Draped across over 950 square miles
of southern Pennsylvania is Lancaster County,
a charming region with a creative city,
historic townships, and clusters of small communities
which lead traditional, technology free lives.
Stitched together with the
threads of tradition and creativity,
Lancaster County is a
patchwork quilt of rolling countryside,
small farming villages and
its captivating city of the same name.
This rural corner of Pennsylvania
is well known for its population of Amish,
Mennonite and other
communities known as “plain people”.
The groupings are committed
to a life of simplicity and humility,
forgoing the trappings of modern technology.
In the 1720s, these minority
communities fled persecution in Europe
and began a new life in this remote region,
which soon became known
as Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
The best way to explore these
rolling fields and quaint villages is by car,
and the first stop on your Lancaster County road trip
is the small farming community of Ronks.
Call into the Amish Village to
ease into Dutch Pennsylvania’s gentle way of life.
Explore the village’s traditional barn,
a fine example Amish fellowship and camaraderie,
then wander the rest of the 12-acre community
and witness this simple yet joyful culture.
Ronks is also home to the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm,
where local farmers delight
in demonstrating their heritage
through what they call “agri-tainment.”
Say hello to friendly barnyard
animals and roam through the Amazing Maize Maze,
a 5-acre labyrinth of corn crops.
To experience Lancaster County’s theatrical gifts,
catch a show at the nearby Sight and Sound Theatres,
which has long been reimagining
the greatest bible stories on stage.
Hit the road for the
short drive to the town of Intercourse,
home to Kitchen Kettle Village.
Starting life as a family jelly making business in 1954,
the village serves up some of the
tastiest flavors Lancaster County has to offer.
Learn more about the area’s
farming and trade history in Strasburg,
Lancaster’s most historic town.
Strasburg began as a village
along the Great Conestoga Road,
which was once the main
thoroughfare between Philadelphia and the west.
Known as Train Town USA,
be sure to visit some of the
world’s most iconic locomotives
at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
and the Strasburg Railroad while you’re in here.
Once you’ve explored Strasburg,
make tracks and pull up a chair
to a hearty meal at Good ‘n Plenty,
which has been serving
traditional Amish fare since 1969.
When your belly’s full,
treat yourself to a musical
feast at the American Music Theatre,
which hosts touring shows,
celebrity concerts and original productions.
For a change of pace,
spend an afternoon at Dutch Wonderland,
where the kids can get their fill of old school adrenalin.
As you venture throughout the
county’s rolling hills and farmlands,
you’ll cross many covered bridges.
In years gone by,
these became known as “kissing bridges,”
for the brief moment of
privacy they gave starry-eyed couples
out on their evening strolls.
Once you’ve explored the rural
byways and villages of Lancaster County,
make yourself at home in Lancaster City.
This is a city that proudly
honors and preserves its history.
Discover the first chapter of
historic dwellings in Lancaster County,
and step inside a Native American longhouse,
built in the traditional style
of Pennsylvania’s first nations.
Then, call into three-hundred-year-old Hans Herr house,
the oldest surviving homestead in Lancaster county.
Finally, explore Rock Ford Plantation,
the illustrious estate of Edward Hand,
a general in the Revolutionary War.
Appart from its many historic homes,
Lancaster City has long
cultivated an intense passion for art.
You’ll feel it in the lovingly curated
exhibits of the city’s many galleries…
the dazzling lights and
performances of Fulton Theatre…
and the art boutiques lining the streets of Gallery Row.
The city’s love of tradition
and creation was born in Central Market,
the oldest farmers’ market in the USA.
Savor homemade pickles,
creamy cheeses and crusty sourdoughs,
whose recipes have been
passed through the generations
since the market first opened in 1730.
Welcome to Lancaster,
a county where life’s wholesome
pleasures are cultivated in tradition,
community and its bountiful soils.
So wander across these bridges into simpler times,
and you’ll soon understand why there’s
just no point changing things to keep up,
when life is already this good.
