LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
By Golda Turner
What comes to mind when you hear these names?
Lancaster. Pennsylvania Dutch. The Amish. The Plain People.
These names conjure up pictures of rolling farmlands tilled the old fashioned way, herds of cows milked by hand, horse drawn buggies, barn raisings, and women in long hand-sewn dresses with bonnets on their heads.
This quaint link to the past still exists in a small pocket of Pennsylvania countryside, where the Amish have eschewed modern conveniences in favor of a simple way of life long forgotten by the rest of us.
See how the old and the new create a vibrant contrast in everyday life. The modern side of Pennsylvania coexists and blends with the old fashioned. The steam train and the buggy ride. The safari and the farm. The amusement park and the corn maze. You can get a taste of many worlds seemingly hundreds of years apart during one enjoyable trip.
Whether you crave a relaxing drive through pleasant scenery, are a people watcher, a chocoholic, or a thrill seeker, there is something for everyone in your family to enjoy and good memories to be made.
Buggy Rides---What is a visit to the Amish without a buggy ride? Sit back and relax as you journey through the back roads of Lancaster County with all the sights, sounds and smells of days-gone-by. See some of the most beautiful countryside in America, ride through a covered bridge, or visit a working Amish dairy farm. To get you started, here are a few local providers who will drive you through the local roads and dirt fields to visit actual Amish farms:
AAA Buggy Rides---(Intercourse PA, 717-989-2829, www.aaabuggyrides.com)
Ed’s Buggy Rides---(Ronks PA, 717-687-0360, www.edsbuggyrides.com )
A Is For Amish Buggy Rides---(Ronks PA, 717-725-8664, www.aisforamishbuggyrides.com)
Abe’s Buggy Rides---(Bird-In-Hand PA, 717-392-1794, http://abesbuggyrides.com)
Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides---(Bird-In-Hand PA, 717-768-8828, www.amishbuggyrides.com)
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm---(Ronks PA, 866-546-1799, www.cherrycrestfarm.com) Where does milk come from? How do plants grow? Do chickens really come from eggs? Treat your kids to a day at this working farm, where they can enjoy wholesome hands on experiences such as holding a baby chick, hoisting bales of hay, and much more. Cherry Crest Farm is also the home of the renowned Maize Maze, a walking maze through tall stalks of growing corn. The maze is wheelchair accessible, though since it is an actual field, it can be a bit bumpy.
Strasburg Railroad---(Strasburg PA, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) Travel aboard authentic passenger cars pulled by a massive, coal-burning steam locomotive. View rolling hills, working farms, a landscape that has changed little over time. Back at the station, test your power on an authentic Pump Car, take a ride on the miniature steam train or go along for a behind-the-scenes tour of where passenger cars and steam engines are built, restored and refurbished. Wheelchair lift available, but not ADA compliant due to the historical nature of the railroad cars—doorways and aisles may not fit wider wheelchairs.
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park---(Halifax PA, 717-362-9126, www.laketobias.com) Jump on an open air safari bus which takes you to over 150 acres that are home to 500 mammals and flightless birds such as buffalo, elk, European deer, Asian deer, and many other animals. Be ready for animals to come right up to you! The 45 minute long tour covers both pasture lands and wooded areas. Visit the reptile and exotic habitat and the petting zoo. Most exhibits are wheelchair accessible. There is an accessible bus for those who cannot transfer to the open air safari tour bus. Walking trails are accessible, but have loose gravel and inclines which may make it a bit more difficult to push a wheelchair.
Refreshing Mountain---(Stevens PA, 888-353-1490, www.refreshingmountain.com) Ziplining is not for the fainthearted, but it is an experience to remember. Both beginners and advanced zipliners will enjoy their three exhilarating treetop canopy courses with multiple zipline experiences. Sorry, this is NOT wheelchair accessible.
Choo Choo Barn---(Strasburg PA, 800-450-2920, www.choochoobarn.com) See Lancaster County like you've never seen it before - in miniature! The Choo Choo Barn is much more than "just trains" - it is a true work of art. This 1,700 square foot train display features over 150 hand-built animations and figures and 22 operating trains! See the fireman ride the fire truck to squirt real water on a burning house, an authentic Amish barn raising, a three ring circus, a zoo, and so much more! Wheelchair accessible, but narrow aisles—no scooters or double strollers.
Turkey Hill---(Columbia PA, 844-847-4884, www.turkeyhillexperience.com) Though it is not the actual working factory, these interactive exhibits will teach how ice cream and tea flavors are selected and created. Become an ice cream maker for a day, produce and star in your own TV commercial, milk mechanical cows, and more. Wheelchair accessible.
Hershey Chocolate Factory---(Hershy PA, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheys.com) Dubbed ‘The Sweetest Place On Earth’, the Hershey factory is chocolate lovers heaven. The smell alone makes the trip worthwhile! Learn how chocolate is made, create your own candy with personalized wrapper (kosher certified, not cholov Yisroel), and enjoy a mystery show. Wheelchair accessible.
Hershey Park---(Hershey PA, 800-HERSHEY, www.Hersheypark.com) Hershy is a large amusement park with over 65 rides, entertainment, a marine presentation, and a North American wildlife park. Enrolling in their Ride Accessibility Program generates a list of appropriate rides and entitles wheelchair users to enter through the ride’s exit. There are a number of quiet spaces throughout the park to provide relief from sensory stimulation.
Dutch Wonderland---(Lamcaster PA, 866-386-2839, www.Dutchwonderland.com)
Geared towards families with children ages 12 and under, Dutch Wonderland features over 35 rides and attractions. Ride accessibility guide available on their website or by calling guest services.
For more information on planning your Pennsylvania vacation, visit www.visitpa.com