Intro Guide to Lancaster County
Food scene
It has Amish fare as well as authentic diner fare. Served my Amish staff. It's a nice culinary intro to local food.
38 locals recommend
Katie's Kitchen
200 Hartman Bridge RdIt has Amish fare as well as authentic diner fare. Served my Amish staff. It's a nice culinary intro to local food.
It's an all you can eat place great to sample lots of different local dishes. You can get the full buffet or just soup and salad.
22 locals recommend
Miller's Smorgasbord Restaurant
2811 Lincoln Hwy EIt's an all you can eat place great to sample lots of different local dishes. You can get the full buffet or just soup and salad.
Known for local Lancaster county home cooking. It's a hopping spot full of locals and visitors. FYI: It closes at 6pm so plan your trip accordingly.
54 locals recommend
Dienner's Country Restaurant
2855 Lincoln HwyKnown for local Lancaster county home cooking. It's a hopping spot full of locals and visitors. FYI: It closes at 6pm so plan your trip accordingly.
Lititz Family Cupboard Restaurant & Buffet
12 W Newport RdGreat local atmosphere and food.
Phenomenal Italian food and a favorite of mine. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. It is a bit loud and echoey inside, but has a nice and friendly atmosphere. For a bit quieter dinner sit outside and enjoy their patio seating. Be observant of the signs when parking so you don't get a ticket like I did.
107 locals recommend
LUCA
436 W James StPhenomenal Italian food and a favorite of mine. A bit pricey, but worth every penny. It is a bit loud and echoey inside, but has a nice and friendly atmosphere. For a bit quieter dinner sit outside and enjoy their patio seating. Be observant of the signs when parking so you don't get a ticket like I did.
Local favorite. A great place to grab breakfast or lunch. Dinner is also an option or just enjoy a cup of coffee to go as you stroll around town.
70 locals recommend
Prince Street Cafe
15 N Prince StLocal favorite. A great place to grab breakfast or lunch. Dinner is also an option or just enjoy a cup of coffee to go as you stroll around town.
It's a personal favorite of mine. Be sure to call and make reservations. They also do take out. It is rather a small restaurant and would not be best for a larger group.
42 locals recommend
Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen
351 N Mulberry StIt's a personal favorite of mine. Be sure to call and make reservations. They also do take out. It is rather a small restaurant and would not be best for a larger group.
Cocina Mexicana
112 North Water StreetYummy Mexican food, I've eaten there and enjoyed it.
It's a restaurant with a bar and also shows movies there. Cocina Mexicana is also right there as well. Kettle Works also has a bar there. There is an outdoor courtyard that all three businesses share which is nice to enjoy.
46 locals recommend
Zoetropolis
112 N Water StIt's a restaurant with a bar and also shows movies there. Cocina Mexicana is also right there as well. Kettle Works also has a bar there. There is an outdoor courtyard that all three businesses share which is nice to enjoy.
Local bistro and favorite of Lititz folks. It's super charming with a lovely atmosphere. The food and coffee are delicious. It your party is greater then 6 please make a reservation a head of time.
49 locals recommend
Tomato Pie Cafe
23 N Broad StLocal bistro and favorite of Lititz folks. It's super charming with a lovely atmosphere. The food and coffee are delicious. It your party is greater then 6 please make a reservation a head of time.
Good 'N Plenty Restaurant
150 Eastbrook RdIt's a smorgasbord! Enjoy!
Savory and sweet delicious and filling crepes. A local and personal favorite.
101 locals recommend
Rachel's Cafe & Creperie
201 W Walnut StSavory and sweet delicious and filling crepes. A local and personal favorite.
A great spot to stop for Lunch as you explore the Ephrata area.
13 locals recommend
Griddle & Grind Cafe
20 W Main StA great spot to stop for Lunch as you explore the Ephrata area.
A local soup and sandwich chain. There are several throughout the county. Be sure to grab a bite at one where ever your travels take you in the county.
Isaac's Downtown Bar & Grill
25 N Queen StA local soup and sandwich chain. There are several throughout the county. Be sure to grab a bite at one where ever your travels take you in the county.
Old San Juan
201 W King StAmazing and delicious Puerto Rican food.
Our local and delicious Thai restaurant! Definitely a favorite of mine.
10 locals recommend
Sa La Thai
339 N Queen StOur local and delicious Thai restaurant! Definitely a favorite of mine.
A great place to grab breakfast and coffee! They serve locally roasted coffee.
43 locals recommend
Square One Coffee Roasters
145 N Duke StA great place to grab breakfast and coffee! They serve locally roasted coffee.
Great pub with in walking distance of my house. Great beer and good. Brewed on site and is a local gem.
21 locals recommend
Spring House Brewing Company
209 Hazel StGreat pub with in walking distance of my house. Great beer and good. Brewed on site and is a local gem.
Irish pub with great beer. It often has live music and has multiple levels. It's room top area has a great view of the city and yummy food vendors complete with a silent disco. You can jam to tunes or enjoy a quiet time with friends overlooking the city.
124 locals recommend
Tellus360
24 E King StIrish pub with great beer. It often has live music and has multiple levels. It's room top area has a great view of the city and yummy food vendors complete with a silent disco. You can jam to tunes or enjoy a quiet time with friends overlooking the city.
It's the pub designed after an English pub. It's attached to the historic Lititz Springs Hotel which also offers out door eating and delicious food.
47 locals recommend
Bulls Head Public House
14 E Main StIt's the pub designed after an English pub. It's attached to the historic Lititz Springs Hotel which also offers out door eating and delicious food.
Sightseeing
Great intro into Amish life as you tour an Amish fulling working farm.
16 locals recommend
Old Windmill Farm
262 Paradise LnGreat intro into Amish life as you tour an Amish fulling working farm.
Verdant View Farm
429 Strasburg RdOffers and authentic Amish farm experience.
It a lovely place to be introduced to the Amish way of life and find out about there culture and customs. You can tour an amish house about a half hour tour and also take a bus tour through the fields and stop at an Amish road side stand. The tour is about an hour and a half.
61 locals recommend
The Amish Village
199 Hartman Bridge RdIt a lovely place to be introduced to the Amish way of life and find out about there culture and customs. You can tour an amish house about a half hour tour and also take a bus tour through the fields and stop at an Amish road side stand. The tour is about an hour and a half.
Another great place to be introduced to the Amish and their way of life. There is a house tour and bus tour.
57 locals recommend
The Amish Farm and House
2395 Covered Bridge DrAnother great place to be introduced to the Amish and their way of life. There is a house tour and bus tour.
Enjoy a show while you are in town. They get a wide variety of music acts throughout the year.
82 locals recommend
American Music Theatre
2425 Lincoln Hwy EEnjoy a show while you are in town. They get a wide variety of music acts throughout the year.
Where the bible comes to life! Sight and Sound offers broadway level shows of stories from the Bible. The shows are outstanding! Folks come from all over the world to watch a show. The shows are amazing, fun, full of laughter and poignant moments as well.
256 locals recommend
Sight & Sound Theatres
300 Hartman Bridge RdWhere the bible comes to life! Sight and Sound offers broadway level shows of stories from the Bible. The shows are outstanding! Folks come from all over the world to watch a show. The shows are amazing, fun, full of laughter and poignant moments as well.
A great place to take a walk and let the kids run! Be sure to stick your hand in where the water bubbles up to see how cold the springs are. In the summer there is a refreshment stand which is not open this season but should be back 2022.
38 locals recommend
Lititz Springs Park
24 N Broad StA great place to take a walk and let the kids run! Be sure to stick your hand in where the water bubbles up to see how cold the springs are. In the summer there is a refreshment stand which is not open this season but should be back 2022.
It's a great place to take a ride on working steam engine trains through stunning Amish country. Also peak into the shop to see engineers working and fixing trains.
185 locals recommend
Strasburg Rail Road
301 Gap RdIt's a great place to take a ride on working steam engine trains through stunning Amish country. Also peak into the shop to see engineers working and fixing trains.
A lovely experience. Well kept and maintained course. Plenty of shade and pretty flowers. There are two courses. A 21 hole one and and 18 hole course. I've gone several times and really enjoy it!
13 locals recommend
Village Greens Miniature Golf
1444 Village RdA lovely experience. Well kept and maintained course. Plenty of shade and pretty flowers. There are two courses. A 21 hole one and and 18 hole course. I've gone several times and really enjoy it!
Real trains. Real history. 100+ trains on display. Interactive displays and rides too.
29 locals recommend
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
300 Gap RdReal trains. Real history. 100+ trains on display. Interactive displays and rides too.
Small, but fun, amusement and water park. A great place to take kids, run off steam and cool off too.
199 locals recommend
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Hwy ESmall, but fun, amusement and water park. A great place to take kids, run off steam and cool off too.
Taste test ice cream. Learn how it's made and name a flavor of ice cream.
73 locals recommend
Turkey Hill Experience
301 Linden StTaste test ice cream. Learn how it's made and name a flavor of ice cream.
There is a stand in Kitchen Kettle village, but if you go across the parking lot you can watch Amish folks make the candles by hand in the back and then they have a store up front. Surprising fun little find.
Old Candle Barn - Gift Shop
3551 Old Philadelphia PikeThere is a stand in Kitchen Kettle village, but if you go across the parking lot you can watch Amish folks make the candles by hand in the back and then they have a store up front. Surprising fun little find.
Lots of fun little shops. They have one shop with Amish ladies canning all sorts of jams, jellies and pickles. They have samples of everything. There is a shop with quilts and much more. You can also go on a buggy ride and on the right side of the parking lot visit and feed goats. There are places to buy snacks, a meal and or coffee. Even buy a bit of wine.
148 locals recommend
Kitchen Kettle Village
3529 Old Philadelphia PikeLots of fun little shops. They have one shop with Amish ladies canning all sorts of jams, jellies and pickles. They have samples of everything. There is a shop with quilts and much more. You can also go on a buggy ride and on the right side of the parking lot visit and feed goats. There are places to buy snacks, a meal and or coffee. Even buy a bit of wine.
Step back into the victorian era and learn about a little known president and Lancaster's influence on national history.
27 locals recommend
President James Buchanan's Wheatland
1120 Marietta AveStep back into the victorian era and learn about a little known president and Lancaster's influence on national history.
Lancaster County Parks Main Office
1050 Rockford RdEnjoy a hike 5 min from my house.
It is the home of Edward Hand Adjunct general to George Washington.It offers guided tours of the elegantly furnished rooms of the circa 1794 Hand Mansion as well as the opportunity to visit the John J. Snyder, Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts which is housed in a re-constructed 18th century bank barn. Historic Rock Ford offers visitors a peaceful enclave for lovers of history, art and nature just inside the boundaries of Lancaster City.
12 locals recommend
Rock Ford Plantation
881 Rockford RdIt is the home of Edward Hand Adjunct general to George Washington.It offers guided tours of the elegantly furnished rooms of the circa 1794 Hand Mansion as well as the opportunity to visit the John J. Snyder, Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts which is housed in a re-constructed 18th century bank barn. Historic Rock Ford offers visitors a peaceful enclave for lovers of history, art and nature just inside the boundaries of Lancaster City.
First Pretzel factory in the US! Take a tour. Make your own pretzel and bake it.
28 locals recommend
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
219 E Main StFirst Pretzel factory in the US! Take a tour. Make your own pretzel and bake it.
Preserving a Legacy of William Penn’s Holy Experiment
Since its start in 1732, the Historic Ephrata Cloister has attracted visitors fascinated by the community’s unique lifestyle that allowed the creation of incredible architecture, original music, significant publications, and remarkable art. Originally, Ephrata was a retreat from worldly distractions where devoted members followed a disciplined life designed to prepare them for a heavenly existence. Today, you can explore the surviving historic site and discover the history and culture of an intriguing story in the nation’s past.
54 locals recommend
Ephrata Cloister
632 W Main StPreserving a Legacy of William Penn’s Holy Experiment
Since its start in 1732, the Historic Ephrata Cloister has attracted visitors fascinated by the community’s unique lifestyle that allowed the creation of incredible architecture, original music, significant publications, and remarkable art. Originally, Ephrata was a retreat from worldly distractions where devoted members followed a disciplined life designed to prepare them for a heavenly existence. Today, you can explore the surviving historic site and discover the history and culture of an intriguing story in the nation’s past.
Traveler advice
Customs and culture
Amish Buggy Rides
Enjoy Amish Country and Culture at the Amish pace. Several companies providing buggy rides are on route 340 between Smoketown and Intercourse.
Customs and culture
Interacting with Amish
Enjoy chatting and interacting with the Amish. No pictures please with the Amish. It is not respectful of them or their customs. Feel free to snap a picture of a buggy going by or something like that when driving, but not selfies with the Amish please.
Don't miss
Lunch or Dinner served in an Amish home by an Amish family
Come to Ruth Lapp's and enjoy a home cooked traditional Lancaster county meal. She is licensed with local and state food officials. $25 per adult plate. Food grown on the farm or locally sourced. She serves meals Monday-Friday noon and 6pm depending of group requests. Call ahead 610-593-1206 to schedule to join a meal. I joined her for a meal and it was wonderful! I highly recommend the experience.