Attractions in Lancaster, PA

Soar to new heights and see the county from a birds-eye view or learn to paint like a pro. Whatever you do in Lancaster, be sure to share some goodness and take in each experience. Sign up for our e-newsletter to keep to date with all things Lancaster, and request your free copy of the getaway guide to start planning your trip.

Amish

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live the Amish way? If so, Lancaster County is the place for immersive experiences that you won’t forget! Horse and buggy rides allow you to hop out of your car and into a whole new mode of transportation. Visit AAA Buggy Rides at Kitchen Kettle Village or Aaron and Jessica’s Buggy Rides for countryside tours. Experience Lancaster’s living heritage at America’s first Amish attraction, the Amish Farm and House. They offer farm tours, one-room schoolhouse tours, hand-made crafts in the gift shop, and countryside tours. With several events throughout the year, this is a return destination for year-round family fun. The Amish Experience at Plain & Fancy Farm is a complete cultural interpretive center with a theatre, homestead, and one-room schoolhouse. Visit working Amish farms on a guided tour and even try your hand at milking a cow! Take a guided tour of the 1840’s Amish farmhouse and explore the 12-acre village grounds at The Amish Village. This is a hot spot for photos that will capture your Amish immersion in Lancaster.

Outdoor Adventures

Take a walk on the spooky side with Ghost Tours of Lancaster, featuring 300 years of haunted history from fatal curses to star-crossed lovers. Speaking of history, Indian Echo Caverns & Echo Dell is another attraction sure to invoke wonder and curiosity. Go spelunking through the underground caverns and see the preserved natural beauty. If you’d rather be above the ground than below it, take a helicopter ride over Lancaster County with Smoketown Helicopters or a hot air balloon ride with Lancaster Balloon Rides and see the quilt-like farmlands from a birds-eye view.

There are dozens of places to see animals in Lancaster County. The Wolf Sanctuary of PA, is a natural habitat for displaced wolves and wolfdogs. The only way to view the wolves is by a tour, so be sure to check their website for tour dates and times. For farmland fun, stop by Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Admission to the farm includes the Amazing Maize Maze, Farm Tour Wagon Ride, Hay Jump, Strawbale Racer and lots more! Visit Kreider Farms Farm Tour and Old Windmill Farm to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of real working dairy farms.

Miniature Golf, Bowling, and Laser Tag

Safari scenes, pirate ships, and waterfalls are just a few of the things you’ll see on Lancaster County miniature golf courses. Head over to the Water’s Edge Miniature Golf for a round of 18 then stop by their ice cream shop for a sweet treat! There are several places to mini-golf in Lancaster - Leisure Bowling and Golfing Center, Lost Treasure Golf and Maze, Boulder’s Miniature Golf, The Shack Restaurant & Mini Golf, and Village Greens Miniature Golf and Snack Shoppe to name a few!

Cool off after a fun round of mini-golf with some ice cream. Check out the Lancaster County Ice Cream Trail to see where you can save with special deals, earn points, and redeem prizes through the end of September.

Bowl, drink, and dine at Decades. This six-lane boutique bowling alley and arcade is located in the historic Stahr Armory in Downtown Lancaster. For more fun activities, Rocky Springs Entertainment Center has glow bowling, an arcade, and food and drink options. Laserdome is another family hot spot complete with a laser tag arena and arcade.

Family Fun

Itching for some adventure? Lancaster is filled with attractions suited for thrill seekers. Soar through the trees with Ziplines and Outdoor Adventure at Refreshing Mountain. The fun doesn’t have to stop after one day, stay the night in one their cabins for a full weekend of adventures!

Take a ride on America’s oldest operating railroad at Strasburg Rail Road. Soak in the scenery as you travel through Lancaster County’s beautiful farmland. Right down the street, the Choo Choo Barn features more than 1,700 square feet of special model train displays. For even more Rail Road fun, head over to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The premier museum of railroading features a world-class collection of more than 100 historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars. Take the throttle in an authentic freight locomotive cab, sit in an engineer's seat, explore a caboose, experience a turn-of-the-20th-century passenger station and inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath!

Create your own ice cream flavor, learn about dairy culture, and enjoy endless ice cream samples at the Turkey Hill Experience. Stop by Tiny Town where kids can explore nine luxury playhouses sure to ignite creativity and curiosity. Tap into your inner Sherlock Holmes at the Escape Room Lancaster. This unique, interactive experience is sure to challenge your mind and put teamwork to the test.

Arts, Museum, and History

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre offers dinner and Broadway show packages, featuring professional performers from across the county. Enjoy classic and new critically acclaimed shows while you munch on an All-American meal. The new Magic & Wonder Theatre features must-see shows. With its dazzling costumes, sidesplitting comedy and crowd-pleasing variety, this family-friendly show offers something for everyone – and the jaw-dropping illusions will make you feel like a kid again.


Get hands on at Lancaster Science Factory as you learn, experience, and explore. Through exhibits, work stations and mini-labs, children can experiment and create as they learn the principles and application of science in engineering and technology. Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is another hands-on educational experience in Lititz, PA. Learn how to twist a pretzel at the first commercial pretzel bakery in America.


Engage your inner artist at Painting with a Twist. Bring your own wine to enjoy as the talented instructors walk you through step-by-step how to create a masterpiece. For a perfectly relaxing activity, The PotteryWorks is open for walk-ins or appointments. Instructors will guide you through the decorating and glazing process then fire your pottery in the kiln for pick-up a week later.

For a more complete list of things to in Lancaster County click here.