Discover The Pennsylvania Dutch
You are driving down Route 30 past the many modern shopping centers, restaurants, flea markets and factory outlets. You hear a strange sound that goes clappity clap, clappity clap on the pavement ahead. And then you realize you are seeing a horse drawn buggy sharing the road with automobiles. You gaze inside the buggy and you see a man dressed in black, with a long beard, and perhaps some children in full dresses on a hot Summers day. These are the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania! This is a people that choose to live a simple farm life without all the modern conveniences of the 21st century, existing side by side with modern technology. A seeming conflict of life-styles, and yet blending together in perfect harmony. It's as if time has stood still for the last 200 years in this one little area of creation!
As you turn off of Route 30 onto Route 897, heading toward Strasburg, you will notice many cars turning into the "Sight & Sound Millennium Theatre" about 2 miles down the road, and it's "sister" facility the "Living Waters Theatre" about 1/4 mile away on the same side of the road. These famous venues produce the most amazing Christian productions using live animals and mostly local talent. The shows not only entertain, bring Bible accounts and stories to life, but proclaim the Word of God to all who visit. A trip to Lancaster County is not complete without enjoying at least one show at either theater.
Continue down Route 897 toward Strasburg and make a left on to Route 741 East, pass through the quaint little town, and you will come upon the Strasburg Railroad. The Strasburg Railroad offers tours through the Lancaster County countryside and many working Amish farms. You will see the Amish working their fields with plows and other farm equipment being drawn by teams of horses or mules, several historic sites and get a sense of how life must have been hundreds of years ago.
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Venture back onto Route 897 to Route 30, make a right and look for the world famous "Millers Smorgasbord", or visit one of the many other equally enticing family style PA Dutch restaurants that seem to be everywhere. The PA Dutch pride themselves on taste tempting home cooking, and they don't disappoint!
Take a relaxing drive down any of the many roads the lead through the countryside and discover family owned farm stands offering homemade root beer, birch beer, quilts, antiques, perserves, or home grown fruits and vegetables. Take a tour of a working Amish farm or schedule a dinner with an Amish famile. Stop at some of the many tourist attractions and take a buggy ride, watch a presentation about Amish life or shop for souvenirs to bring home to friends & relatives. And don't miss the many factory outlets or flea markets that dot the landscape to find great bargains. Lancaster County is a popular, educational and relaxing area to visit 12 months of the year!
While in Lancaster County, I enjoy staying at the Blue Rock Bed & Breakfast. Stephanie & Ed Hersh are the Innkeepers, and offer down-home Christian hospitality and mouth watering, home cooked breakfasts. The Blue Rock B&B is located in Millersville, centrally located right in the heart of Lancaster Country PA Dutch area, and only a short drive to Hershey, PA. You can call the Blue Rock B&B at (717) 872-1192, send them an email to hosts@bluerockbnb.com or visit their website at www.bluerockbnb.com Stephanie & Ed will be happy to direct you to one of the hundreds of fine churches in the area, and the many things to see and do in world reknown Lancaster County, PA.
