From the delight of a horse-drawn carriage to the excitement of a high-tech roller coaster, the Dutch Country Roads region pairs old world charm with its contemporary counterpart. Shop rustic markets in Amish Country and antiques in Lancaster County. Check out Civil War sites and Corvette car shows. Eat your way through sweet treats and farm-to-fork dining. Then work it off with a hike on the Appalachian Trail or a paddle down the Susquehanna River. Dutch Country Roads R E G I O N S See Charming Lancaster Pastoral landscapes and a stately historic downtown make Lancaster an idyllic escape. Get an authentic peek into Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country when you take a buggy ride and meet farm animals at The Amish Farm and House or when you stroll the historic village and see traditional German crafts at Landis Valley Village & Farm . Find a tasty snack — from freshly baked pastries to Scandinavian specialties and Middle Eastern fare — at Lancaster Central Market , the oldest continuously running farmers market in the country. Watch a musical at Fulton Theatre , and then savor a dinner of handmade pastas and wood-fired pizza at LUCA or an ever-changing menu of modern French fare at Citronnelle . The Amish Farm and House, Lancaster Side Trip: Strasburg On your way, stop for an Amish-style scrapple, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich at Katie’s Kitchen in Ronks. Then, see 100-plus locomotives and railroad cars at Strasburg’s Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania , as well as an extensive model train layout at Choo Choo Barn . Dutch Country Desserts THE AMISH FARM AND HOUSE Comfort foods and sweet treats are hallmarks of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Be sure to try a slice of shoo-fly pie, touting a rich molasses and brown sugar filling with a crumbly topping, dished out at the famous Dutch Haven Shoo-Fly Pie Bakery in Ronks. Apple dumplings, found at Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop in the town of Bird-in-Hand, feature sugary apples wrapped in pastry dough and baked to perfection. While you’re here, pick up a bag of caramel corn, a crunchy, sweet snack of popcorn lacquered with caramel. Achenbach’s Pastries in Leola is renowned for its whoopie pies, two soft cookies sandwiched together with a layer of creamy filling. Depending on the time of your visit, keep an eye out for fasnacht, a delightful indulgence traditionally enjoyed just before the start of Lent, a Christian period of fasting leading up to Easter. These dense, doughnut-like pastries are crafted from potato flour, eggs, sugar, and butter or lard, and then deep fried. Now these are some delicious detours. visitpa.com 49
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2025: Page 49
