Day 1

Morning

Covered Bridge Driving Tour:  Just the sight of our covered bridges brings to mind thoughts of old charm and romance, and in Lancaster County, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, we have plenty of both!  Sometimes referred to as "kissing bridges" because of the many couples who have strolled across them over the years, our area offers more than two dozen of these architectural beauties - each with its own inviting story.  Self-guided driving tour maps are available online. Stop in towns along the way for a bite to eat or to stroll the charming streets and shops.

Afternoon

Antiquing: Shop for something from the past in perhaps the best place in the United States for antiquing. In Lancaster County, you'll find dozens of markets, shops, showcase malls, and centers with more than a thousand antiques dealers selling one-of-a-kind crafts, hand-built fine furniture, and folk art. The rich history of small towns provides lots and lots of treasures from the past.

Evening

Tour and Dine: Pennsylvania Dutch Country has a number of local wineries and breweries  offering illuminating tours to visitors, typically capped off with a bit of free sampling. Microbreweries are becoming increasingly popular and are recognized for the quality of their beers. A couple local breweries invite you to tour their facilities. You can even tour the site of one of the oldest breweries in Lancaster County, and then enjoy a delicious meal served in their vault 40 feet underground! Mount Joy, Downtown Lancaster and Adamstown are home to some of the finest breweries, wineries and pubs in the area.

Overnight Lodging

Sleep like royalty in one of our beautifully restored historic homes reborn as a bed & breakfast. With a decidedly 18th and 19th century atmosphere, our country inns, mansions and B&Bs, many of which are surrounded by beautiful farmland, typically offer contemporary cuisine, as well as romantic amenities such a spas and fireplaces.

Day 2

Morning

Market Towns: Lancaster Country is the Garden Spot of America and nowhere else is that more evident than at our glorious farmers' markets. Shop for the freshest fruits, vegetables and baked goods at markets sprinkled throughout Lancaster's towns and villages.

Afternoon

Museums and Historic Homes: Here you will find numerous state and local museums and historic sites dating back to the 1700's. From the oldest Mennonite meetinghouse in America to the home of a former U.S. president, you'll find much to explore. Lancaster City, Columbia, Strasburg, Mount Joy and Ephrata, just to name a few, offer the historian in all of us many sites to appease our appetite for knowledge of the past.

Evening

Dinner: Pennsylvania Dutch style! Enjoy traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine served family-style, where diners sit at long tables and pass around heaping platters filled with fried chicken, baked sausage, brown buttered noodles, chow chow, and much more!

Day 3

Morning

Mud Sales:  Held in various villages throughout the Amish countryside in Lancaster County each spring, these Saturday sales are huge auctions to benefit the volunteer fire companies.  Mud sales, named for the condition of the thawing ground, bring thousands of Amish and English looking to bid on everything from quilts and crafts to furniture, antiques, Amish buggies, baked goods, and more.

Visit our Events Calendar  for more information on upcoming events and activities.

Printer-friendly version (32 KB pdf)