Lancaster County has many nicknames including the Heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Amish Country. Since the area is the oldest Amish settlement in the country, it’s no surprise that Lancaster County is a destination for people who want to see and learn more about the Amish.
There are many places in and around Lancaster that offer a look into the lives of the Amish, from seeing what style of home they live in, to viewing an example of the one room schoolhouses that their children attend, to experiencing a real-life buggy ride around the back roads of Lancaster County. These are some of the most accurate and reliable places to visit when you come to Lancaster.
Amish Farm and House
The Amish Farm and House offers a guided tour of an Amish-style farmhouse and grounds. The guides answer questions about the Amish lifestyle and then give you a chance to explore the farm on your own to see some of what everyday life is like for Old Order Amish.
AAA Buggy Rides
Want to see the back roads of Amish Country? Consider a ride in an open buggy pulled by a team of horses. AAA Buggy Rides vary in length and sights to see from the basic four-mile Amish Country tour to the five-mile covered bridge tour and the hour-long Amish farm tour. Each tour gives you the experience of riding in a horse-drawn buggy and allows you to see the countryside up close.
The Amish Experience
The premier destination for Amish farmland tours, the Amish Experience also comprises a theater where the film Jacob’s Choice is shown. They also provide tours to the Amish Farm and House and horse and buggy rides.
The Amish Village
Visit the Amish Village to learn why the Amish live as they do and see the culture that they have kept relatively unchanged for nearly three hundred years. The authentic 1840 farmhouse is on the guided tour route, and after you have seen the inside of the house you are free to explore the 12-acre grounds. Other buildings that you can explore include the one-room school house, a barn with farm animals, the smokehouse market, the blacksmith shop, and buggies, plows and other tools on display. Amish souvenirs and crafts are also available of purchase.
Amish Quilts
Known for their bright colors, classic designs and meticulous handwork, Amish quilts are a big draw in Lancaster County. Shopping for the perfect Amish quilt takes time and patience, but true Amish masterpieces are created to last for generations making them not only bed covers, but heirlooms. There are Amish quilt shops down many back roads in Lancaster County, and a great way to discover these hidden gems is to simply take a drive through the countryside.
Check out even more Amish activities at our Amish Attractions page.
Don’t think you will have enough time to see all there is to see in one day? The Lancaster County Bed and Breakfast Inns Association has a membership of inns all across Lancaster County. No matter where you visit, they can fix you up with a warm and welcoming place to stay so you can fit in those few extra stops.
