Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Lancaster County lies in southeastern Pennsylvania, a region of rolling farmland, small towns and covered bridges. It is home to one of the largest Amish communities in the country, along with Mennonite and other Plain communities whose horse-drawn buggies share the country roads with cars. The city of Lancaster, the county seat, briefly served as the national capital for a single day during the Revolutionary War.
In Lancaster city, Central Market is one of the oldest continuously operating farmers markets in the country, with local produce and baked goods. Gallery Row and the surrounding downtown streets have art galleries, shops and restaurants. Wheatland was the home of President James Buchanan, and Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum preserves rural Pennsylvania German life. In the countryside, the Strasburg Rail Road runs steam trains past farms, opposite the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The villages of Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand offer quilts, crafts and food stands, and several covered bridges cross the Conestoga and nearby creeks. Ephrata Cloister preserves the buildings of an eighteenth-century religious community, and Lititz is a pleasant small town with the Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.
The county suits families, food lovers and those seeking a slower pace. Remember to drive carefully around buggies and to respect Amish privacy when taking photos.
WiserMap travel guideLancaster County Pennsylvania Amish Roads and Steam TrainsPlan a Lancaster County trip: Central Market, Strasburg's steam trains, Amish back roads, Ephrata Cloister, Lititz pretzels and covered bridges.Read the guide
The oldest continuously operating public farmers market in the United States, in a Romanesque brick building from 1889 on Penn Square. Amish and local vendors sell produce, baked goods, whoopie pies, meats, cheeses and flowers. It is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday mornings; arrive early for the best choice.
Lititz is a charming Moravian town with a tree-lined main street of shops and cafes. The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, founded in 1861, is said to be America's first commercial pretzel bakery, and short tours let you try twisting your own pretzel. Also stop at the Wilbur Chocolate store and Lititz Springs Park.
A stretch of North Prince Street and nearby blocks in downtown Lancaster lined with art galleries, studios and craft shops, near the Fulton Theatre, one of the oldest working theaters in the country. Many galleries stay open late on First Fridays each month, when the downtown streets fill with music and visitors.
The Federal-style mansion of James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States, who lived here from 1848 until his death in 1868. Guided tours by costumed docents show rooms with many original furnishings and explain his career leading up to the Civil War. Tours start in the visitor center next to the house.
The site of a religious community founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel, whose celibate members lived an austere life of work, prayer and music. Medieval-style wooden buildings such as the Saal and Saron survive, with tiny sleeping cells and narrow doorways. Guided tours explain their printing, calligraphy and hymns.
A living history museum north of Lancaster about Pennsylvania German rural life from the 1740s to the 1940s, with more than 15 historic buildings including a tavern, schoolhouse, farmsteads and craft shops. Costumed interpreters demonstrate tinsmithing, cooking and other skills. It is open seasonally, so check the days.
A large museum in Strasburg with more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars, many displayed inside a huge rolling stock hall, from early steam engines to electric and diesel models. Visitors can climb into some cabs and watch restoration work. It sits across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, so combine the two.
America's oldest continuously operating short line railroad, founded in 1832, runs steam train rides of about 45 minutes through Amish farmland to Paradise and back. Choose from open cars, a dining car or a first class parlor car. Special events include Day Out With Thomas for children. Buy tickets online for weekends.
A family amusement park east of Lancaster with a storybook castle entrance, gentle rides, a wooden roller coaster, a water play area and shows aimed at children up to about 12. It is a good choice for families with young kids, though older teens may find it too tame. It is open seasonally, so check the calendar before going.
Two small villages in the heart of Amish country along Route 340, with quilt and craft shops, bakeries, farm stands and buggy rides through the surrounding farmland. Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse has dozens of shops. Drive carefully, share the road with horse-drawn buggies, and do not photograph Amish people without permission.
Lancaster County has more than two dozen historic covered bridges, many crossing the Conestoga River and Pequea Creek. Bridges such as Hunsecker's Mill and Kurtz's Mill are easy to find on a driving loop through farmland. Pick up a covered bridge map at the Discover Lancaster visitor center before setting out.
A large theater in Strasburg that stages elaborate Bible-based musical productions with huge sets, live animals and special effects on a stage that wraps around the audience. Shows change every year or two and run most of the year. Book ahead, especially for weekends and the Christmas season, as shows often sell out.
No reviews yet. Been to Lancaster County? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Lancaster County? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Rlevse, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Allie_Caulfield, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Gerry Dincher, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Elisa Rolle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Niagara, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Tolea93, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Rlevse, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Cazort (Alex Zorach), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ad Meskens, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Elisa Rolle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Concord, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Concord, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Concord, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Swekosky, William G., 1895-1964, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Found5dollar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Found5dollar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Zeete, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Klaus Nahr from Germany, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Dough4872, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Rlevse, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Martin Lewison, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Lydekker, Richard, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Photo (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
