How to Plan Your Amish Country Day Trip

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Looking for ways to plan your Amish Country day trip?

Welcome to Amish Country PA, home to Pennsylvania’s and America’s oldest Amish settlement. Step back in time to when a “plain” lifestyle was the norm. We’re talking a slow, peaceful pace, perhaps even riding a traditional Amish horse and buggy through Lancaster County’s rolling green hills and windblown fields of crops.

We’ve got all the details you need to plan your Amish Country day trip to Lancaster County.


Amish Country Mornings

Guder mariye from Amish Country Pennsylvania. That’s Pennsylvania Dutch for good morning. Did you know the Amish speak a German dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch? Spend your morning in Lancaster County on tour at Amish Village, learning fascinating facts about the Amish community that you won’t find anywhere online. Here you’ll take a guided tour of an authentic Amish farmhouse and barnyard, exploring the 12-acre property on foot or taking a 90-minute guided bus tour of the Amish Country backroads. Who knows Lancaster better than a guide who was born and raised here?

Suppose you’re an early riser and visiting Amish Country on a Saturday in late February to April. In that case, you won’t want to miss a Lancaster County mud sale. These fundraiser events for local fire companies draw quite the crowd. You can find hand-stitched Amish quilts at mud sales, locally-crafted Amish furniture, antiques, baked goods, and more up for bid. Another excellent morning stop is at a local farmers’ market like Bird-in-Hand Market or Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction for fresh produce. Or why not take a drive in the countryside? You’ll stumble on some of the best fruits and vegetables at an Amish roadside market or stand. Don’t forget your cash.


Afternoons in Dutch Country

When it’s time to refuel again, why not head to a spot that specializes in Pennsylvania Dutch classics? Head to Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant for authentic family-style Pennsylvania Dutch cooking delivered to your table and leave with goodies from the bakery and gift shop. Another favorite lunch stop for farm-fresh goodness is Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord. Here, you’ll find beloved family recipes with ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Top off your lunch with a shoofly pie or whoopie pie treat for the road at Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe.

After lunch, it’s a great time to enjoy a quintessential Amish horse and buggy ride. It may feel a bit cliche, but you can’t leave Amish Country without this experience. Ride like the Amish do with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides, touring working Amish farms and traveling through covered bridges. Or perhaps grill your drivers at A is for Amish Buggy Rides with all your burning Amish questions.


Pennsylvania Dutch Country Evenings

The fun shouldn’t end when the sun goes down. Fill up with a hearty Pennsylvania Dutch meal at the iconic Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the most extensive buffet in the United States with favorite family recipes prepared fresh. You can find hand-dipped ice cream at Hayloft Ice Cream or 30 flavors of ice cream and more at the Milkhouse Ice Cream Shoppe at Oregon Dairy for an after-dinner treat.

If you’re looking to get in a last-minute tour before the day ends, we recommend Amish Farm and House. The last bus tour leaves at 4 p.m. and travels around the beautiful Amish countryside, stopping at various Amish shops. Amish Farm and House is hosting a one-of-a-kind sunset picnic, an evening of food and fellowship on their inviting farm for a limited time. It sounds like a great way to end the day in Amish Country.

When you’ve had your fill of excitement for the day, don’t waste your stay in Amish Country at a chain hotel. At an Amish Country farm bed and breakfast like Verdant View Farm Bed & Breakfast or Neffdale Farm of Paradise, you can spend the night at someone’s farm. Immerse yourself in a unique Amish experience.

Start Planning Your Day Trip to Amish Country

If all this sounds appealing, it’s time to start planning your day trip to Amish Country today. Keep in mind, the Amish don’t work on Sundays, but you’ll still find plenty of things to do on Sundays in Amish Country. Whether you spend your time on an Amish tour, perusing a farmer’s market, or enjoying a delicious PA Dutch meal, expect a kind smile and an exciting adventure you’re sure to remember. Most of all, you won’t regret your day trip to Lancaster’s Amish Country.

 

 

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