Lancaster trips and vacations
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country, this rural town blends American heritage with a thriving creative culture and streets that still thrum with horses and buggies. Your vacation to Lancaster will feel like a journey into the past and a leap into the future. Explore redbrick neighborhoods full of cutting-edge galleries, locavore restaurants and vintage shops. Beyond the city limits, find rolling farmland and the county’s iconic covered bridges.
Lancaster vacation highlights
Where to stay
Downtown is the best place to stay in Lancaster for history buffs and foodies. Wander cobblestone streets lined with redbrick heritage townhouses. Hunt for keepsakes and gifts in the galleries and boutiques of Gallery Row. And sit down to farm-to-table feasts in the city’s hip new restaurants.
Simpler times
Lancaster vacations are a great opportunity to slow down and experience the local Amish and Mennonite communities, whose way of life has changed little over the centuries. Take a buggy ride through traditional farms and villages, sit down to a wholesome meal in an Amish home, and learn about the lives of Mennonite settlers at Lancaster’s 1719 Museum.
Beautiful bridges
Lancaster’s covered bridges are perfect for leisurely day trips back in time. Download one of the many guides and discover the 25 rustic beauties that dot the county. Along the way, you’ll find pretty villages filled with old-timey cafes, shops and galleries. The bridges are also known as ‘kissing bridges’, so bring that someone special along for the ride.
Things to do in Lancaster
Nightlife
Because of its compact, walkable downtown, exploring the nightlife in Lancaster is a breeze. Pull up a stool and sample the local ales in one of the many craft breweries and taverns. Or take it up a level and perch yourself in a stylish rooftop bar. Want to take in a show? The Fulton Theatre is the place to be.
Shopping
Shopping in Lancaster is all about one-of-a-kind finds. Browse the vintage stores of North Queen Street, pick up mid-century homewares at Space, or find antiques in the nearby villages of Columbia and Strasburg. And keep your eyes peeled for local ‘mud sales’ — huge auctions held in the muddy spring months where you can pick up Amish quilts, crockery and more.
Places to eat
Lancaster is home to a growing immigrant population, and the food scene reflects that. You’ll find a wide range of multicultural cuisine, from Asian noodle soups to North African stews. Come hungry to Lancaster Central Market, a maze of food stalls featuring Puerto Rican empanadas, traditional baked goods and everything in between. Don’t leave town without a caramel-filled Dutch 'stroopwafel,’ a local favorite.
