|
Lancaster Attractions Lancaster attractions are among some of the
most unique you might ever hope to see. The Amish Farm and House is an actual
working farm where guests can get an up close look at how an Amish family
lives. For a broader view the Amish Village shows the life of an Amish community
including an operating windmill, a barn with animals, and a blacksmith shop.
Amish craftsmanship is on display at the People's Place Quilt Museum. After
all of this one might forget what century they are in so Lancaster offers
an experiential theatre featuring state of the art special effects including
smoke and cannon fire. And the kids might enjoy a ride on the roller coaster
at Dutch Wonderland, a family amusement park. Let Onlinehotels.com show
you some of our favorite places to play.
Amish Experience
F/X Theatre Amish Farm and House Amish Village Discover Lancaster
County History Museum Dutch Wonderland Ed's Buggy
Rides Julius Sturgis Pretzel
House Mennonite Information
Center and Biblical Tabernacle Reproduction Mill Bridge Village People's Place People's Place
Quilt Museum Weavertown One-Room
Schoolhouse Wheatland |
||
|
The
state-of-the-art Amish Experience F/X Theatre calls itself an "experiential"
theatre because it is constructed to provide a complete sensory experience.
Its films are depicted on five different screens, while special effects
draw the spectator into the story. The special effects include smoke,
cannon fire, and thunder and lightening. The theatre is currently playing
the critically acclaimed film "Jacob's Choice," which
explores one Amish family's struggle to preserve their way of life.
The Amish Experience F/X Theatre is located at 3121 Old Philadelphia Pike
(Route 340) in Bird-in-Hand. For additional information about the theatre,
call (717) 768-8400, ext. 10.
The
Amish Farm and House is a 25-acre working farm that depicts the Amish
way of life. Guests first take a guided tour of the house, which illustrates
the Amish people's simple lifestyle. Wooden benches are located
in the house's front room, ready for in-home church services; the
bedrooms display the colorful quilts that are a trademark of the Amish
people. Guests head outside after the tour, where live animals, crops,
and various building makeup the working Amish farm. The Amish Farm and
House is located at 2395 Route 30 in Lancaster. Call the farm at (717)
394-6185 for information about its hours and admission fees. 
The
Amish Village demonstrates the lifestyle of Lancaster County's Amish
community. Its educational tours take guests through an authentically
furnished Amish farmhouse. Afterwards, guest may see an operating windmill
and waterwheel, a barn with animals, a blacksmith shop with tools, and
a fully furnished, one-room schoolhouse. Guests are also welcome to take
pictures while sitting in one of the village's Amish buggies. The
Amish Village is located on Route 896, one mile south of Route 30, in
Strasburg. Call the village at (717) 687-8511 for information about its
hours and admission fees.
The
Discover Lancaster County History Museum places 160 life-size figures
in 34 scenes depicting Lancaster County history. The museum's scenes
range from the 1600s to the present day, and include the county's
role in historical events such as the Revolutionary and Civil wars. In
one exhibit, guests can dress up like Daniel Boone, who was born slightly
north of Lancaster County in 1734, and experience his life through costumes.
Another highlight of the museum is an animatronic depiction of the Amish
raising a barn. 
Dutch
Wonderland is a family amusement park. It has rides of all kinds, including
roller coasters, a flume, and a merry-go-round. It also features a number
of entertaining shows and special events, such as a high dive act and
various amphitheater performances. 
Ed's
Buggy Rides offers guests a memorable journey through the Amish countryside
in an authentic Amish buggy. These rides give guests a great vantage point
in which to observe the everyday life of the Amish people. Knowledgeable
drivers enrich the experience by answering questions about Amish customs
and practices. The rides, which usually last about one hour, even stop
at a one-room schoolhouse and a working Amish farm. There, guests experience
Amish life first-hand. Rides cost $8 for adults and $4 for children. Ed's
Buggy Rides is located on Route 896, between Route 30 and Strasburg. 
Legend
states that in 1850, a hobo followed his nose to a building where Julius
Sturgis was baking bread. Sturgis graciously agreed to feed the hobo,
who gave him a recipe for hard pretzels in return. Sturgis went on to
start the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. Sturgis' bakery,
located at 219 E. Main St. (Route 772) in Lititz, still churns out pretzels
today. On the bakery's guided tours, guests learn the history of
the pretzel, roll and twist dough into pretzels, and get to see the original
bakery where pretzels were first produced. Call the Sturgis Pretzel House
at (717) 626-4354 for information about its tour hours and fees. 
Mill
Bridge Village allows visitors to step into life as it appeared in the
18th century, and visit modern-day replicas of Amish dwellings. Village
guests can visit a blacksmith shop, grist mill, Victorian music room,
and a nickelodeon theater. Those interested in the Amish way of life,
can walk through the village's modern-day Amish house or schoolhouse.
Mill Bridge Village is located on South Ronks Road in Paradise. Call the
village at (800) 645-2744 for information about its hours and admission
fees. 
The
People's Place provides guests with a comprehensive understanding
of the Amish and Mennonite ways of life. Its three-screen film, "Who
are the Amish," delves into the plain people's customs, beliefs,
community, and childhood. The museum's "20 Questions"
exhibit answers the 20 most frequently asked questions concerning the
Amish and Mennonite peoples through hands-on exhibits. Some of the questions
include, "Are they growing or dying in number?" and "Must
you be born into it?" The People's Place is located at 3513
Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) in Intercourse. Call the museum at (800)
390-8436 for information about its hours and admission fees.
The
People's Place Quilt Museum showcases the needlecraft of the Amish
and Mennonites. It typically exhibits antique quilts made prior to 1940,
and also houses other decorative arts. The museum puts on a new show of
exhibits annually, making it a repeatedly visited attraction. The People's
Quilt Museum is located at 3510 Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) in Intercourse,
above the historic Old Country Store. The Old Country Store sells goods
crafted by the Amish and Mennonite peoples. Call the People's Place
Quilt Museum at (800) 828-8218 for information about its hours, fees,
and current exhibition. 
The
Weavertown One-Room Schoolhouse demonstrates the kind of classroom setting
found in Amish schools today. The authentic schoolhouse, built in 1877,
held grades one through eight for over 100 years. Desks, blackboards,
and a pot-bellied stove are just a few of the original furnishings inside.
Staff members speak to guests about today's one-room schoolhouses
and the Amish people before 30 students and one teacher spring to life
through audio and animatronic technology. The Weavertown One-Room Schoolhouse
is located on the Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) between Bird-in-Hand
and Intercourse. Call the schoolhouse at (717) 768-3976 for information
about its hours, admission fees, and to make reservations for large groups.
Wheatland
served as James Buchanan's home during his presidential campaign,
and after his presidency. There, he entertained many prominent men of
his time to discuss pertinent political issues, such as the impending
Civil War. The house is restored to reflect Buchanan's mid-19th-century
genteel lifestyle. The 90-minute tour starts in the Carriage House Visitor's
Center where guests view an introductory video, and then costumed interpreters
lead guests through the house. Wheatland is located at 1120 Marietta Ave.
in Lancaster. Call the presidential home at (717) 392-8721 for information
about its tour times and admission fees.