The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County are America's oldest Amish settlement, where tens of thousands still live a centuries-old "Plain" lifestyle. Arriving in Amish Country allows you to step back in time to enjoy a slower, more peaceful pace – one where the horse & buggy remains a primary form of transportation, and where windmills dot the landscape, providing power harnessed from nature. Always a vital part of Lancaster County culture, the PA Amish are involved in agriculture as well as an array of businesses and cottage industries.

What's not included:

1. Travel insurance- a quote will be provided after booking (optional but highly recommended). To give an idea of cost, a family of three (3) one adult, two children, insuring a trip for $1200.00, base rates start at $32. Adding cancel for any reason will increase your rate by  approximately $40, and adding interrupt for any reason  will increase your rate by approximately $10.
2. Transportation-to/from and while at destinations.  If flights or rental vehicle is needed, I can assist outside of this package. Email me at brandi@theansweristravel.com and we can chat about pricing. 
3. Meals other than what listed in the included list above.

Itinerary:

• Day 1  July 16 , 2023 Lancaster, PA 

    

  Today will be  an informal meet & greet. Come and go as you please. Just plan to say hello and grab some goodies!

  Roadside stands will be in abundance! Get ready for some fresh goodies! 

   

  Day 2: July 17, 2023 Bird in Hand, PA 

  Breakfast on own, lunch with group, dinner on own.

   

  Today  is the day we will immerse ourselves in the Amish world! The privilege  it will be to learn about their way of life is more than worth the investment in this trip. 

   

  First we will "witness young Jacob’s struggle in choosing the Amish church, or leaving behind family and community for the allure of the modern world. Jacob’s challenges with faith, tradition, and loved ones in a fast-changing world is a story that touches each of us, young and old, in a poignant and memorable way. More than any other Amish attraction, “Jacob’s Choice” will leave you with an understanding of what it means to be Amish, and the ties that continue to bind the community together through the centuries.

   

  Then we will head to The Amish Country Homestead which  is their  reflection of their  commitment to accurately and sensitively portray the Old Order Amish as they live and work in today’s world. "We like to think of the Homestead as the home of the fictional Amish family of Daniel and Lizzie Fisher, whom you get to know on screen in the Amish Experience Theater’s “Jacob’s Choice.” Inside the Homestead, you learn of Amish traditions and practices, plain clothing and life without electricity from the grid. The Fisher One-Room School is attached to the house and filled with authentic desks and furnishings from an actual Amish school. You’ll learn the tradition of teaching eight grades in one room. From the pantry stocked full of freshly canned vegetables to the family’s plain clothes… from propane-powered lamps to air-compressor driven appliances…the Amish Country Homestead truly provides insights into the complex riddles of a culture so very different from your own." 

   

  Next up we will join together on a  climate-controlled 14-passenger mini-bus Farmlands Tours of the out-of-the-way back roads and country lanes, you’ll experience a sense of the work and family ethics that continue to mark the Amish way of life. Witness spectacular panoramas of patchwork farms unparalleled in their intrinsic beauty, still farmed with horses and mules. Roadside stands, bake shops, or a visit to a craft or quilt shop on an Amish farm are among the unique happenings enjoyed on your 90-minute Farmlands excursion. On Sundays, please note our tours do run, but we cannot stop at an Amish farm during the tour.
  
  

  We certainly won't leave hungry--- we will enjoy a true, authentic Dutch PA meal together.

   

  Ride through Amish Farms with a brief stop at a farm stand with an opportunity to purchase home-made cookies, root beer, pretzels and lemonade.  Get a taste of real Amish Life.   Our drivers take you to our own home farms.  Tour the barn, see the cows and big Clydesdale type work horse, mules, and other animals.  America the way it used to be.

   

  Day 3 July 18, 2023 Lititz and Marietta,  PA 

  Breakfast, lunch and dinner on own.

   

  Today is about things off-the-farm. 

   

  Tour the original pretzel bakery, get a hands-on lesson in pretzel twisting using a playdough mixture, observe our bakers twisting old-fashioned soft pretzels by hand, and shop for delicious treats and souvenirs in our bakery store.

   

  Then we'll head out to a George's Furniture store. Building top-quality, handcrafted furniture is not just a seasoned skill—it’s an unwavering commitment to delivering superior quality to our customers.  

  See first hand how George’s Furniture is handcrafted by skilled craftsmen.

   

  Day 4: July 19, 2023 Hershey Chocolate World! 

  Breakfast on own, lunch at Hershey, dinner on own.

   

  Chocolate! Chocolate! and more Chocolate! Today is dedicated to Hershey Chocolate World!

   

  We will Unwrap and taste our way through the tale of HERSHEY'S Chocolate with a theatrical experience the whole family will enjoy! From the bean to bar and everything in between, HERSHEY'S Unwrapped is sure to dazzle your taste buds, fill you with laughter and sweeten you with Hershey heartwarming moments.

   

  We will also experience The 4D Chocolate Movie which  puts you inside all the fun. Through stunning digital animation and special effects*, you become part of the show by interacting with the Hershey's Characters to help solve the mystery!  *This show contains strobe lights, loud noise and theatrical smoke. 

   

  We will also create our own candy bars!!! This is the icing on the cake for me! Literally! Ever wonder what kind of candy bar you would create? Here's your chance to find out! Immerse yourself in an authentic HERSHEY'S factory experience. Choose your ingredients and design your own wrapper. 

   

  And finally, watch as the inspiring story of Milton Hershey and his HERSHEY'S Chocolate unfolds, between the historic landmarks just outside your window and the charismatic conductors sharing incredible-but-true stories! 

   

  Day 5: July 20, 2023  Hershey Adventure Park 

  Breakfast on own, lunch at park, dinner on own. 

   

  Today is all about roller coasters and family fun! 

   

  Hersheypark Happy is the best feeling around. Visit Central Pennsylvania to experience our thrilling roller coasters, family attractions, and 11-acre waterpark!

   

  Day 6: July 21, 2023 Turkey Hill Experience

   

  Check out of hotel

   

  Breakfast, lunch and dinner on own. 

   

  I bet you didn't think we would be enjoying so many sweets on this trip did you? Well, surprise! Another  day filled with delicious goodies! 

   

  The Turkey Hill Experience features interactive exhibits allowing you to learn about dairy culture, the story of Turkey Hill Dairy, and how the company's ice cream and iced tea flavors are selected and created. You will truly experience what it's like to be a Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream maker for a day, including the opportunity to create your own virtual ice cream flavor. In addition, you can sit in our vintage milk truck, milk our mechanical cows, star in your very own Turkey Hill commercial, and enjoy plenty of free samples of iced tea and ice cream! 

  Start with a base ice cream and add in the flavoring of your choice. From there, you can add in a variety of delicious inclusions and mix in your favorite variegate.

  Enjoy your ice cream creation while our instructor gives you a brief "Ice Cream 101" class.

Cancellation policy: