Planning a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania? If yes, you have come to the right place. Whether you’re traveling to Lancaster County to experience Amish culture, eat authentic Amish food, drive over historic covered bridges, or just take a leisurely fall weekend getaway, here are 7 things you can’t miss on your trip!

This website contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

1. Visit a working Amish farm

While you’re in Lancaster, don’t miss a tour of a working Amish farm.

We booked a farm tour with Old Windmill Farms at 10am. The tour was excellent. We started with a hayride around the farm to check out the facility. We were then shown around the farm by Mary, a ten year old Amish girl, and learned how to bottle feed calves, milk a cow, pet rabbits and piglets, and collect eggs. We all really enjoyed this part of the tour and Mary was an absolute gem.

During the week, Old Windmill Farm offers a more in-depth tour where you can also help with planting in the garden.

EXPERT TIP: Book the first tour in the morning before the crowds.

READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Washington DC with Kids

2. Pick fruit or harvest food at a local farm

While there are several orchards and farms in Lancaster where you can go apple picking or visit a pumpkin patch, we chose Cherry Hill Orchards because they have a huge farmers market and garden center and we can do both apple and pumpkin picking for a really reasonable price.

We drove to the apple orchard, grabbed a cart and started picking. We walked through several rows and barely saw anyone else. After filling our bushel of apples, we went to the pumpkin patch and cut ourselves three perfect pumpkins. They even gave us 4 tickets for free apple cider donuts! While at the farm store, I purchased local bacon, cheese, and other Amish-produced goods.

While Cherry Hill Orchards has a fairly large play area (at an additional cost), it is smaller compared to farms like Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. So if your family is looking for a farm where you can play all day, Cherry Crest is a better choice. We wanted a more low-key and farm-centric experience.

3. Ride the Strasburg Railway and visit the Railway Museum

A must-see in Lancaster is the Strasburg Railroad! Here you have the opportunity to climb on board for 45 minutes narrated drive through the farmland of Amish Country. The train goes from Strasburg station to Paradise, PA, then turns around and comes back.

You can choose whether you want to ride in the open railcar, coach class, first class or even dining car. We chose the coach seats because the seats flip around so we could all sit facing each other, but truly every class will be an unforgettable experience. I definitely recommend taking the first ride of the day as it was much less crowded than the second hour!

After disembarking, be sure to visit the hotel’s train-themed playground, restaurant, and gift shop. And if you’re a wizard, look for Platform 9 3/4! Be sure to stay there until the next train leaves – it’s an impressive sight to see the steam rising from the locomotive!
If you’re traveling with a train lover, be sure to combine a visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with a ride on the Strasburg train! It’s one of the best in the country!

4. Take a drive to see the historic covered bridges

Lancaster County is home to 25 famous historic covered bridges. You can’t visit Lancaster without seeing at least a few of them.

Click here for Lancaster County’s Covered Bridge Guide

You can create your own driving tour to see the bridges that interest you most. We saw:

• Baumgardeners’s historic covered bridge

• Covered bridge over the Lime Valley

• Historic Neff’s Mill Covered Bridge (Currently Closed: October 2025)

• Mercer’s Mill Covered Bridge

• Leaman’s Place Covered Bridge

5. Eat authentic Amish food

When you are in Lancaster, you must eat authentic Amish food. We ate at Katie’s Kitchen and Miller’s Smorgasbord. However, there are so many different restaurants that are Amish owned and you can even book a private meal with the Amish.

Katie’s Kitchen is Amish owned and operated. The waiters and staff are all Amish. The food is traditional Amish cuisine and it is SO GOOD. I had pork and cabbage while my husband opted for the meatloaf.

Katie’s Kitchen sells traditional Amish clothing and goods. So be sure to check them out before you go.

Miller’s Smorgasbord is the oldest smorgasbord in Lancaster. They serve homemade dishes steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. While you’re here, don’t miss the chicken and waffles and be sure to try the shoofly pie and chocolate pecan pie!

READ MORE: A Complete Travel Guide to Chincoteague Island, Virginia

6. Shop at a farm stand or visit a farmers market

There are numerous farms throughout Lancaster County. Many Amish people set up tables or small buildings at the end of their driveways where they sell baked goods such as bread and whoopie pies, jam, lemonade, flowers, clothing and even handmade wooden goods. Visiting an Amish farm stand is a must on any trip to Lancaster!

When we did the farm tour, there was some merchandise in the check-in area, so I grabbed pickles and whoopie pies. Also at Old Windmill Farm, we stopped at the Mennonite Farm Stand (Lil’ Country Store and Miniature Horse Farm) to purchase things like hand-whipped butter, fresh-squeezed lemonade, homemade root beer, handmade wooden toys, and more whoopie pies!

Cherry Hill Orchard also sold many Amish and Mennonite goods from around the county!

7. Dutch Wonderland amusement park

Did you know there is an amusement park in Lancaster? If you’re looking for thrills, you have to go! Considered the best family park in the world, Dutch Wonderland offers parents and children magical moments to experience together. You will meet characters like Duke the Dragon and Princess Brooke. Dutch Wonderland is home to over 30 family-friendly rides of all sizes and ages. They also offer entertainment such as puppet shows and daring diving shows. In the warmer months, you can cool off in the Duke’s Lagoon water play area.

If you’re visiting Lancaster with kids, you definitely have to go to Dutch Wonderland!

Lancaster weekend route

*

Lancaster weekend itinerary*

Lancaster weekend itinerary*

Lancaster County is a destination full of history, fantastic food, and a cozy country atmosphere—and knowing the best things to do in the area will make planning your trip easier. Whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, or like me with a whole group of kids in tow, Amish Country in Lancaster welcomes you with open arms.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure:

There are links on this website that may be referred to as “affiliate links”. This means I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you sign up or purchase something using the links provided.

ArticleSubmission.news is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.