Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

[bonniejoy03]

I haven't seen any posts about Lancaster County. I would highly recommend the county as a gateway to beautiful farmlands, history, and the Pennsylvania Dutch community. It is located about 1.5 hours west of Philadelphia. The town is developing as an art community also. New boutique style hotels are opening in the area. There are walking tours explaining the importance of Lancaster from the 1700's to present. The Central market has local grown fruits and vegetables. No visit would be complete without a drive in the country through the Amish farmland. You can still see horses pulling plows to work the land. Some of the farms still do not have electricity. While driving, you are bound to see Amish buggies. This is nice get away if you are seeking history, culture, and a quieter pace of life.

[curtiejoe]

hi bonniejoy03



Marvellous suggestion! Amish country in Pennsylvania certainly is a distictive area because ofits people and customs. My sonsand I drove through this unique part of the USA on our way to Gettysburgh to see the Civil War battlefield some years ago. Though the Amish are quite similar to the Mennonite religious community of about 100,000 Anabaptists settled about 100 miles in farm country south west of Toronto, they have their own distinct ways and beliefs. A DVD of the 1985 movie we recently watched called Witness with Harrison Ford, brought back memories of our road trip through Lancaster County. As you may know, it centers on his character hiding out amoung the Amish while "the bad guys" look for him. Fascinating!





curtiejoe

[bonniejoy03]

Curtiejoe. Thanks for the feedback on Lancaster County. Gettysburg is about 40 minutes away. (actually my niece went to college there..nice place). The county is bursting with history. To realize that in the year 2007, some of our community doesn't have electricity, they still drive horse and buggy, and have a very unique lifestyle is something to behold. We have magnificant farmland. Lancaster County is a great place to be in the summer with the abundance of fruits and vegetables sold in local markets. Thanks to your reference to Witness......a great classic. It really looks almost the same as in the movie! Not too much changes in the farm communities. Lancaster City itself though is thriving. It is developing as an arts community with a few blocks dedicated to an art school and art galleries. The new "Lancaster Arts Hotel" just opened and is a small boutique style hotel. Very nice for the community. Lancaster even has their own baseball team....The Barnstormers! Their stadium is right in downtown Lancaster.

[fredhashway]

Gettysburg is a great suggestion! It's easy to combine with some of the "Amish country" sights. The Battlefield is a must see for anyone with an interest in history. You can take part in a horseback tour of the battlefield, if you're so inclined, to give you a sense of an officer's perspective. Years ago when we went, one of the B&B's in town did a "ghost story evening" where a very talented actress in 1860's widow's weeds told eerie tales of the goings on in Gettysburg during and after the battle. The stuff can get pretty hokey, but she was such a wonderful storyteller that it was a great evening.

[curtiejoe]

Hi Fred



I bet the 'ghost story evening' at the Gettysburg B&Bmade your visit to the Civil War Battlefield there even more memorable. My sons still talk about our experiences about 12 years ago when we walked all over the grounds that saw such a pivotal clash between the forces of the North and the South which fought bitterly for three fateful summer days in 1863. We went on to Philadelphia to watch a Phillies baseball game and then on to Baltimore's then newly-opened Camden Yards baseball stadium, and rounded out our baseball tour in New York, where we enjoyed hot dogs and some terrific baseball first at Yankee Stadium and then at the Mets' Shae Stadium. On our return home to Toronto, I asked both boys what part of our trip they liked the best, both immediately said: Gettysburg!



curtiejoe

[fredhashway]

Someday I'll spend a summer touring major league ballparks. I have a friend who goes to a couple of different ones every summer. I'm a diehard Red Sox fan, so of course I love Fenway Park. But I understand that Camden Yards is a great place to see a game. Combining that with Philly (a great town) and Gettysburg sounds like a wonderful trip.

One of my favorite travel memories is also one of my haziest, because I was so young. When I was a kid, my parents took the family on a roadtrip to Gettysburg. And one night, during a full moon, my Dad took us for a walk through the cemetery (site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address) while he recited The Bivouac of the Dead. I remember him telling us, if we should spot a hitchhiker along the road, to be careful and look closely, he could be wearing a blue or a gray uniform. Ooooooh, spooky. What a great memory this brings back of my Dad.

[curtiejoe]

Hi Fred



Wow! What an amazing story. I can just imagine being in the Gettysburg graveyard, for my sons and I walked through it at the end of our walking tour of the Civil War Battlefield. We we're awestruck by the thought that old Abe had stood where we were and delivered his famous "Four score and ..." address there. We'd be just asmesmerized by what your dad told you about the ghostly Civil War hitchhiker as he recited The Bivouac of the Dead! By all means, go to Baltimore 's Camden Yards baseball park. It's design is a wonderful throwback to some of the earliest ball parks built in the 1800s after the Civil War. And, the wonderfully revitalized waterfront of Baltimore is an absolute treat to wander along. Yes, a summer tour of major baseball stadiums is a great way to see the country as well as for father and son bonding (at least it was a magical time for me and my two sons).



curtiejoe

[bonniejoy03]

Thanks everyone for adding to Lancaster County. With its proximity to major cities, it is a great getaway. Baltimore is about 1.5 hours away.(only about an hour from Gettysburg.) The aquarium is a must see. Also, don't forget the best seafood around! Check out Phillips Restaurant. They have locations in Baltimore on the waterfront and also their main location in Ocean City Maryland. With Baltimore, you can take ferry rides to some interesting sites such as Fells Point with their neat funky stores and restaurants. (oh yes, even places to take pups!). Fort McHenry is another close by sight. The history and sights on the East Coast with just a short drive makes this a nice getaway almost any time of the year.

[curtiejoe]

Hi bonniejoy



You've pointed out one of the great things about Lancaster County: its proximity to many other fabulous travel destinations like Gettysburg in Pennsylvania as well asBaltimore, Fells Point and Fort McHenry along the Eastern Seabord. So, it's clear to see that for anyone interested in a multi-faceted travel experience within a relatively compact area, this part of the USA has an abundance of terrific places, sites and attractions to offer to suit almost any taste or interest. Thanx.



curtiejoe

[lhbrown]

Hi C,
Great suggestions. Lancaster County, PA is also not far from Brandywine Valley, with its famous Longwood Gardens and Andrew Wyeth Museum, and the old historic town of Newcastle, DE. Would love to see some LL packages in that area.