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, including Day Out With Thomas, holiday train rides, and other seasonal experiences that make a visit to Strasburg Rail Road even more memorable. 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.
Tip for your Trip: Admission starts at $16.75, and guests can add additional experiences to make their ice cream and tea-themed adventure even more interactive.
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.
Order a FREE copy of the 2026 Lancaster County Visitors Guide to explore things to do, places to stay, where to eat, an events calendar, and more!
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.
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.
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.
Tiny Town is an interactive indoor play center where children ages 7 and under can step into a miniature town and let their imaginations run wild.
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.
Perfect for kids, teens, and adults alike, Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery offers a hands-on experience where guests can learn the art of twisting traditional soft pretzels. During the interactive tour, families will discover the history of America's first commercial pretzel bakery, watch the pretzel-making process, and enjoy tasting their freshly made creations afterward.
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.
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 and experience a turn-of-the-century passenger station. 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.
Step back in time at Barry's Car Barn in Intercourse, where families can explore vintage muscle cars, classic motorcycles, and nostalgic memorabilia. Kids will love seeing the larger-than-life vehicles up close, while parents and grandparents can reminisce over automotive favorites from decades past. With free admission for children ages 6 and under, it's a fun indoor stop for all ages.
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.
If you're spending time in Lititz, the Tree House of Lititz Foundation is a free community playground just steps from Lititz Springs Park. Kids will love the swings, slides, zip lines, and room to play, while families can enjoy seasonal events, food trucks, and outdoor activities throughout the year.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Through immersive exhibits and artifacts, the National Civil War Museum brings history to life while inspiring curiosity and learning for both children and adults.
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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1170 Garfield Avenue Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 (717) 287-5000
2521 Lincoln Highway East Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 391-8234
1444 Village Road Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (717) 687-6933
721 Landis Valley Rd Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 (717) 569-5437
533 Janet Avenue Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 (717) 947-7350
2395 Covered Bridge Drive Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 (717) 394-6185
150 Cherry Hill Rd Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 687-6843
199 Hartman Bridge Rd Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 687-8511
262 Paradise Lane Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 687-7929
2249 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 (717) 291-1888
301 Linden St Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 (717) 684-0134
226 Gap Rd Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (717) 687-7911
230 N. Ronks Road Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania 17505 (717) 367-7422
2880 Stumptown Road Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 656-7616
454 New Holland Ave Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 (717) 509-6363
300 Gap Road Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (717) 687-8628
301 Gap Rd Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 1-800-514-3849
300 Gap Road, Route 741 East, at Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579 (717) 687-8628
3461 Old Philadelphia Pk Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572 (717) 989-2829
3121 Old Philadelphia Pike Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania 17505 (717) 768-8828
230 North President Avenue Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603 (717) 392-4633
3065 Lincoln Highway Paradise, Pennsylvania 17652 (717) 323-3077
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