice to stroll around the little shops and I'm pretty sure breakfast is included at the Kling house restaurant. They might be a bit more pricey than some of the other hotels though.

 

[TIAMOMMA]

We stayed at Fulton Steamboat Inn during Memorial Day weekend, the kids really enjoyed it.

I second the recommendation on Dienner's - the breakfast buffet was good and well priced. Pick up a loaf of Cinnamon Bread for sale at the counter (boy, was I sorry when that loaf was done).

I'd also recommend the National Christmas Center in Paradise, we all really enjoyed this and was amazed by how much they had to display.

 

[FergieTCat]

Here is my official plug for the Shady Maple Buffet! Go!! You will not regret it.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

ahhh....Shady Maple! We used to skip school in the morning and go there for breakfast and then head to school. That brings back the memories! I have lived in Amish country now for about 7 or 8 years and I still get excited when I see a horse and buggy...theres nothing like sitting on your front porch on Sunday morning and watching them head to church. I still love to head to Lancaster and do some shopping!

 

[AnnaS]

We used to go to Lancaster yearly for many years (3/4 night trips). We stopped a few years ago. Time for DH and I to take a ride someday soon. My bil lives there.

We have always stayed at Willow Valley Resort. I am not sure if they merged or Doubletree took over.

We were just talking about Shady Maple at work. Two co-workers love going here to shop. All the years that we went, I don't remember going in here.

 

[cybrkitn]

We have always stayed at Willow Valley Resort. I am not sure if they merged or Doubletree took over.

Willow Valley is still there with the same name. Double Tree is a separate building and both have two different addresses. Double Tree is just across the street from Willow Valley.

The web site was a bit confusing at first when I went there a few months ago. It looked like Willow Valley was going to covert to a Double Tree. But thankfully it didn't and they just partnered with them.

 

[SomePixiedust]

We love Lancaster and try to get there twice a year. Two of our favorite places to stay are Bird In Hand Family Inn and Amish View Inn & Suites. They are both located on Rte 340, Bird In Hand Family Inn is right next to the Farmers Market and is a clean, quaint place. The rooms have mini friges but no microwaves. There are however microwaves throughout the buildings in the laundry rooms for your use. There is a restaurant attached that has a great buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as menu choices. They have an indoor pool as well as outdoor. The grounds are very nice with a mini golf course, playground areas and they offer a bus tour of the Amish country. If you were to stay here, you would want the "Pool Building" as the other building is an old motel style unit which I have found to not be as clean and not convenient.

Amish View Inn & Suites is adjacent to Plain & Fancy Restaurant. They overlook an Amish farm and schoolhouse. Their rooms vary in size and ammenities depending what you want. We have stayed in a double and a king and they were spacious and had both frig and microwave. They include a full breakfast with a large assortment, nightly snack and coffee available in the lobby. They have a "Great room" where they show a nightly family movie and offer board games for your use.

Also while you are there, check out if there is a production going on at the American Music Theatre. They have wonderful shows!

We have also stayed at Willow Valley and it was great, however it is not centrally located to the heart of Amish country.

HTH!

 

[M&N]

Livi8ng in Lancaster Co for 50 years, I have not stayed on a hotel here but think Bird-In-Hand is the best place around. Great food. It's on 340 and in the heart of the Amish farms. Kitchen Kettle Village is a great little place to shop and there are many stores around there. We just took the wagon tour from there and enjoyed it probably more than the tourists with us! Do not do Millers...I think it's over priced. You used to be able to buy a tape tour of the county.