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Here’s a destination for your next day trip or weekend getaway
by Rebecca Klein
It takes less than a tank of gas, round trip, to visit a family-moon destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re craving a quiet countryside weekend, an action packed adventure to kid-friendly attractions, a shopping spree through mom and pop shops and big name outlets, a tour of Amish Country or a combination of it all, the area surrounding our nation’s oldest inland city makes for a great getaway. We’re talking about the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
From the Baltimore area, you can get there in one to two hours. With three days to fill, I thought I could do it all — that is, until starting to plan our trip.
My family definitely maximized how much we could squeeze into each day and could have spent far more time at each of our destinations. Here’s our travel log.
Day 1
Kitchen Kettle Village
3529 Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340), Intercourse, PA 17534
kitchenkettle.com, 800.732.3538
Quaint shops, a buggy ride through Amish Country, pony rides, battery-powered mini-tractors, gingerbread cookie decorating, a petting zoo, a jelly kitchen tour… and the list of what we experienced at Kitchen Kettle Village isn’t over.The village features 40 specialty stores and many child-friendly activities. At the Village Quilt Shop, each quilt is the culmination of 300 to 600 hours of work. Once you park, you can explore by foot (and stroller) and even spend the night in one of 17 rooms in the village.
Forget about calorie counting. The many temptations include locally made ice cream, fudge, jellies, relishes and baked goods. For just $1, your kids can decorate a gingerbread cookie. They’ll also likely meet up with a super-sized one — Yummie, the village mascot.
Co-founder, 80-year-old Pat Burnley, whose title is “Lady of the House,” greeted us when we arrived. She continues to come to work daily and encourages visitors to live a little while they’re here. “Eat one thing that makes your mouth happy and your feet might break out dancing. Eat two things that make your heart happy and the fountain of youth gushes like a geyser,” she touts in a brochure.
Once upon a time, Kitchen Kettle Foods, which houses the jam and relish kitchen and bakery, was Burnley’s two-car garage. She and her late husband, Bob Burnley, launched their business in 1954, with the vision that the area would become a tourist destination, and continued to grow over the years. Her roots go back even further. The village’s Kling House Restaurant is in the home where she was raised.
Burnley’s granddaughter, Michelle Rondinelli, gave us a tour of the village and its offerings — including a surprise horse and buggy tour through Amish Country, where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and getting an overview of Amish history and culture.
She recommends spending at least a half-day here. We enjoyed lunch in the Kettle Café, featuring fresh sandwiches, burgers and fries, homemade soups and such Pennsylvania Dutch Country favorites as shoe fly pie, described as being similar to pecan pie minus the pecans.
Admission: free. Ticket purchase required for some activities. Year-round special events & festivals. Closed Sundays & Christmas.
Willow Valley Resort & Conference Center
2416 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
willowvalley.com, 800.444.1714
As we stood in the check-in line at the Willow Valley Resort, the first family we met hadn’t left the property in a few days. We quickly realized why.
The resort offers round the clock activities. In addition to indoor and outdoor pools, there is a water playground. My toddler, Samara, was mesmerized by all the water shooting out of the rainbow shaped sprinkler in the wading area. The frog slide seemed to be a magnet for elementary school aged kids. There’s also a twisting tube slide for tweens and teens.
Sean Sweeney, a father of a toddler, has been coming to the resort since he was a little boy. “ I think the whole place is just built for kids,” he says, standing just outside the water playground. He is here with his parents, his wife, and their young son.
The 307 acre property also includes a 9-hole golf course, playground, a walking path encircling a lake and tennis courts. You can walk or take a wagon ride over to the on-site farm, which offers tours of the petting zoo area and a farmhouse dating back to the 1800’s. If it were up to my almost 4-year-old son, Seth, we would have spent all our time in the arts and crafts room, You can also take a three hour complimentary bus tour around Lancaster County.
Along with rotating evening events such as bingo, movies and s'more roasts, you can grab a game of Nintendo Wii in the lobby or play shuffleboard, table tennis or other videogames.
“We’re very kid-friendly, so when families bring younger children, they don’t feel like they’re intruding on a couple’s getaway,” shares Kristin Barnett, the resort’s marketing specialist.
We ended up putting her statement to the test in one of the hotel’s two dining rooms, where Seth and Samara’s extra high volumes seemed to go unnoticed. There is an extensive buffet along with an a la carte menu. Like Sweeney and his family, we saw a number of tables filled with members of three generations.
Day 2
Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides3121 Old Philadelphia Pike (Rt. 340), Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
amishbuggyrides.com,717.768.8828
After indulging (and then some) at one of Willow Valley’s two breakfast buffets, we set out for Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides for a 30-minute, horse drawn buggy tour through Amish County.
As we turned off the main road and ventured onto a private, back country one, the soothing slow rhythm of our horse’s hooves hitting the pavement was intoxicating, as I felt my usually racing mind slow down.
We took in picturesque views of small farms and beautifully manicured homes with additions built on to accommodate multiple generations of Amish families.
Our driver, Jake Stoltzfoos, a grandfather 55 times over — no, that’s not a typo — not only served as a horse whisperer, but did the same for my daughter, Samara, as she started to lose steam; he hoisted her up on his lap for a better view of our four-hoofed driver, Molly. As he answered questions about Amish life and offered up his own colorful illustrations of the passing scenery — including a one-room school house, Amish shops and farms — he made my son, Seth’s day when he offered him a short turn with the reigns.
Owner Jack Meyer, who coordinates the tours, enjoys watching visitors take the time “to smell the roses.” He shares, “I think when people come here and experience that kind of lifestyle they take something home for their souls too.”
Meyer can trace this family’s ancestors in the area back to 1757. The business is named for his daughter, Jessica, and her childhood horse.
The buggy rides depart year-round from Plain & Fancy Farm, which also houses a country restaurant, store, hotel, working farm and activities for all ages.
The prices haven’t climbed in 20 years. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for 12 and under, and free for 2 and under. No reservations required.
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, PA 17572
cherrycrestadventurefarm.com, 866.456.1799
Let’s just say my family may have spent the night at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm — that is, if we didn’t have a guide navigating us through the Amazing Maize Maze. Ok, that’s exaggerating. It takes most visitors an hour to venture through the corn maze’s five acres of 14-foot-high stalks. Some take five hours to get out of what’s billed as “the world’s largest interactive game.” Along the way, you can solve clues and collect puzzle pieces to find your way through this year’s green-themed maze. The “America Grows Green” maze features solar and wind powered exhibits, the Energy Café for a quick jolt and other fun stations. One member of each party carries a flag on a tall stick, which can be waved to signal help from one of the “maze masters,” perched on a raised platform.Cherry Crest, which features a different maze design and theme each year, has stolen the national media spotlight many times over with features on CNN, the Today show and Good Morning America.
The adventures don’t begin and end in the maze. My little ones loved the 40 by 70 foot jumping pillows, which are described as a cross between a trampoline and a moon bounce. I appreciated something they didn’t notice — there is a separate jumping pillow for the youngest visitors.
Cherry Crest also offers a farm tour wagon ride, a hay chute slide you can race down on a burlap bag, an extensive petting zoo, interactive educational exhibits, mini mazes and much more. Inside the Make-A-Friend workshop, you can make your own Amish doll and learn about Amish culture at the same time. Participants choose their doll’s gender, hair and eye color and from several outfits that are sewn by hand by local Amish women Feet away, you can make your own wooden train, tractor or barn.
One 3-year-old girl shares her favorite activity: “Playing in the wheat,” she announces, and asks without pause, “Can you write that?” to verify that I took notes about her time in the hay jumping tent.
“We try to bring people to the farm to learn about farming and to have a good time,” shares General Manager Rudy Kilgore. “We get a lot of comments [that] this is better than Disney,” he adds.
The concession stands feature burger and hot dog standards along with salads and wraps, farm fresh corn and great fries!
Full day admission, including maze: $13.95 for 12+, $11.95 for 3-11 and free for 2 and under. Admission, without maze entry: $10.95 for 3+, free for 2 and under. Open May-Nov. 8th, weather permitting. During the fall, open Fri. & Sat. only.
Strasburg Rail Road
301 Gap Road (Route 741 East), Ronks, PA 17572
StrasburgRailRoad.com, 717.687.7522
You can feel yourself traveling back in time as you board the restored trains, dating back to the mid 1800’s, on what is the nation’s oldest short-line railroad. Strasburg Rail Road purchased its first passenger car in 1861 to prepare for a visit from President Lincoln. The railroad continued to transport passengers and freight until the 1950’s and this year celebrates its 50th birthday offering tourists a ride-on history lesson.
As my little ones enjoyed the thrill factor of riding in an open air train, I loved the 45 minutes of postcard views of Amish farmland peppered with narration about the scenery and history of the railroad.
The coal-burning steam trains offer several riding options. The glassed-in coach section is the most economical ride. You can also reserve a spot on special rides featuring wine and cheese, lunch or dinner.
Back at the station, which features the Trackside Café, the adventure continues for younger visitors with a miniature steam train ride, a hand-operated pump car and more.
Three times each year — in September, December and June — Thomas the Train Engine pulls into the station and hosts special Day Out with Thomas rides. In December, you can travel with Santa.
A joint ticket with Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is also available; the train stops right at the farm.
Regularly scheduled rides, without meals, start at $12 for adults, $6 for ages 3-11 and free for under 3. A portion of the ticket price supports the Lancaster Farmland Trust.
Strasburg Country Store & Creamery
1 West Main Street, Strasburg, PA 17579
Strasburg.com, 717.687.0766
After a packed day, we were all running out of fuel fast and headed to the Strasburg Country Store & Creamery, located along the row of quaint Main Street shops, to grab a quick dinner before retiring for the night.
It’s nearly impossible to concentrate on reading the blackboard of sandwich and soup specials when there is a 600-pound, 1890’s marble soda fountain and cases of homemade ice cream competing for your attention.
Manager Robin Stermer tells us that this popular lunch spot and ice-cream destination also attracts a casual dinner crowd for its homemade soups and sandwich fare. I kept eating the pulled pork bbq sandwich long after I was full. Of course, the sight of the melt-in-your mouth apple dumpling sundae that Stermer brought us gave our appetites yet another wind.
Day 3
Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30), Lancaster, PA 17602
DutchWonderland.com, 1.866.FUNatDW
Touted as a “Kingdom for Kids” and voted “One of the top five best kids’ parks in the world” by Amusement Today magazine, Dutch Wonderland is a royalty themed amusement park that caters to the 12 and under set. When asked for secrets about navigating the park, Marketing Manager Bethany Alwan suggests starting in the back and scoping out the rides and activities along the way. We took the Sky Ride from one end to the other to get the lay of the land. The strategy worked — we didn’t face any lines for our first hour.
You won’t find the kind of daredevil, upside-down rides that make your head and stomach spin. Dutch Wonderland is billed as a park of firsts. Still, there’s enough speed to spike everyone’s adrenaline. The log flume was a hit with the whole family.
“I like that the rides are broken up with little shows in between,” says mom, Lisa Calligy, seated with her 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son for the Adventures of the Frog Prince water show. “It’s not overwhelming,” she says.
In addition to a line-up of daily shows and story times, there is also a daily family dance party. During the warmer weather, you can cool down in Duke’s Lagoon Water Play area. The multi-level water playground’s centerpiece is a 55-foot-high geyser.
You’ll want to save time to explore the park’s island, surrounded by a gondola boat cruise ride, where you can stroll along winding paths through whimsical gardens that house such nostalgic treasures as a whaleboat, which was one of the park’s original rides when it opened in 1963.
Back on the mainland, the park’s celebrities —Princess Brooke, Duke the Dragon and Dutch Wonderland Knight — walk around greeting guests and posing for pictures.
According to Alwan, you can do the park in a day if you’re ambitious. She finds that many guests, especially those with little ones, will plan for two days and take nap breaks where they are staying. In addition to lodging options in the area, there is an adjacent campground, run by the park.
There are many meal and snack choices in the park. Along with typical amusement park fare, you’ll also find healthy choices.
Day Pass: $29.95 for “Royalty”: ages 3 to 59. Free for “Royalty-In-Training”: 2 and under. Senior discounts & twilight rates. Open May – Oct.; limited days at beginning and end of season. Open for seasonal events in fall & winter.
Shopping
Of course, we couldn’t leave the area without hitting the outlets. After a full day at Dutch Wonderland, my husband drove our two sleepers around the Rockvale Outlets’ parking lots while I raced to cram in some shopping. Rockvale Outlets, located on Route 30, just down the road from Dutch Wonderland, offers 100-plus stores including Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, Gymboree, Stride Rite and Children’s Place. Also nearby on Route 30, the Tanger Outlets offer more options including Ralph Lauren, Motherhood Maternity and J. Crew. Visit tangeroutlet.com or rockvalesquareoutlets.com before your trip to check for promotions.
Throughout the area, you’ll also find numerous shops featuring Amish made furniture and gifts.
Planning Your Trip
We wish we had time to fit in even more destinations. Hersheypark is about 45 minutes away from downtown Lancaster. Other hotspots include the hands-on Lancaster Science Factory, the Landis Valley Museum featuring exhibits on Pennsylvania German history, the life-size trains at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylania and the miniature ones at the National Toy Train Museum. Downtown Lancaster features a growing number of shops and restaurants.
Diverse lodging options throughout Pennsylvania Dutch Country include hotels, bed and breakfasts, working farms and camping. For a full calendar of events and activities and to learn about specials and vacation packages, visit the Pennyslvania Dutch Convention & Visitor’s Bureau’s website: discoverlancasterpa.com.
*Prices and schedules noted are subject to change. Please call ahead or visit the websites for more detailed information on prices and hours of operation.
