Lancaster PA tourism?

[gracie1]

Lancaster is one of DH and my fave places, specially in the autumn to see all the beautiful foliage . It's step back in time area, as others have suggested lots to see and do, but even the browsing makes for a fun filled day! I won't go into all the restaurants as there's plenty of advise already offered. They are all good! No doubt, you've picked a great place for you and your Mom to really enjoy your time making special memories in Lancaster and surrounding areas.

Our fave place to stay is Fulton's Steamboat - http://www.fultonsteamboatinn.com/ very quaint and arranged like an old steamboat. Has a beautiful lake you sit and relax to feed the ducks and coy fishes Sign up for Cpt. club on line and rec auto discounts on room, etc. When booking you can sign up for the breakfast for 2 - delicious!

We've also enjoyed a dinner trip on the Strasburg Rail - http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/flavors-of-lancaster-county.php

Along w/The Sights and Sounds Theater you have tickets for - we've also enjoyed the The Dutch Apple Dinner Theater: http://www.dutchapple.com/Content/default.asp . Always a good play/musical that includes a buffet - not 5* food, but good selection of descent food.

Our kids gave DH a Hot Air Ballon ride for his 75th BD he had a blast! - http://www.ushotairballoon.com/pa_flights/lancaster-county.asp

If you're in to covered bridges, there's an interesting self guided tour you can take that we've enjoyed. http://www.padutchcountry.com/activities/pa-covered-bridges.asp

We also enjoy having lunch at the Central Market where all the local farmer's set up inside/outside a huge building. You can enjoy lunch while watching a school band perform marching around market. http://www.centralmarketlancaster.com/about/

When/if photobucket decides to cooperate, I'll try to post some pix.

I had reservations for the hot air balloon ride but it was too windy and cancelled. That is one thing on my list to do though! Glad to hear your husband had such a great time!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

I need to put these places on my list! And I definitely need to search cafe chocolate!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...itz-Lititz_Lancaster_County_Pennsylvania.html

http://www.chocolatelititz.com/

We got the dark chocolate crepes, peanut butter chocolate banana panini and velvet chocolate pot de creme

 

[marcyinPA]

Shady Maple. Food was good, place is huge- gift shop in the basement is ENORMOUS.

We've been to Miller's. Food was "meh".

I've never been to Kitchen Kettle Village, but my mother has been there and she loves the place.

Lititz is a cute little town- haven't been to the places listed, but have driven through. My SIL and BIL lived there for years.

 

[TIAMOMMA]

Has anyone been to the national Christmas center? I have always wanted to go, especially after seeing it on the travel channel. Would love to hear some feed back!

We actually went a few years ago during Memorial Day weekend - I'd say go! If you love Christmas you'll be in heaven. Going at this time of year is great too because it's not crowded.

 

[gracie1]

We actually went a few years ago during Memorial Day weekend - I'd say go! If you love Christmas you'll be in heaven. Going at this time of year is great too because it's not crowded.

I am a huge, huge Christmas nut!! My tree and decorations go up November 1st!!

 

[gracie1]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g53046-d609835-Reviews-Cafe_Chocolate_of_Lititz-Lititz_Lancaster_County_Pennsylvania.html

http://www.chocolatelititz.com/

We got the dark chocolate crepes, peanut butter chocolate banana panini and velvet chocolate pot de creme

Thanks! Mmm, chocolate crepes!!

 

[cybrkitn]

Has anyone been to the national Christmas center? I have always wanted to go, especially after seeing it on the travel channel. Would love to hear some feed back!

Yes and we loved it! Every room has it's own Christmas theme to it. We even got DS's picture with Santa at the end of it when he was about 5 years old (IIRC). It's definitely a must see.

Ok, this whole thread has put the travel planning bug back in me for Lancaster. Time to start planning our church's next trip to Sight and Sound for Noah! We (myself and the committee I'm on) are looking at August to see it. For some of us this will be our second time seeing it. For others, it will be their first.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We love the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater. It has smaller-scale productions of Broadway shows. The food is gooooood too!

 

[gracie1]

Yes and we loved it! Every room has it's own Christmas theme to it. We even got DS's picture with Santa at the end of it when he was about 5 years old (IIRC). It's definitely a must see.

Ok, this whole thread has put the travel planning bug back in me for Lancaster. Time to start planning our church's next trip to Sight and Sound for Noah! We (myself and the committee I'm on) are looking at August to see it. For some of us this will be our second time seeing it. For others, it will be their first.

Thanks!! I am definitely going to take a drive just to go to the Christmas center! Is it something that takes a full day or half a day? Keep in mind I am a Christmas fanatic!!

 

[cybrkitn]

Thanks!! I am definitely going to take a drive just to go to the Christmas center! Is it something that takes a full day or half a day? Keep in mind I am a Christmas fanatic!!

It shouldn't take you that long to see it. Maybe a 1/2 day if that. It's been a few years since we've been to it that I don't remember how long it took us to go through it.

 

[Shelly888]

Lititz is not too far from Lancaster(its in Lancaster county) It's a really nice town and has Wilbur Chocolate Factory, Julius Sturgis prezel factory, cupcakery, a lovely park and little shops. We also love cafe Chocolate...their food is to die for!

I was going to suggest Lititz too! It was just voted best small town in America(I think that's the award), it's a great place to visit.

 

[Aliceacc]

Thanks for all the advice!

I just copied it onto a Word document and printed it all up

We leave in the morning, as soon as I get the older 2 kids to school. My husband will get our youngest on the bus.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Have a wonderful trip with your mom

Maybe you can give us a little update when you can. Would love to hear all about it.

 

[Aliceacc]

We had a fabulous time!

We stayed at the La Quinta in Ronks PA. It was great-- clean and convenient. The pool was nice, the hot tub delightful. The free breakfast included make-your-own waffles, bisquits in gravy, cereal, donuts, bagels, fruit, and I forget what else. Its location was great-- on the same road as the Sight and Sound theater, close to the outlets, and an easy drive to the Amish stuff.

We ate at Good and Plenty the first day and Plain and Fancy the second. Of the two, we preferred Good and Plenty, but both were great. At both, you're seated at a table with other diners, and food is brought over family style. We had a very nice time chatting with our tablemates, and the food was great!!!

We did both outlet malls, until mom needed a break from walking (hence the knowledge of the hot tub!) We also saw the Christmas center. And we went into Intacorse (spelled wrong, but I'm guessing the filters would catch the correct spelling.) We loved the Canning Company-- we had lots of free samples of everything from sweet mustard to the peanut butter schmear and bought a lot! We went to Kitchen kettle village twice-- once with mom, once without. The smell of the "fertilizer" from the adjacent fields was just to overpowering for her the first time we went. We also saw the quilt museum--- they were amazing, but priced in the $1400 range, so that was the ONE thing we didn't buy! This mornng on the way home, we stopped at the candle barn.

Oh, and Noah was an amazing play!!!! If there's any way you can get in to see it, do so!!

Thanks to one and all for all your help!!!

 

[gracie1]

We had a fabulous time!

We stayed at the La Quinta in Ronks PA. It was great-- clean and convenient. The pool was nice, the hot tub delightful. The free breakfast included make-your-own waffles, bisquits in gravy, cereal, donuts, bagels, fruit, and I forget what else. Its location was great-- on the same road as the Sight and Sound theater, close to the outlets, and an easy drive to the Amish stuff.

We ate at Good and Plenty the first day and Plain and Fancy the second. Of the two, we preferred Good and Plenty, but both were great. At both, you're seated at a table with other diners, and food is brought over family style. We had a very nice time chatting with our tablemates, and the food was great!!!

We did both outlet malls, until mom needed a break from walking (hence the knowledge of the hot tub!) We also saw the Christmas center. And we went into Intacorse (spelled wrong, but I'm guessing the filters would catch the correct spelling.) We loved the Canning Company-- we had lots of free samples of everything from sweet mustard to the peanut butter schmear and bought a lot! We went to Kitchen kettle village twice-- once with mom, once without. The smell of the "fertilizer" from the adjacent fields was just to overpowering for her the first time we went. We also saw the quilt museum--- they were amazing, but priced in the $1400 range, so that was the ONE thing we didn't buy! This mornng on the way home, we stopped at the candle barn.

Oh, and Noah was an amazing play!!!! If there's any way you can get in to see it, do so!!

Thanks to one and all for all your help!!!

Sounds like you had a great trip!! My mom went to see Noah last night as well! She loved it! She really, really wants to go there for the Christmas show. Sounds like you both did a lot in just a couple days. And I have to say, my favorite thing about Lancaster is the food and sampling of food! Lol

 

[Aliceacc]

Ah, man, I can't tell you what it did to my diet!!!

Today is Mother's Day, so I'll give myself a bye and get back on track tomorrow. But it was worth evey ounce!

 

[gracie1]

Ah, man, I can't tell you what it did to my diet!!!

Today is Mother's Day, so I'll give myself a bye and get back on track tomorrow. But it was worth evey ounce!

Whenever I have gone to Lancaster, the diet is left at home I loved the comment about your mom not liking the overpowering smell from the fields (where I live, we call that fresh air )
The one place that makes me completely gag is driving through Avon, with the mushroom plants

 

[cybrkitn]

We had a fabulous time!

We stayed at the La Quinta in Ronks PA. It was great-- clean and convenient. The pool was nice, the hot tub delightful. The free breakfast included make-your-own waffles, bisquits in gravy, cereal, donuts, bagels, fruit, and I forget what else. Its location was great-- on the same road as the Sight and Sound theater, close to the outlets, and an easy drive to the Amish stuff.

We ate at Good and Plenty the first day and Plain and Fancy the second. Of the two, we preferred Good and Plenty, but both were great. At both, you're seated at a table with other diners, and food is brought over family style. We had a very nice time chatting with our tablemates, and the food was great!!!

We did both outlet malls, until mom needed a break from walking (hence the knowledge of the hot tub!) We also saw the Christmas center. And we went into Intacorse (spelled wrong, but I'm guessing the filters would catch the correct spelling.) We loved the Canning Company-- we had lots of free samples of everything from sweet mustard to the peanut butter schmear and bought a lot! We went to Kitchen kettle village twice-- once with mom, once without. The smell of the "fertilizer" from the adjacent fields was just to overpowering for her the first time we went. We also saw the quilt museum--- they were amazing, but priced in the $1400 range, so that was the ONE thing we didn't buy! This mornng on the way home, we stopped at the candle barn.

Oh, and Noah was an amazing play!!!! If there's any way you can get in to see it, do so!!

Thanks to one and all for all your help!!!

Glad you two had a wonderful trip! I don't remember if we ever tried Good and Plenty (DH would remember). We usually do Plain N Fancy when we are in PA.

ITA about Noah. DH and I saw it when it was there about 10 years ago and we loved it. I just made the announcement yesterday morning at church that our committee is hosting another trip to Sight & Sound this summer to see it. We had 64 people go last year to see Jonah and everyone loved it! All I have in the works right now (as far as contracts go) is the hotel. Once the contract is signed, I can start working on getting our tickets for a 7:30 pm show.