5 Things You Can’t Miss in Lancaster, PA
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Lancaster is absolutely stunning
Are you planning a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania? If so, you’re in the right place. Whether you're heading to Lancaster County to experience the Amish culture, eat authentic Amish food, drive through historic covered bridges, or just have a cozy fall weekend getaway, here are 7 things you can’t miss on your trip!
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1. Visit a Working Amish Farm
While in Lancaster, you can not miss taking a tour of a working Amish farm.
we milked cows, collected eggs, cuddled rabbits, and bottle fed calves
We booked a farm tour with Old Windmill Farms at 10 AM. The tour was excellent. We started with a hayride around the farm to see the layout. Then, we were taken around the farm by Mary, a ten year old Amish girl, who helped us learn how to bottle feed calves, milk a cow, cuddle rabbits and piglets, and gather eggs. We all loved this part of the tour so much and Mary was an absolute gem.
During the week, Old Windmill Farm offers a more in depth tour where you can help plant in their garden as well.
PRO TIP: Book the first tour of the morning before the crowds descend.
2. Pick Fruit or Harvest Food at a Local Farm
apple picking at cherry hill orchard
While there are several orchards and farms you can go apple picking or to a pumpkin patch in Lancaster, we chose Cherry Hill Orchards because of the huge farm market and garden center and that we could do both Apple Picking and Pumpkin picking for a really decent price.
We drove into the apple orchard, snagged a wagon and started picking. We walked through several rows and hardly saw anyone else. After we filled our bushel of apples, we walked to the pumpkin patch and cut ourselves 3 perfect pumpkins. They even gave us 4 tickets for free Apple Cider Donuts! While in the farm store I picked up some local bacon, cheese, and other Amish produced goods.
is there anything better than getting food directly from the farms?!
Cherry Hill Orchards does have a decent sized play area (additional cost), but it wanes in comparison to farms like Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. So if your family is looking for a more play-all-day type farm, Cherry Crest would be a better option. We wanted more low key and farm centered experience.
3. Ride the Strasburg Train & Visit the Train Museum
An must do in Lancaster is the Strasburg Railroad! Here you are able to climb on board for a 45-minute narrated ride through Amish Country farmland. The train travels from Strasburg Station to Paradise, PA and then turns and comes back.
the strasburg train is a must do in lancaster!! such gorgeous train cars
You can choose to ride in seats in the open air rail cars, coach class, first class, and even dining cars. We chose the Coach seats because the seats flip and we could all sit together facing each other, but truly any class is going to be a very memorable experience. I definitely recommend taking the first journey of the day as it was much less crowded than the second hour!
After you disembark, be sure to check out the on-site train themed playground, restaurant and gift shop. Also, if you are a wizard, hunt for Platform 9 3/4! Be sure to stick around until the next train get’s ready to leave - it’s quite a sight seeing the steam billowing from the engine!
If you are traveling with a train lover, be sure to pair the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with a ride on the Strasburg train! It’s one of the best in the country!
strasburg railroad is the oldest continuously running railroad in the usa!
4. Take a Driving Tour to see the Historic Covered Bridges
Lancaster County is home to 25 famous Historic Covered Bridges. You can’t visit Lancaster and not see at least a few.
Click Here for Lancaster County's Covered Bridge Guide
You can create your own driving tour to see the bridges that interest you the most. We saw:
Baumgardeners’s Historic Covered Bridge
Lime Valley Covered Bridge
Historic Neff’s Mill Covered Bridge (Currently Closed October 2025)
Mercer’s Mill Covered Bridge
Leaman’s Place Covered Bridge
5. Eat Authentic Amish Food
If you’re in Lancaster, you absolutely must eat authentic Amish food. We ate at Katie’s Kitchen and Miller’s Smorgasbord. However, there are so many different places to eat that are Amish owned and you can even book a private meal with the Amish.
Katie’s Kitchen is Amish owned and operated. The servers and employees are all Amish. The food is traditional Amish fare and it is SO GOOD. I had the pork and kraut while my husband went with the meatloaf.
Inside Katie’s Kitchen they sell traditional Amish dresses and goods, so be sure to check them out before you head off.
the food was so good and comforting at katie’s kitchen
Miller’s Smorgasbord is the oldest smorgasbord in Lancaster. They serve home cooked meals steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. When you’re here, do not miss the chicken and waffles and be sure to try the shoofly pie and chocolate pecan pie!
6. Shop at a farm stand or head to a farmer’s market
Farm stands are peppered throughout Lancaster County. Many of the Amish set up tables or little buildings at the end of their driveway where they sell baked goods like bread and whoopie pies, jams, lemonade, flowers, clothing and even hand made wooden goods. Visiting an Amish farm stand is a must do on any trip to Lancaster!
we stocked up on everything from butter to pickles to hand made toys!
When we did the farm tour, the check in area had some goods, so I grabbed pickles and Whoopie pies. Also at Old Windmill Farm, we stopped at the Mennonite farm stand (Lil’ Country Store and Miniature Horse Farm) for things like hand churned butter, fresh squeezed lemonade, homemade root beer, hand crafted wood toys, and more whoopie pies!
Cherry Hill Orchard also sold many Amish and Mennonite goods from around the county!
I grabbed this from the cherry hill orchard store and it really did make me feel so good - i need to get more!
7. Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park
Did you know Lancaster is home to an amusement park? If you’re a thrill seeker - you must go! Said to be World’s Best Family Park, Dutch Wonderland offers magical moments for parents and kids to experience together. You’ll get to meet characters like Duke the Dragon and Princess Brooke. Dutch Wonderland is home to over 30 family-friendly rides of all sizes and for all ages. They also offer entertainment like puppet shows and daring dive shows In the warmer month’s you an cool off in Duke’s Lagoon water play area.
If you’re visiting Lancaster with kids, you must go to Dutch Wonderland!
We didn’t get to go to dutch wonderland on this trip, but it’s on my lancaster bucketlist!
Lancaster Weekend Itinerary
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Lancaster Weekend Itinerary *
Lancaster County is a destination packed with history, amazing food, and cozy countryside vibes —and knowing the best things to do in the area will make planning your trip easier Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with a whole crew of kids in tow like I did, Lancaster’s Amish Country welcomes you with open arms.
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