Esther O’Hara Gallery

January 27, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

Today’s Photo Friday comes from the Esther O’Hara Gallery, located inside a quaint hardware and country shop in Bird-in-Hand, PA. Esther works on site from Thursday through Saturday. In the gallery you will find Esther’s original artwork, which includes Amish figurines and jewelry. Esther uses a detailed process and ‘quilts with clay’. Stop in for some beautiful handmade figurines!

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Tags: Amish, Bird-in-Hand, Esther O'Hara, figurines, Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, PA Dutch Country

Snow Geese coming to Lancaster County

January 24, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

The Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is a special tract owned and set aside by the PA Game Commission for the protection and management of wildlife. Depending on the season, a variety of wildlife can be seen, but the most active times are just after dawn, and again about dusk. In mid-February, early March, you can stop and see Snow Geese – when they’re in flight, some describe it as “winged chaos.”

You can see some photos that we took three years ago here. There are thousands of birds that migrate through Lancaster County each year. The Game Commission updates the bird totals on their web site weekly, so be sure to check in before you plan your visit.

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Tags: Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, Snow Geese

Snow Covered Lancaster County

January 20, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

Perhaps we’ll be getting some snow this weekend – what do you think? I do love to see the snow covered fields, but do not love shoveling. Lancaster County is beautiful in the winter – and we’ve got plenty of hotels with fireplaces in the rooms, which I think is just fabulous for when you’re visiting somewhere in the colder weather – a fabulous way to relax! Enjoy your weekend, whether you’ll have snow or not!

1 Comment | Category: Outdoors | Permalink

Tags: fireplace, hotels, Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, Snow, Winter

Paradise, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County

January 16, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

Have you ever thought to yourself “Ahh… I’d love to just visit Paradise?” Well, you can! There’s a quiet little town called Paradise along the Pequea Creek in eastern Lancaster County. It got it’s name in 1804 from a remark made by Joshua Scott, publisher of “Scott’s Map of Lancaster County.” Scott stated that the areas was just like “paradise,” and the name stuck.*

Paradise was considered one of the finest agricultural tracts of land in the county, and for over fifty years, Paradise was the center for the largest mail order seed business in the country.

Many of the businesses in Paradise are still centered around agriculture and visitors to Lancaster County love to go to see the farmland and eat Pennsylvania Dutch style food. Paradise is also home to the Rainbow Dinner Theatre, and all comedy theatre, the National Toy Train Museum, the Red Caboose Motel, Restaurant & Gift Shop, Historic Revere Tavern, and the Strasburg Rail Road makes a stop there!

*Information from The United States Postal Service
"The Unique Towns of Lancaster County, PA."

2 Comments | Category: Things to Do | Permalink

Tags: Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, PA Dutch Country, Paradise, Paradise PA

Patchwork Farmland

January 13, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

Lancaster County farmland truly looks like a patchwork quilt from the viewpoint of a hot air balloon. I was lucky enough to take a hot air balloon ride about two years ago over Lancaster County with the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team. We went on an early morning ride, I think we started at 6am. It was beautiful! to see the county from that far up was just amazing, especially when you think that a lot of the farmland is owned by the Amish, and they don’t use power tools while farming – those mules make some pretty straight lines, wouldn’t you say? Just another way to experience Lancaster County!

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Tags: Amish, farmland, Hot Air Balloon, Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, Patchwork, US Hot Air Balloon Rides

A few of my favorites: Tin toys

January 11, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

So there’s this little shop in Downtown Lancaster called Here to Timbuktu. When you enter the shop, you’ll think to yourself “Aah… that’s why the store is called that.” They’ve got everything from here to Timbuktu! The owner, Moirajeanne (MJ), opened the shop back in 1988. One of my absolute favorite things in the shop are these vintage Mickey Mouse tin toys! I wasn’t around when these were popular, but that makes them all the more intriguing to me. There’s not just Disney ones, they’ve got robots, cowboys, airplanes, and more. So if you’re looking for something unique to buy your little one, or anyone who loves nostalgia, or yourself for that matter, head on over to Here to Timbuktu and pick yourself out a tin toy!

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Tags: Here to Timbuktu, Lancaster PA, nostalgia, Shopping, tin toys, vintage

Enjoy a fresh pretzel in PA Dutch Country!

January 6, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

This week’s Photo Friday is from Intercourse Pretzel Factory. I do love a good pretzel! They have a free factory tour where you can learn to twist a pretzel, and they’ve got four kinds of hard pretzels and four kinds of soft pretzels. I love the basic hard pretzel with mustard – and with the soft pretzels, I like to do what I did growing up – make Pizza Pretzels! Just put tomato sauce and american cheese on top, and pop in in the microwave for about 20 seconds so the cheese melts. So delicious! What is your favorite way to enjoy a pretzel?

Head on over to Intercourse Pretzel Factory and enjoy!

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Tags: Intercourse Pretzel Factory, Lancaster County, Pretzels

Immerse yourself in Strasburg, PA!

January 3, 2012 | Posted by: Sarah

Located in Lancaster County, Strasburg is a quaint town just a few miles south of the hustle and bustle of the county’s busy thoroughfare, and it is the perfect location to see our country as it was amid what it has become. The town of Strasburg is a trip into a simpler, yet more complex, time. It offers you an honest view of living history while never leading you more than a few steps away from comforts that are modern and convenient.

The Amish culture survives and thrives in Strasburg. Unlike other experiences, the people you will see here are not part of productions staffed by actors but real people who walk their talk. For a full eye-opening view of the Amish in the area, try Ed’s Buggy Rides or take a ride on the Strasburg Rail Road. You can visit The Amish Village for a tour which provides a more comprehensive education about the Amish and their culture. And there’s always The Lil Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm, where miniature horses welcome you to a real Amish farm.

For the train aficionadas, Strasburg, known as “Train Town USA” offers not only the rail road, but the National Toy Train Museum, The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Choo-Choo Barn. If you’ve got an addicted train enthusiast with you, plan to spend at least one full day here.

But Strasburg has so much more to offer! Weather permitting, you can get in your daily exercise with a round at Village Greens Miniature Golf or get lost in the maze at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Not into the out-of-doors? Strasburg offers unique shopping like Eldreth Pottery or Strasburg Toys & Collectibles. (Oh, and if you simply must power shop, Strasburg is only minutes away from Rockvale and Tanger Outlet centers.)

All that travel made you hungry yet? The town of Strasburg offers a variety of dining options that cater to all of our visitors’ needs. Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn hosts a smorgasbord for the truly famished, or try out Isaac’s for unique deli-style sandwiches as well as soups and salads. The Springerle House Tea & Cookie Café is just the place if you want to nibble on a light lunch and save room for dessert from their bakery. For fine dining and spirits, The Iron Horse Inn has an eclectic menu that combines local fare with sophisticated recipes, amid quaint surroundings and with great service. And then, there’s ice cream! Oh, and fudge! For a treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by the Strasburg Country Store and Creamery. You’ll find homemade ice cream in some pretty unusual flavors and some truly creamy homemade fudge in a variety of flavors that will make it difficult to choose!

Strasburg is home to the renowned Sight & Sound Theatres, which produces stage shows that, as their mission statement says, bring “the Bible to life”. In addition to matinee and evening shows, the theatre also provides some ‘behind the scenes’ adventures. You’ll want to make sure to see one of their spectacular shows!

If you’re not afraid of the dark, and have no fear of the paranormal, consider making reservations for the Ghost Tour of Strasburg. This walking tour provides a spirited adventure in historic – and haunted – Strasburg.

Now, all that fun and food means it’s time to rest and rejuvenate! From camping to bed & breakfast to hotel, Strasburg offers plenty of options for getting a good night’s sleep away from all of the traffic of the busier towns. White Oak Campground, which is open year-round, provides sites for everyone from the rough-it-with-a-tent to the fully-self-contained-model camper. If you’re looking for charming and quant accommodations, then try a bed and breakfast, such as Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast or Verdant View Farm Bed & Breakfast. In addition to the inn at Hershey Farms, the town of Strasburg offers rustic inns such as the Carriage House Motor Inn, The Iron Horse Inn, The Limestone Inn and the Strasburg Village Inn. For the train lover, continue your experience by spending the night at Red Caboose Motel. And, if you really want to hold onto the familiar, stay at the Clarion Inn by Choice Hotels.

As you can see, the quaint, small town of Strasburg can offer you plenty of things to see and do to fill multiple days if you choose. Are you planning this adventure for a group and feeling overwhelmed by the choices? Strasburg even has a solution for that! Amish Neighbor Tours can put together a package for your group that includes attractions, lodging and meals!

3 Comments | Category: Amish, Things to Do, Travel | Permalink

Tags: Amish, Lancaster County, Lancaster PA, Strasburg

New Year’s Eve in Lancaster County!

December 29, 2011 | Posted by: apalutis

How many times have you asked yourself, “what should we do for New Year’s?” New Year’s Eve can be very stressful at times; trying to find that perfect place to be at that perfect time.

So if you need ideas of what to do and where to pop the bubbly here in Lancaster County, look no further.

3..2..1 Lancaster!

Historic Downtown Lancaster has turned into a thriving night scene and is the perfect place to ring in the new year.

This year, activities take place at Clipper and The Lancaster Family YMCA from 5:00 – 8:45pm, with fireworks at 9:00pm. Then join the fun at 10pm at Binns Park for live music, fireworks and the dropping of the Red Rose.

For more information on entertainment and schedule, click here!

Hairspray New Year’s Eve Party

In addition to Hairspray’s fantastic final performance, ring in the new year with hors d’oeuvres, live music and a champagne toast in the lobby after the show! What a great way to spend New Year’s Eve with family, friends and a great show!

Purchase Tickets Here.

New Year’s Eve Gala at Mount Hope Mansion

Ring out the old and bring in the new with Mount Hope at the Annual New Year’s Eve Gala! Dress in all your Victorian finery, if you’d like, and indulge in the charm of 19th century music and dance.

Purchase Tickets Here

Click here for other New Year’s Eve events and packages!

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Tags: Downtown Lancaster, Fulton Theatre, Holidays, Mount Hope Estate, New Year's Eve