Amish Country

[kajunar]

Hi folks... We are new to the forum and long time campers (nearly 45 years) from south Louisiana. We are lookiing for advise on touring the Hershey and Amish Country during the Thanksgiving / Christmas Holiday season. Any adivise on how enrich our experience there is greatly appreciated. We were thinking that a guided tour might be good for our first time there. Haven't decided yet if we will pull our new Columbus there yet... but I'm open to campground recomendations there and along the route from Louisiana to PA. Also need any recomendations for reasonable hotels, bed and breakfast, etc. Looking forward to joining many topics here and meeting other members along the way.

[Bryan2503S]

Have you seen this website. Many great ideas here. Pennsylvania Dutch Country in Lancaster County PA | Amish Country activities, shopping, dining, lodging

A few things that I always enjoy.

- Strasburg Railroad ride -
- Hershey Park and Chocolate World
- Driving around looking at old covered bridges
- PA renaissance fair
- outlet shopping (Hershey and Lancaster)
- Winery and Brewery tours (and samplings!)

[mjones12]

The Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg is one of the most amazing model train layouts in the world. Even if you're not a model train buff - which I am not - you will love this thing. It's just amazing.

You may already know this: Amish people generally don't like to have their pictures taken. It's always a good idea to respect local customs.

[Flying dutchman]

Lititz, Pa has the original Sturgis Pretzel bakery where you can take part in a Pretzel making workshop after the tour and of course can buy their quality soft pretzels. And the have Wilbur chocolate factory in Lititz Spring Park. Bird in Hand has a nice old village store and market. Good n Plenty restaurant serves huge amount of PA dutch food, a little touristy but worth while to get stuffed up. And many more places to visit and enjoy.

[Arefbee]

If you want a nice CG, White Oak out by Strasburg is really well kept, clean bathrooms. Only issue is no pool. White Oak Campground Home Page They don't have it on the website, but a couple of Blue Grass groups play there every Saturday.

If you are into critters, the "That Fish Place" is pretty awesome. Pet Supplies and Fish Supplies at That Fish Place - That Pet Place

The Sight and Sounds Theatre is Awesome Sight & Sound Theatre Shows in Lancaster County, PA and Branson, MO

The Dutch Apple Dinner Theater is pretty neat. Homepage - The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre - Lancaster, Pennsylvania - The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

For some good food, the Shady maple is good. Shady Maple Smorgasbord | Authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking | Lancaster County PA

For little kids, Dutch Wonderland is nice. Dutch Wonderland - A Kingdom for Kids

Of course after coming all that way from LA, a trip into Philly is worth the time - Liberty Bell, Constitution Center, and Independence hall.

The area is sort of like a little Orlando - A lot more to visit than you expect at first.

[ependydad]

I'd check to make sure the campgrounds that you're interested in are open. Many close up by November.

[rmac04401]

You could check out the state parks. They have some nice campgrounds. French creek on outskirts of philly. Gifford Pinchot and cadorus is hour from Lancaster, Hershey, and 1 1/2 hour from Baltimore. Like previously said. Check for when they close. Also close to Gettysburg.

[CampingGator]

We stayed in the Apple Bin Inn in Amish country last year. We stayed in the Empire Room and enjoyed it. The Inn keepers are personable, especially the husband. When you visit the area, find a good map and just get out on the country roads and drive. You will www all sorts of farms, horse drawn conveyances, and Amish folk. There are many Old Order Mennonite as well, who are hard to distinguish from Amish. We saw a wagon with a team of about six or eight horses and we saw one fellow with his horse and buggy filling a gas can at a gas station. I will try to load these photos for you to see, if I can from my phone.

Hopefully there will be less traffic that time of year. You may not see as many out working in their yards because there is not as much lawn care in the fall, but it should be a good trip.

[CampingGator]

Here are pictures

[dblr]

If you decide to camp I would suggest Old Mill Stream Campground, open all year and very clean bathrooms & showers( if needed), central to all the tourist attractions and restaurants.
If you want to move to Hershey, the Hershey High Meadow campground is also open year round, but plan on noise from the trains. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

[BooBoo23]

I traveled Amish areas for may years as a Regional Sales Manager and as a word of caution, be careful driving at night in Amish communities. Everything is black as they frown on bright colors and many of the buggies (and bikes) have no lights or reflectors on them so they are very difficult to see. By law in Pennsylvania they are supposed to have a lantern or battery operated light on the rear but many resist it and are totally black.

[CampingGator]

Originally Posted by CampingGator

Here are pictures

Sorry, they did not load up.

[TURBS]

This Amish unit had lights, reflectors and an smv.



TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded
2011 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "27 nights"

[Haul-a-Fifth]

I live in the heart of Amish country. I have not seen a Amish or Mennonite buggy without lights. If the police see them they will be stopped and ticketed.. They all have what we call fanny flags, rectangular reflective flags and many reflectors. In most cases the reflectors will be seen prior to the lights. They all have LED lighting now and they are easily seen. Bikes are a different matter, you may encounter a group of bikers and only a couple will have their blinking red light on or headlight. Bikes and buggys move at a slow pace and the roads are hilly and curvy, you come around a curve and there is a buggy in front of you.

[ferguson65]

Don't forget loose cattle at night too.....................I nearly made roast beef all over 372 coming home from Holtwood around midnight a few years back. If they are open, I'd caution you against Tucquan Park campground. WINDY back roads to it and the entrance off the road is awful.

There are numerous overlooks in and around PPL Holtwood that are worth the short walks to them.

[B and B]

I also live in Mennonite area of Waterloo County Ontario, they all have lights and large reflective signs. If you want the largest Farmers Market in all of Ontario at St Jacobs.

[asquared]

That time of year you're playing with cold rain/snow/ice possibilities in that area. If you are ok towing in those conditions then by all means bring the trailer, if not then I recommend staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast. In Hershey, the amusement park will be closed but you can still do chocolate world, Hershey museum, and the Hershey trolley tour. I highly recommend the trolley tour, it was very interesting. We camped at twin groves while we were there. Definitely, check out Philly. Tons to see and do in Philly. If you have time, check out Gettysburg. I believe Gettysburg campground is open year round.

[rmac04401]

There is more than one campground in Gettysburg. I believe little drummer boy is open year round.

[rockfordroo]

Traffic on US Rte 30 through the main tourist area from Gap to Lancaster is very bad in the summer, not quite so bad in the fall/winter. But be advised, it's a 3 lane road. The middle lane used to be strictly a suicide lane 50 yrs ago when I was a kid. Saw a lot of accidents back then. It now switches back and forth from 1 lane in your direction and 2 lanes the other way, to 2 lanes in your direction and 1 lane the other way; so there are a few miles you can pass (or be passed) every few miles. In the main tourist area just east of Lancaster around the outlet malls, it goes to 4 lanes, 2 each way.

[HillClimber]

If you're interested in autos, definitely see the Antique Automobile Club of America museum on Rt 39 just north of Hershey. Also, the Hershey Museum has the history of Milton Hershey and the town he built. The amusement park is open with a Christmas display for the holidays but with very limited rides.


Hill Climber
2001 Coachmen Mirada 300RQ

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