Lancaster, PA need help with planning...

[jspoole]

Planning on going to Lancaster the middle of May for a long weekend. Need help with our planning. I read on the internet someplace that you could go visit with an actual amish family in the evenings after supper for like 3 hrs and have one on one time with them, does anyone know anything about this. I did not bookmark the site and cannot find it.

I need all the planning help I can get. We are doing a budget trip, but also don't want to miss anything.

 

[andrews_dad]

Planning on going to Lancaster the middle of May for a long weekend. Need help with our planning. I read on the internet someplace that you could go visit with an actual amish family in the evenings after supper for like 3 hrs and have one on one time with them, does anyone know anything about this. I did not bookmark the site and cannot find it.

I need all the planning help I can get. We are doing a budget trip, but also don't want to miss anything.

Ages of kids??

 

[minnie1928]

I lived in York PA all my life, until 2 years ago. York is right next to Lancaster, so the Amish are nothing new to me. Anyway, I find it REALLY hard to believe that a "true" Amish family would do that. Mennonite family...maybe. They seem to be more open to the "English", but Amish tend to really stick with their own and keep the rest of the world out.

 

[gillenkl]

I lived in York PA all my life, until 2 years ago. York is right next to Lancaster, so the Amish are nothing new to me. Anyway, I find it REALLY hard to believe that a "true" Amish family would do that. Mennonite family...maybe. They seem to be more open to the "English", but Amish tend to really stick with their own and keep the rest of the world out.

We live not far from amish country and we visit often and I agree - I don't think a "real" Amish family would let Englischers strangers into their home. It's just not something that's done. Perhaps they were Mennonite. Also be aware that alot of what you'll see there (especially along Rt 30) is just a tourist trap and the selling of souvenirs. Don't know the ages of your kids - but Dutch Wonderland is nice and Shady Maple is a nice country market/restaurant/gift shop. Kitchen Kettle Village is another nice place to go.

 

[geniegirl]

we are looking around the same timeframe and have 3 year old son. I don't thing dutch wounderland is open much in may yet. We were looking at the rail road tours but need some ideas as well.

 

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

At Lancaster, we like to stay at the Willow Valley Resort. It has a number of indoor and outdoor pools, petting zoo, corn maze in the fall, golf course and any other activities. The Strasbourg railroad is neat and so is Dutch Wonderland(Hershey Park is less than an hour drive also)

 

[Jenn4615]

if you like to shop... Lots of outlets! Rockvale square is huge and has some great stores!! Especially for kids!

 

[Redwitch]

This is a good starting point...
http://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asp

 

[micheleq]

Back in October I met a few college friends of mine for a girls' weekend in Intercourse, PA (where Kitchen Kettle Village is and the town from the movie The Witness). We had a great time.

We stayed in a rental house called Das Haus. It had everything we needed and the owner was very nice. www.intercoursepalodging.com is their website.

We also ate at a smorgasboard -- I forget the name, sorry. It was alot of food and well worth it. Go on an empty stomach.

Just be aware that everything is closed on Sundays! We were hoping to get a few souvies and ended up buying our apple butter and such at the local grocery store (which was excellent! same products for half the price).

 

[dismom301930]

When my girls were little they loved the Hands On House, a small-ish Chidlren's Museum. http://www.handsonhouse.org/

Now that they are older, they really enjoy the Science Factory. It does not look that impressive when you walk in, but we always spend at least a few hours there. http://www.lancastersciencefactory.org/

Both museums participate in reciprocity programs, so if you are a member of ACM (Hands on House) or ASTC (Science Factory) you will get in for free.

One of our favorite farms to visit is Cherry Crest Farm. We usually go in the fall but I am sure there are lots of fun summer activities. http://www.cherrycrestfarm.com/

I also second Dutch Wonderland, especially for kids 8 and under. It is a very fun park for little ones. For bigger kids (or any kids, really) a trip to Hershey Park would be wonderful.

 

[gillenkl]

We like Fulton Steamboat Inn on Route 30 - very nice, clean and good prices - look online for special internet pricing - they even have bunk beds for kids and an indoor pool. Next to Rockvale Outlets. I checked on tripadvisor.com before I stayed there and they had great reviews. Normally we stay at Willow Valley but we stayed here for 1/2 the price over Valentines weekend.

 

[it's kelly]

We like Fulton Steamboat Inn on Route 30 - very nice, clean and good prices - look online for special internet pricing - they even have bunk beds for kids and an indoor pool. Next to Rockvale Outlets. I checked on tripadvisor.com before I stayed there and they had great reviews. Normally we stay at Willow Valley but we stayed here for 1/2 the price over Valentines weekend.

I second Fulton Steamboat Inn! I take my niece and nephew a weekend every summer for their birthday and we all have a great time!

 

[Sagginit]

in hershey chocolate world is free, the new hershey musuem is fairly low & a AAA discount, but if the kids are too young they may not get enough out of a museum to be worth it. hershey park sometimes has discounts, if not its pricey. i went in the fall and it was $25 a person but it was a special rate since the park didnt open until 2pm.

i think the thing to keep in mine is lancaster is about the amish and farming.
check out the activites here, we went or the corn maze....it was long and got boring after a while as a warning though. they had plenty of other things going on including an awesome petting zoo. http://www.cherrycrestadventurefarm.com/

we did a a buggy ride here and liked it, we had the gentleman on the right. they are not amish, as stated the amish dont like to mingle but mennonites and very informative. they too have a AAA discount. http://www.abesbuggyrides.com/

we also did this, another nature related activity. http://www.indianechocaverns.com/

there are also a ton of "markets" and shops. i say that lightly b/c some farmers markets are tourist traps so just do your research.

i like yelp.com too for getting reviews and doing research these days.
good luck!

 

[geniegirl]

any one try the red caboose inn. Looks like real train cars for rooms.. I did pass the boat one last week on a drive and thought that would be neat too, thanks for reminding me.

 

[pommfrites]

opens May1st...jfyi and Hersheypark is already open. Went last Saturday and had a ball with DH, DS 4, and DD 3.

 

[ardig123]

Just to let you know...Hersheypark is not officially open...it was open last weekend and next weekend for Springtime in the Park...then it closes again until sometime in May...not sure of exact date.

 

[andrews_dad]

Lake Tobias

 

[jspoole]

op here. Our kids are 14 & 19. My 19 dd is all about quilting and is looking forward to going around on Sat. morning to the yard sells looking at quilts. Where is a good place to go to see orginal Amish Quilts?

which buggy rides are the best? Need help we would love to do an amish meal while there where would we go for this?

 

[andrews_dad]

op here. Our kids are 14 & 19. My 19 dd is all about quilting and is looking forward to going around on Sat. morning to the yard sells looking at quilts. Where is a good place to go to see orginal Amish Quilts?

which buggy rides are the best? Need help we would love to do an amish meal while there where would we go for this?

Oops. 14 and 19 years old means scrap the suggestions for Cherry Crest, Lake Tobias, Dutch Wonderland, etc. These are all great places, but not for teens.

 

[pweyl36]

I 2nd Shady maple for the buffett, the best food ever and all homemade.