Lancaster (Pennsylvania)

Lancaster is a city of around 59,000 people (2021) in Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States, and the center of an area inhabited by many members of the Amish community.

History
Lancaster is home to a very diverse group of people. It is a strong agricultural town with various farmlands, lush vegetation and great produce all over. This is because the Amish dwell in and around Lancaster's many townships. The Amish are fairly isolated from the rest of the community, but they are acknowledged, respected, and not bothered. They are masters of farming and simple living, for they don't use electricity. They teach in their own schools, and they have their own churches. They get around by horse and buggy and they are easily seen, wearing black suits, hats, and bonnets.

History
Founded in 1729, Lancaster was the capital of the United States for a single day on September 27, 1777, as the founding fathers fled the British. Lancaster has evolved from Pennsylvania's capital back in 1799, before Harrisburg was named the capital in 1812, to a strong and well known city in Pennsylvania. It is the oldest inland city in the United States. Lancaster has grown into a contemporary city.

By train

 * Routes stopping at Lancaster:
 * Keystone multiple trips per day between Harrisburg and New York City with stops in Elizabethtown, Lancaster, Coatesville, Downingtown, Exton, Paoli, Ardmore, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Some trips operate between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
 * Pennsylvanian operates daily between Pittsburgh and New York City with stops in Greensburg, Latrobe, Johnstown, Altoona, Huntingdon, Lewistown, Harrisburg, Elizabethtown, Lancaster, Exton, Paoli, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.
 * Pennsylvanian operates daily between Pittsburgh and New York City with stops in Greensburg, Latrobe, Johnstown, Altoona, Huntingdon, Lewistown, Harrisburg, Elizabethtown, Lancaster, Exton, Paoli, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.

By car
Interstate highways lead most traffic into Lancaster County.


 * I-76, also known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
 * One of the most pleasant routes from the East Coast Cities is via I-78 through New Jersey to exit 13, Bethel, then Route 501 south to Lancaster. It is a beautiful farmland drive, especially at sunset.
 * Another good routing from I-78 is exit 54A, US-222 South (Hamilton Boulevard). This is also very scenic, but a faster and more direct routing.
 * A very nice, scenic drive that takes you through the heart of the Pennsylvania Amish Country is a connecting road between Route 30 West from Philadelphia and Old Philadelphia Pike, Newport Road. The gentle rolling hills take the road through open Amish farm land and passes by Pequea Valley High School. Not only is Newport Road a nice, refreshing, scenic road, it also bypasses all the traffic of the Lancaster Outlet areas and takes you to Old Philadelphia Pike which puts you right back on the highway portion route 30 towards York County.

By car
Plan on having a car to get around. You may pass the buggies. If you don't, locals will immediately peg you as a tourist. Keep an eye on oncoming traffic, activate your 4-way or hazard flashers for the duration of the manoeuvre, and pass quickly but safely, with sufficient distance from the horses. Lancastrian drivers are generally very polite, with notable exceptions; they will be courteous as long as you return the favor.

By buggy
It is sometimes possible to pay for a buggy ride. Yes, horses do relieve themselves on the road. If you must dodge "road apples", please be careful!

By bike
It is possible to tour the county by bicycle, but it shouldn't be attempted unless you're a cyclist who doesn't mind hills!

By foot
Some places and towns, such as the Rockvale Square retail outlets and the town of Intercourse, are easily navigable on foot. Most of the city of Lancaster itself is walkable, with only outlying areas within the city needing access by car.

The Amish
Although the Amish culture dates back hundreds of years, they have not done much to change their lifestyles. They are traditional and they have a strong sense of community. They exist inside a larger community and everyone gets along without internal problems. They keep to themselves, but they give back to the outside Lancasterian community with their goods.

Many of the venues which explain "The Simple People" and allow the voyager to learn about how the Amish live are in small nearby villages, such as Bird-In-Hand and Intercourse.

Museums and history

 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
 * National Toy Train Museum
 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
 * National Toy Train Museum
 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
 * National Toy Train Museum
 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
 * National Toy Train Museum
 * Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
 * National Toy Train Museum

Malls and outlets

 * And plenty of other places (such as Amish businesses) are listed here.
 * And plenty of other places (such as Amish businesses) are listed here.
 * And plenty of other places (such as Amish businesses) are listed here.
 * And plenty of other places (such as Amish businesses) are listed here.

Eat
Lancastrians are well known for their local food, including the traditional "smorgasbord" (PA Dutch-style buffet). Most chains have a presence here.

Lancaster is home to a large number of resettled refugees, giving it's local cuisine far more international options then similar American cities.

Drink
Up until Prohibition, Lancaster had several fine breweries which earned it the reputation as Munich on the Conestoga. With the resurgence of microbrewing in the last decade or so, a few new breweries have cropped up.





Budget
There are plenty of cheap options, including camping, cabin rentals, and cheap hotels.

Boroughs

 * Ephrata
 * Lititz
 * Elizabethtown
 * Strasburg

Nearby
Nearby destinations suitable for day trips include:
 * Allentown &mdash; Pennsylvania third largest city.
 * Gettysburg &mdash; Explore Civil War country.
 * Harrisburg &mdash; Explore the Capital of Pennsylvania.
 * Hershey &mdash; Explore chocolate country.
 * Intercourse — Amish country.
 * Mount Gretna &mdash; Explore Central PA country.
 * York &mdash; Explore Central PA country.