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I know a lot of people have asked the question “is Lancaster PA worth visiting?” So I set out to provide a complete travel guide to the best things to do in Lancaster. As I was writing, I realized that Lancaster not only has a ton of fun things to do but it also has some really great dining and hotels.
This post is going to highlight some of the best family friendly dining options and some awesome hotels in the Lancaster area.
Where is Lancaster?
Lancaster PA, located in the heart of Pennsylvania in the southeast section of the state, is under an hour drive from York, Harrisburg and Hershey and only an hour and a half from Philadelphia. It only took us 2 and a half hours to get to Lancaster from our home in Northeast PA. We left around 8am on a Thursday morning and left Lancaster to return home around 5pm on a Friday.
I would recommend staying at least two days in Lancaster to fully soak in all of the beauty and fun it has to offer, as well as try as much awesome food as possible.
Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting:
When people refer to Lancaster they may be referring to the city of Lancaster itself or to Lancaster County which is comprised of several small towns and communities. All of these small towns are in the greater Lancaster area.
Some of the dining and lodging options are outside the city itself, with 30 minutes being the furthest travel distance. It is important to keep in mind these travel times to each destination from downtown Lancaster or when you are booking your hotel:
Bird-in-hand: 7 miles (east), approximately 15 minutes
Lititz: 8.5 miles (north), approximately 15-20 minutes
Intercourse: 10 miles (east), approximately 20 minutes
Ronks: 8 miles (southeast), approximately 15 minutes
Columbia: 14.5 miles (west), approximately 30 minutes
Also, please remember that the Amish community is very private. Those that do not participate in the tourist industry may not want to have their picture taken or to talk about their lifestyle. Please be considerate and understanding of their community and way of life.
With that being said, it is also important to plan your trip ahead of time. Being that this is an Amish community, many places are not open on Sundays or on holidays.
Now let’s get into the best places to eat and stay in Lancaster, PA!
Family Friendly Places to Eat in Lancaster
I’m not even sure where to start here. There are SO MANY great dining options to be found in Lancaster.
This area is known for a few things. The first is shoofly pie. Although it’s name suggests it is a pie, it is traditionally served as a breakfast food rather than as a dessert. It is sort of like a molasses crumb cake in a pie crust. If that makes sense haha!
Second is scrapple. Essentially, this is mush pork scraps and trimmings but it is extremely popular in Dutch cuisine.
Third is what is known as a smorgasbord. This is traditional Dutch country dining with a variety of foods served family style.
Rachel’s Café & Creperie
Address: 201 W Walnut St, Lancaster, PA
One of my girlfriends recommended Rachel’s Creperie and it is now my favorite place to eat in Lancaster. They serve a wide variety of breakfast crepes. I don’t know about you, but when I think of crepes I always think of them being stuffed with fresh fruit. Although they do serve these, they also serve them with stuffed with eggs, bacon, veggies, etc. Think of it as an omelet just stuffed inside a crepe!
I had the Western Crepe (a western omelet inside a crepe) and my Dad had a fresh fruit crepe. Oh, and their smoothies are delicious! Plus, I love the decor. It makes you feel like you are sitting in a small Paris café! So charming!
Rachel’s definitely makes Lancaster PA worth visiting!!
Isaac’s
Address: 226 Gap Rd, Strasburg, PA
They have a few locations throughout Lancaster County, but if you are going to be riding the Strasburg Railroad there is a location right down the road. Stop in for one of their delicious sandwiches!
Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House
Address: 28 E King St, Lancaster, PA
If you are craving some traditional Irish cuisine, Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House is the place for you located right in the heart of downtown Lancaster.
Lancaster Brewing Company
Address: 302 N Plum St, Lancaster, PA
We had dinner at Lancaster Brewing Company. They have a nice menu variety and the food was delicious. Raelyn had pizza and my Dad and I split a reuben and a pizza.
As I was eating the pizza I kept saying the marinara sauce had a “different” (in a good way, I promise) taste. So I asked the waiter, and he told me that instead of sugar they use carrots! It was actually so good and I would have never guessed!
They have a very small parking lot and it is usually full, so you will most likely have to find street parking.
Gibraltar
Address: 488 Royer Dr #101, Lancaster, PA
For a more upscale dining experience, consider Gibraltar for their seafood and raw bar.
Prince Street Cafe
Address: 15 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA
This is one of downtown Lancaster’s most popular hangouts. Enjoy a coffee and brunch in this cozy rustic spot. It is only a block away from the Lancaster County Convention Center, so if you are in town on business, this is a great option within walking distance.
The Belvedere Inn
Address: 402 N Queen St, Lancaster, PA
The Belvedere Inn is a romantic and elegant dining choice in the Lancaster area. They have a modern menu and they are located inside a beautiful Victorian mansion. They also have a jazz lounge. This would make a great date-night!
Luca
Address: 436 W James St #101, Lancaster, PA
Luca is a really trendy choice for dinner. If we had more time to eat another meal in Lancaster, we definitely would have checked this out. They have modern and traditional Italian meals as well as wood-fired pizza.
Shady Maple Smorgasbord
Address: 129 Toddy Dr, East Earl, PA
This is the largest smorgasbord in the county located about 20 minutes from Lancaster.
Beiler’s Doughnuts
Address: 398 Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster, PA
This was our first stop when we got to Lancaster for a little mid-morning snack. With over 40 flavors to choose from you may have a hard time picking just one!
Countryside Road Stand
Address: 2966 Stumptown Rd, Ronks, PA
**They are closed on Sundays.
This is an Amish owned and operated roadside stand that serves homemade baked goods, pretzels, rootbeer and more. They use, and sell, produce that is in season at the time and they also sell crafts and canned items.
Hinkle’s Restaurant
Address: 261 Locust St, Columbia, PA
This is an old fashioned, traditional soda fountain with different syrups and Turkey Hill ice cream for sundaes, milkshakes and floats! I love this concept and I will definitely check this out on my next trip to Lancaster.
Dutch Haven
Address: 2857 Lincoln Hwy A, Ronks, PA
This is an old fashioned Dutch bakery known for its shoo fly pie.
Mr Sticky’s
Address: 501 Greenfield Rd, Lancaster, PA
Homemade sticky buns. Need I say more?
Immergut Hand Rolled Soft Pretzels
Address: 3537 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, PA
These were absolutely delicious! They are made fresh daily and hands down the best soft pretzels I have ever had. They also had a fresh strawberry smoothie that was amazing! Definitely worth a visit!
They are located just around the corner from Kitchen Kettle Village.
Taylor Chip Cookie Co.
You know those Crumbl Cookies that are all the rage now? That’s what these cookies remind me of and they are handmade here in Lancaster!
They make cookies, edible cookie dough and custom cookie cakes. Try some here and then ship some home!! They deliver!
Thank me later!
Lapp Valley Farms Ice Cream
Address: Located in Kitchen Kettle Village, 3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, PA
I cannot complete a trip without finding some delicious ice cream. Lapp Valley Farms Ice Cream is made fresh daily and uses local fruits that are in season.
The farm itself is only a few miles from Kitchen Kettle Village and they serve ice cream inside Kitchen Kettle Village.
Now, let’s get into where to stay!
Family Friendly Places to Stay in Lancaster
There are several really cool options for places to stay while in Lancaster, depending on your taste for accommodations.
Resort Style Accommodations
We stayed at Eden Resort & Suites. On a Thursday night mid-June this room ran about $160.00 for one night.
Our room was clean and spacious and we had a beautiful indoor courtyard view. The hanging twinkling lights gave us a perfect night light as we slept. They also have a heated indoor and outdoor pool as well as two restaurants on site. I would highly recommend staying here; it was beautiful, clean and comfortable.
Other resort-style accommodations include Bird-in-Hand Family Inn or The Inn at Leola Village.
Unique Accommodations
If you want accommodations that are one-of-a-kind Lancaster has three really unique options.
The Fulton Steamboat Inn – Here you can stay in a Victorian or nautical themed room in a hotel built to look like a steamboat.
Cartoon Network Hotel– They have character themed rooms and they are located just next door to Dutch Wonderland. They also offer discounted admission tickets to the park if you stay with them.
Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant– Located along the Strasburg Rail Road in Ronks, PA. Here you can stay in actual railroad caboose cars!
Amish-style Accommodations
If you are looking for an authentic Amish experience on your visit to Lancaster, you can choose to stay at the Amishview Inn & Suites where you will be surrounded by actual working Amish farms.
I hope you found this guide featuring the best places to eat and stay in Lancaster PA helpful and hopefully it inspired you to see for yourself why Lancaster PA is worth visiting.
Check out my list of things to do in Lancaster here!
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