My first tip really will make your trip fantastic or just OK. If you want to visit Amish based businesses and specialty stores and boutiques then you must follow a schedule. These businesses are not open after 5:00 PM. They are also not open on Sundays.
You may find a few small stores open but in general nothing is open on Sunday.
So Sunday is a complete waste or plan to outlet shop or possibly find a festival or show. I generally leave on Sunday or just go during the week.
Remember when you start your day everything wraps up at 5:00 PM and next is dinner then outlets. If you are in farm country don't expect dinner much later than 7:00 PM with the exception of chains at the outlets. Of course if you go to the city of Lancaster and a few towns you will find great places open late and serves booze.
If you know how to work a GPS you are going to have fun going back country roads and finding random Amish shops, beautiful farm land and animals.
Remember when you start your day everything wraps up at 5:00 PM and next is dinner then outlets. If you are in farm country don't expect dinner much later than 7:00 PM with the exception of chains at the outlets. Of course if you go to the city of Lancaster and a few towns you will find great places open late and serves booze.
If you know how to work a GPS you are going to have fun going back country roads and finding random Amish shops, beautiful farm land and animals.
I stay at Old Homestead Suites in Ronks, PA. It is an awesome Inn with bubbly whirl pool tubs and a homemade breakfast. I don't stay anywhere else. During good weather you can sit on the patio and eat breakfast or go across to the trout farm. I think all rooms have a sink and dishes with small fridge and a place to sit and eat. It is useful when you have purchased many goodies! This Inn is close to so many shops. Towns I visit that are close; Intercourse, Bird in Hand, Strasburg, Smoketown, Leola and a little further out; Ephrata/Fridays and my favorite little town Lititz.
Because there is so much information about towns I will just list the towns and things I do. This will make it so much easier for you to understand and snip to a planner.
Intercourse- Kitchen Kettle is a tourist attraction but, has good Christmas gifts. They are known originally for their jams, mustards and more. Kitchen Kettle is not run by the Amish however a few shops surrounding the complex are Amish. This is a small complex you walk and if you must there are buggy rides. There are many shops surrounding the complex you may easily walk to via sidewalk. I sometimes go to the Intercourse Spa for a pedicure. I like doing this after breakfast. Great way to kick off the day. The other place I visit my last day in Intercourse is Stoltzfus Meats. I always bring a cooler. Their bacon and unique sausages are fantastic. Everything is delicious and the prices are awesome. I also got Dutch Swiss this trip and it was the best I've had in a long time. There is a true Amish leather shop across from the side entrance of Kitchen Kettle. You can see all the belts moving on the ceiling as they run the machines. I go there for sleigh bells and dog collars. They sell horse supplies. This is a real shop and nothing fancy.
Ephrata-I go here for the Green Dragon. It is only on Friday. The outside is a mix of flea market and fresh local vegetables and fruit. You must go inside the buildings. I believe it is in the main building but, not sure and it is the building that has homemade pretzels. In the front of this building is a sandwich stand which you smell as soon as you walk in. Best Italian subs! I got great prices on spices and vanilla in this building and doggie cupcakes. You can walk away with four bags of vegetables and not spend $20.00. If you like history the Ephrata Cloister is very neat to visit. It is located in town. I do not recommend the diner across the street. I have in the past but, this time it was really horrible. Nothing was homemade anymore and it was dark and dingy. I occasionally make an appointment at Falling Waters Massage. I've had many excellent massages from a couple different people.
Lititz-I love going to Tea Affair for of course tea and shop their loose tea shop. A French pastry chef owns the business. It is yum! I love walking the town. So many cool boutiques. Don't miss the Moravian gift shop. I went in their little museum a couple years ago and was not pleased by the church volunteer. He seemed to think their religion was superior and made an ignorant comment about Catholics. I will say I've had nothing but pleasant experiences in the shop.
You can visit Sturgis Pretzels and Wilbur Chocolates. It's more about the product. The demos kids may think are neat.
Bird in Hand-Bird in Hand Market. When you walk in the front go to the right. Pass the first lunch counter and go to the next. Behind it is a small bake shop and Lancaster tea and coffee. This is an Amish lunch counter. Excellent sandwiches and love a dog and kraut. My husband said the best chili. I enjoy their fresh tea. It's my go to for a quick lunch and keep shopping. The market has limited hours. No Sundays. Closes at 5. There is a General Store across the street I enjoy too. Also down the road is an artist who restored a mill. You can't miss it. Stop in and see his art work and the beautiful restoration.
Strasburg-Eldreth Pottery is a must if you are collector or want something unique. They will ship too. The Strasburg Creamery has been around forever. Don't miss the homemade ice cream. It's a trip after dinner. They are open late. There is a large Amish furniture store before Eldreth Pottery. Stop in if you are looking for pieces. Strasburg has the big trains you may ride on. It is awesome to see the large beauties however be advised the trip is a quick around farms and fields. Strasburg has antique shops near the trains.
Bird in Hand-Bird in Hand Market. When you walk in the front go to the right. Pass the first lunch counter and go to the next. Behind it is a small bake shop and Lancaster tea and coffee. This is an Amish lunch counter. Excellent sandwiches and love a dog and kraut. My husband said the best chili. I enjoy their fresh tea. It's my go to for a quick lunch and keep shopping. The market has limited hours. No Sundays. Closes at 5. There is a General Store across the street I enjoy too. Also down the road is an artist who restored a mill. You can't miss it. Stop in and see his art work and the beautiful restoration.
Strasburg-Eldreth Pottery is a must if you are collector or want something unique. They will ship too. The Strasburg Creamery has been around forever. Don't miss the homemade ice cream. It's a trip after dinner. They are open late. There is a large Amish furniture store before Eldreth Pottery. Stop in if you are looking for pieces. Strasburg has the big trains you may ride on. It is awesome to see the large beauties however be advised the trip is a quick around farms and fields. Strasburg has antique shops near the trains.
Katie's Diner is traditional meat and potato Dutch food. Love the milk shakes!
Outlets-Rockvale Outlets has a lot of housewares stores. People from New York tell me the prices are great. I live around many options so it is hit or miss for me.
I enjoy the Christmas Shop since it sells Department 56 and other collectibles. It is not an outlet. Down the road is Tanger Outlets. The Tanger area is congested at high tourist time. It has many chain restaurants, chain motels, Target and Dutch Wonderland. If kids are out of school it can get busy down that way.
There are so many other little places in little towns. Just driving out of my Inn on the back roads and not up to Kitchen Kettle is an experience. You will find Amish Stands and shops. An Amish Natural Grocery store is back that way and I love it. If you have a wholesale license stop in Paradise, PA. Many bulk places.
Enjoy the little things while you are in Lancaster. Grab a cheese bag at the market and nibble on it. Stop by an Amish Farm heading towards Bird in Hand from Intercourse (look for homemade root beer sign) or get your homemade pretzel at the Green Dragon. The Amish in Lancaster are very friendly. Do not take their picture as it is disrespectful. Enjoy the swaths of beautiful farm land or watch the men work the fields. Do not drive fast and pass with room around buggies. Enjoy looking at the clean, well kept farms and during late Spring and Fall the flowers! Get out there and explore. Taking a tour just does not cut it!
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| From Amish Leather Shop |
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