All aboard the Strasburg Rail Road— America’s oldest operating railroad. Train lovers will enjoy the ride on the steam locomotives as it chugs through the Amish countryside. Back at the station, kids can hop aboard the Cranky Cars, Pint-sized Pufferbelly, and the Pump Car for extra train-themed fun.
Tip for your Trip: Keep an eye out for their special events, like Day Out with Thomas or holiday events. These special train rides add even more excitement to your visit.
Get the scoop on the art of ice cream making at Turkey Hill Experience, where your family can learn more about Lancaster’s tasty Turkey Hill ice cream and iced tea. Bring your ice cream dreams to life in their Taste Lab, where you can make (and eat) your own ice cream flavor.
Locomotives galore can be found at Choo Choo Barn, where the sights and sounds of Lancaster are combined into a huge model train display. Follow the trains as they chug past a miniature barn raising, local attractions, and hand-built animated figures.
Tip for your Trip: Make a day of the Strasburg train attractions. All are just a short drive from each other, and your little train lovers will dig the locomotive-filled day.
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Heritage and history are brought to life at the Amish Farm and House, where your family can learn more about the Old Order Amish community here in Lancaster, PA. Kids can try out a real Amish scooter during the farm tour or take in the sights during the Amish Countryside bus tour.
Try a new form of transportation with an Amish buggy ride with A is for Amish Buggy Rides for an unforgettable experience. Memories are waiting to be made as you trot down the backroads.
Tip for your Trip: Check out the petting zoo, playground, and silo tower while you wait for your ride or for more to do afterwards.
Find 50 farm fun activities, including adorable baby animals and a “can’t-miss” corn maze at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Admission includes a plethora of activities that provide a family-friendly farm experience.
Tip for your Trip: How about a picnic on the farm? Guests are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy during their visit.
Climb into a real Amish buggy with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides, a Plain family-owned operation run. Rides travel along peaceful country roads, past non-commercial working farms, and may include stopping at a farm to learn more about Amish life.
AAA Buggy Rides offers several tour options through the heart of Amish Country, including routes that pass scenic farmland, ride through a real covered bridge, or visit a working Amish dairy farm. It’s an easy way for families to see the countryside at a slower pace.
An Amish adventure awaits at Amish Village, where your family can experience an authentic farmhouse tour and learn about Amish life today. After the tour, wander the 12-acre village grounds for more discovery.
Old Windmill Farm is an authentic working Amish farm, offering farm tours, bottle feeding calves, milking cows, gathering eggs, and more farm fun.
Discover Tiny Town, an indoor, interactive play center made up of tiny houses where children can let their imaginations soar. This town is built for children 7 and under to play as firefighters, doctors, hairstylists, and more.
Tip for your Trip: Tiny Town was also created with parents in mind, complete with a coffee bar and free Wi-Fi.
How do you make science fun? That’s just what they’re doing at Lancaster Science Factory, where kids can experience how science works with hands-on exhibits, experiments, and mini-labs.
Tip for your Trip: Participation is key to learning here! All exhibits are meant to be touched and tried to encourage discovery.
Home to snakes, salamanders, lizards, spiders, turtles, and tortoises, the North Museum of Nature & Science offers kids a chance to say hello to these creatures in their Live Animal Room. There are over 20 different critters to learn about while exploring the museum.
Playing and learning go hand-in-hand at Hands-on House, an interactive museum created with children ages 2-10 in mind. Your kids can explore the grocery store, discover life on the farm, and even build a “whatcha-ma-giggle” in the machine shop. If the sun is shining, enjoy their outdoor playground.
Tip for your Trip: Museum admission is valid for the day, so if fatigue or hunger sets in, you can leave and come back as you please.
In our Amish Country sits Mascot Roller Mills and Ressler Family Home, a historic and remarkably preserved water-powered grain mill. Step back in time to learn about milling history along the banks of scenic Mill Creek.
Tip for your Trip: Admission is free and is open Tuesday through Saturday, May through October.
At this hands-on museum, train enthusiasts can sit in an engineer’s seat, explore a caboose, experience a turn-of-the-century passenger station, and inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath. With more than 100 historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars, the Museum is Pennsylvania’s premier museum of railroading and offers a world-class collection in addition to an education center and working restoration shop.
Tip for your Trip: Stop at the Whistle Stop Shop while you are visiting! The Whistle Shop carries books, colorful prints, posters, reproduction railroad China, and more on the history of the railroad industry.
When your family is full of energy, jump on over to Sky Zone for some high-flying, flipping fun. Beyond their free jump trampolines, their dodgeball court, foam zone, basketball hoops for dunking, and Sky Climb will keep your kids active for hours.
Tip for your Trip: If you have toddlers in tow, consider stopping by for Toddler Time (Tuesday – Saturday mornings), where kids five and under can bounce and jump – no big kids allowed!
For the sports-loving family, head over to America’s largest sports complex Spooky Nook Sports, for the ultimate active experience. Your kids will love the challenge of the Clip ‘N Climb, arcade, and rock climbing area, while mom and dad will love the fitness center.
Tip for your Trip: When hunger takes hold, stop by the food court, smoothie bar, or in-house restaurant, Forklift & Palate. No need to leave for a great meal.
Your kids will go bananas for this indoor, family entertainment center filled with fun for the family. Go ‘N Bananas features laser tag, mini bowling, ropes course, spinning bumper cars, and so much more.
Hersheypark
Sweet chocolate and amusement park thrills make for an exciting day at Hersheypark, about 40 minutes away from Lancaster County. Teens will love the 13 thrilling roller coasters, while little ones can take a ride on the many kid-friendly attractions. The whole family will love the tasty candy-themed treats.
Tip for your Trip: Don’t forget your swimsuits. Hersheypark’s Boardwalk area features waterslides, a wave pool, a water playground, and a lazy river for the sunny summer days.
Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue
Dive into the chocolaty history of Hershey, PA, at the Hershey Story Museum. With exhibits and activities just for kids, plus their tasty Chocolate Lab, your family will love learning about this sweet treat.
Adventure Sports in Hershey
Go-karts, mini-golf, bumper boats, and more! Adventure Sports in Hershey offers active family fun in nearby Hershey, PA. Be prepared for a little friendly competition and LOTS of happy memories.
Tip for your Trip: You only pay for the activities you would like to do, as they don’t have an admission fee. So your family can play as many or as few rounds as you would like!
Whitaker Center in Harrisburg
Learning is made fun at Whitaker Center in nearby Harrisburg. Hands-on exhibits on the human body, weather, and more, plus a Digital Cinema, make for a day of fun, especially for your little scientists.
Find more to do in Lancaster, keep up to date with events, request your free copy of the visitors' guide, and sign up for our e-news!
A: Lancaster is ideal for toddlers through teens. Younger kids love Dutch Wonderland, Tiny Town, and farm experiences. Older kids and teens enjoy adventure attractions, science museums, mini-golf, and Hersheypark (about 40 minutes away). Many attractions offer activities suited to mixed-age families.
A: Great indoor options include Tiny Town, Hands-on House, Lancaster Science Factory, North Museum, Go ’N Bananas, and Sky Zone. Museums like President James Buchanan Wheatland, Landis Valley, and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania also offer excellent indoor experiences.
A: Yes. Mascot Roller Mills & Ressler Family Home offers free admission. Many farms have affordable activities, and parks and walking trails are free to explore. Seasonal events and community festivals are also typically low-cost and offer plenty of family fun.
A: A weekend is perfect for exploring a few major attractions, but a 3- to 4-day trip allows you to enjoy trains, farms, museums, and Amish country without rushing.
A: Lancaster is great year-round. Spring brings baby animals and outdoor farm fun, summer offers amusement parks and mini-golf, fall features corn mazes and harvest events, and winter brings cozy museum days and holiday train rides.
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75 Champ Blvd. Manheim, PA 17545 (717) 945-7087
1170 Garfield Avenue Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 287-5000
2521 Lincoln Highway East Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 391-8234
1444 Village Road Strasburg, PA 17579 (717) 687-6933
454 New Holland Ave Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 509-6363
721 Landis Valley Rd Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 569-5437
533 Janet Avenue Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 947-7350
2395 Covered Bridge Drive Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 394-6185 Find A Room
150 Cherry Hill Rd Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 687-6843
199 Hartman Bridge Rd Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 687-8511
262 Paradise Lane Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 687-7929
2249 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 291-1888
301 Linden St Columbia, PA 17512 (717) 684-0134
226 Gap Rd Strasburg, PA 17579 (717) 687-7911
300 Gap Road Strasburg, PA 17579 (717) 687-8628
230 N. Ronks Road Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505 (717) 367-7422
2880 Stumptown Road Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 656-7616
301 Gap Rd Ronks, PA 17572 (866) 725-9666
300 Gap Road, Route 741 East, at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Strasburg, PA 17579 (717) 687-8628
3461 Old Philadelphia Pk Ronks, PA 17572 (717) 989-2829
3121 Old Philadelphia Pike Bird in Hand, PA 17505 (717) 768-8828
230 North President Avenue Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 392-4633
2451 Kissel Hill Rd Lancaster, PA 17601-4809 (717) 569-0401
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