Amish Country in Lancaster is Home to a Unique Culture

The term "Amish Country'' refers to a portion of Lancaster County in central Pennsylvania that is the long-time home of a large settlement of Amish individuals. As a matter of fact, Lancaster County is home to the oldest Amish settlement in the United States. Also known as the "Plain People'' the Amish make their homes on the many farms that dot the countryside here. Shunning modern society and conveniences, like electricity and automobiles, the many Amish sects in Lancaster County ascribe to a literal translation of the Bible and live their lives according to what they believe is God's plan.

Besides being a place where the Amish peoples live, Amish Country provides many attractions and activities for those who choose to visit this part of the state of Pennsylvania. The small villages here, complete with unusual names such as Paradise, Bird-in-Hand, and Intercourse, have maintained their charming character. Here, visitors can find local artisans selling a variety of handmade items. Other Amish attractions include horse and buggy rides through the streets of the town, a tour of a 25-acre Amish home and working farm, a quilt museum, and a traditional Amish Village, where guests can view a blacksmith's shop, see a traditional one-room schoolhouse, pet farm animals, and purchase traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods such as shoo-fly pie, chicken bot boi, and chou-chou.

Also located within Amish Country in Lancaster County is the Strasburg Steam Railroad. Here, train aficionados can take a 45-minute ride on this vintage railroad with the opportunity to view local scenery from a car that's part of the oldest short-line railroad in the United States. Other nearby railroad-related attractions include the National Toy Train Museum and the Choo Choo Barn model train display, both in Strasburg.

There are two notable factory tours in Amish Country. The Sturgis Pretzel Factory Tour is considered one of the best food-related tours in the country. Guests have the opportunity to tour America's first commercial bakery, founded in 1861. Each visitor gets their own piece of dough at the end of the tour so they can make their own pretzel creation. Also notable is the Herr's Snack Factory Tour, where families can experience the technical wizardry behind Herr's tasty potato chips and other popular snacks.

Amish Country is also home to three theaters. The Dutch Apple Dinner Theater presents a wide variety of Broadway-style musicals live on stage while the Rainbow Dinner Theater offers less well-known productions. The American Music Theater features both celebrity concerts and an array of original shows.

Families might also enjoy a trip to one of Amish Country's amusement parks including Dutch Wonderland, a theme park best suited to children under the age of 12. There are also a few water parks in the area and the Hersheypark amusement park is just a short ride from Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Other activities available to Amish Country visitors include covered bridge tours, miniature golf, outlet shopping, tours of wineries and breweries, galleries, farmer's markets, and more.