Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
On the western edge of Amish country, the city of
Lancaster
- a mix of art galleries,
well-preserved brick row houses and somewhat derelict blocks - was briefly the US cap-
ital in September 1777, when Congress stopped here overnight. The monthly
First Fri-
along artsy Prince St.
Probably named for its crossroads location,
Intercourse
includes Kitchen Kettle Vil-
lage, which has touristy shops selling clothing, quilts, candles, furniture, fudge and, of
course, souvenirs with off-color jokes. The
Tanger Outlet stores
on Rte 30 draw tourists
with their 21st-century designer clothes.
Strasburg Railroad
TRAIN
( 717-687-7522;
www.strasburgrailroad.com
;
Rte 741, Strasburg; coach class adult/child $14/8;
multiple trips daily, times vary by season; )
Since 1832 the Strasburg Railroad has run
steam-driven trains along the same route to Paradise and back (at the same speed as
well). The wooden train carriages are gorgeously restored with stained glass, shiny brass
lamps and plush burgundy seats. The
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
(
717-687-8628;
www.rrmuseumpa.org
; Rte 741, Strasburg; adult/child $10/8;
9am-5pm Mon-Sat,
noon-5pm Sun, closed Sun Nov-Mar;
)
across the street has 100 gigantic mechanical mar-
vels to climb aboard and admire.
Landis Valley Museum
MUSEUM
( 717-569-0401;
www.landisvalleymuseum.org
; 2451 Kissel Hill Rd, Lancaster; adult/child $12/8;
9am-5pm, from noon Sun)
In the 18th century, German immigrants flooded southeastern
Pennsylvania and only some were Amish. Most lived like the costumed docents at this
museum, a re-creation of village life that includes a working smithy, weavers, stables and
more.
Ephrata Cloister
MUSEUM
( 717-733-6600;
www.ephratacloister.org
; 632 W Main St, Ephrata; adult/child $10/6;
9am-5pm Mon-Sat, from noon Sun)
One of the country's earliest religious communities was
founded here in 1732 by Conrad Beissel, a German emigre escaping persecution in his
native land and dissatisfied with wordly ways and distractions. There's a small museum
in the visitor center and you can walk or take a guided tour of its collection of medieval-
style buildings.
Sturgis Pretzel House
FACTORY TOUR
