We're not far from Lancaster so no need for us to stay overnight. But, I use Trip Advisor for all that stuff. Check out the reviews that people write and I'm sure you'll find what you need. There's also some nice B&Bs there so you can check them out as well.

I linked the site below. You'd just have to customize it to your visiting dates to see what's available. I'd advise on calling hotels directly for better pricing and don't forget to use your AAA or AARP membership for 10% off if they offer it and you have it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lancaster - TA

Living in Pa., I wish I could help you but I'm near Pgh...I just remember eating in a place called Zims or something like that and it was wonderful....Very Amish and very good...And if you're after Shoofly pie, that's the area.....But, you do have to watch out for "fakes"...One year we were traveling through and wanted the kids to see a "real Amish working farm"...Was just an attraction and all the exhibits let right into a gift shop that was bigger than the whole farm.....
I'm sure you'll get lots of help....It is a gorgeous part of Pa., and lots to see.....

We were up that way last summer for a wedding. The Hampton Inn in York was a good location for us.

From Lancaster

You're less than an hour away from Hershey, Pa. Home of Hershey's chocolate factory, Hershey Park amusement park and a tour of how chocolate is made.

Another place less than an hour away is the Daniel Boone Homestead, where he grew up.

Zin's diner isn't what it used to be.

I didn't think Zinn's even existed anymore. We always ate there many years ago antiquing down at the famous Black Angus flea market. There are many many motels and hotels. You're close to Hershey Park, not too far from Gettysburg. A place where many people flock to eat wonderful Dutch food is Shady Maple. It's a buffet with so many homemade choices it is unbelievable. Known thru out the area. I don't eat there anymore because I eat differently now and believe me there is TOO much good food and choices..lol. I'd go on my own down the back roads out of the commercial area. Many Amish have stands along the road and you can interact with them that way. Landis Valley Farm museum is another place I'd recommend. Used to got there every few months. It's run by the state. A rural Williamsburg .

We used to stay at the Netherlands Inn every other year or so when we operated bus tours to the area, it was a great hotel run by a terrific family. It is now the Clarion Strasburg Inn and tho I have not been there the reviews look good.

Hi. I visit Lancaster fairly often because my sister lives in Millersville Pa. Try to make it to Lititz pa where there is a neat pretzel factory to tour and a chocolate shop-Wilber's which is fun. There are also many small shops there and a very nice little park. New Holland Pa is also a nice place to visit and more open country side than you'll see in many places. Strousburg railroad is a fun thing to do as is Landis Valley Museum as someone mentioned. If you have children with you there is a very nice "hands on" museum near Landis Valley. Have a great time. Satine

Are the Plain & Fancy and Good n Plenty still in operation?

I live in Lancaster County and book rooms all the time for our business clients.
The absolute best kept secret is The Inn at Leola Village. It is a little more money than other local places at about 140 - 170 a night...but quaint, luxurious, well appointed rooms. No attention to detail is overlooked. Wonderful beds, linens, robes, slippers...etc All rooms are decorated different and I can say I personally saw at least 10 rooms when I visited with their sales team. It is 4 diamond rated and on the historic register. For the price it is a steal. I have stayed there myself once for an anniversary gift and I only live about 8 miles away. The restaurant on site (Mazzi )is a treat as well.
The other place we book people is the Eden Resort. It is in a busier part of town, but easy access to route 30.
There are many, many more hotels over towards what is referred to as Lincoln Hwy (still rt 30) but it is VERY busy road with all the outlets and restaurants.
From Leola, you can be in rural farmland in about 2 minutes.
email me if you would like more info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Leola Village

One hotel that blew me away was the Eden Resort. Love Lancaster!

Depends what you have in mind you can go to a town called intercourse...wow guess what everybody does there part time...lol just jokin yes it is called that,theres a part of lancaster we like for antiques.Renningers,black angus,look on internet the town youre going its usually motels etc we live near ,never stayed there.
The Zinns diner is still there just sold it.Another name,

Bulldinkie, funny you should mention Intercourse. We happened upon it while driving around the countryside. Of course Harry stopped the car at the winery and had me take a picture of him in front on the Intercourse sign. Sigh--he's such a kid sometimes :-)

In my opinion and my taste, that would be an awesome trip. I read about the amish all the time. Fiction and non Fiction. I have always wanted to visit amish country. I hope you have a wonderful time and come back with many pictures and stories of where you visited. Traveling mercies to you.

I've also been to Bird in Hand and Blue Ball.

We have been there, didn't stay though. We stayed in hershey... unless you have little kids or LOVE amusement parks. I would skip it. Just drive through. My family LOVES factories. We take tours whenever we can. We thought we would do the Hershey factory, well the real factory no longer does tours unless it is a special group, now they send you to the amusement park and you ride a ride that "tells" you how chocolate is made and dumps you in the gift shop... There was one place in the town that I did like and that was the Hershey School and museum. Told how Hersheys was founded and the wonderful things he did for orphaned youths. Made a school and things. Just wonderful, that is what made the trip for us. I did like going through Intercourse and other Amish towns. Would have spent more time but it was very hot when we went and didn't want to wander around the towns. Next time we will go in better weather. Did take some great pictures through the car windows... tee hee.

Very nice area to visit, would do it differently next time. I do want to go back though. Bird in Hand is another nice town.

If you like the theater, check out the Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster. They have great plays with live animals. Their productions are even better than the ones I have seen in New York City.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sight and Sound Theater

Is that Amish coutry?

If so had a fabulous dinner at a country style dinner.

Be sure to go for ride in country there n Sunday ,you'll see lots on rd as they go to a persons house for church services then they all eat dinner together.Youll see a lot on the rd or a house with a bunch of buggies,horses.You will too see a lot of horse poop in bank drive thru's????

I lived in a small town near Lancaster for 10 years and still miss it so much. I would ditto the Inn at Leola. Much more off the tourist track. There is so much to do in the Lancaster area and the food is wonderful!

We like Willow Valley Restaurant and Resort. You can just eat there or spend a few nights, They have a website, Check Google.

Lititz is a nice little town. Used to be nicer with some great antique and other shops, but still has many different places to shop. Very quaint. I used to go there at least once a month and eat at the General Sutter inn. I guess I don't appreciate all we have here since I have never lived one day anywhere else.

Kitchen kettle village is a must, Intercourse,Pa I would recommend just driving around the countryside. You will get an idea of their life style...stay clear of "Amish houses farms etc " tourist places. Alot of untruths talked about. The towns and countryside east of Lanc. are where you want to be to observe the lifestyle. Just driving is the best thing to do.

Mud sales are popular in the area. They are local auctions usually held by the firre company. But it's a great opportunity to get a bargain on home made goos like quilts.

Here is a link that might be useful: mud sales

I would stay clear of Lancaster city. I always liked to go to Bird in Hand and sit on the porch of the soft pretzel place and watch the buggies and tourists. Saw some Amish tonight at Shippensburg PA.
Pick up an Amish road map (in one of free the tourist papers) That way you can get on back roads and sight see.
I love being there - it's the getting there I don't like. Too much traffic.

Kathy - why would you avoid Lancaster City? I think it's a lovely little town. We were just there in the fall and had a nice time. We arrived late Friday night and spent Saturday walking around the town and then we went out to Franklin and Marshall University for a program. The Fulton Opera House and Theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a well regarded regional theater that offers a variety of shows, concerts, Broadway plays.

I wouldn't limit myself by spending all my time in any one place because there are so many other places to see in the area. But I really enjoyed touring the city and seeing all the wonderful old buildings and stopping in some of the shops.

Lancaster city is a nice small city...while I live in a much more rural area, I do get in town frequently.
The buildings are very nice architecturally if you like that.
Queen street has quite a few nice stores in a walking district...hand blown glass, childrens boutiques, vintage clothing and accessories, anitiques, coffee shops.
Additionally you can visit Central Market, the Quilt and textile museum (amazing and very old quilts), Science factory, Lancaster Arts museum. Come on the weekend and attend First Fridays and visit the many art galleries. Catch the symphony, a show at the Fulton Opera/Theatre, a minor league Barnstormers baseball game. Visit Rock Ford plantation (built in 1749, home of General Hand), Visit home of James Buchanan (our 15th president)
2 lovely plaes to stay in the city are the brand new Marriot Convention center (BEAUTIFUL!). They very creatively maintained the original facade of an historic Watt and Shand building as well as preserving several very unique aspects within the building as well - inside there is a glass enclosure around a foundatation and cesspool of Thaddeus Stevens home and is a working archialogical site.
The Marriot is downtown and you can walk to almost anything I mentioned above. The other really nice hotel is the Lancaster Arts Hotel. It is still in the city, but a little further away from walking district. It is a converted tobacco warehouse and very nice. The restaraunt on site gets all their ingredients from local farmers.

I can go on and on an I missing so many wonderful things...other nice places I never get tired of: The Cloister in Ephrata, Landis Valley Museum, walking around Lititz. Visiting Greeen Dragon farmers market on Friday (maybe tonight!) or Roots market on Tuesdays. Pa Renaissance Faire in Manheim.

I only occasionally go to Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand, etc (usually on my way to Target! lol) I live here, I have friends that are Amish...their lifestyle while unique and seemingly tranquil...well it's just part of my everyday life and I am used to it. I have eaten dinner, attended weddings, and auctions with both Amish and Mennonite friends.
Lancaster county is extremely diverse and offers so much! I am blessed to be here.

salgal - that's where we stayed and it was very nice. Somehow I completely missed the cesspool! LOL Honestly I love that sort of thing, I don't know how I managed to stay there 2 days and not see it.

Maire cate if you go to the link below it is a virtual tour.
Right above the video mouse over the words "select virtual tour location. You want level 1. You will see 3 dots to choose location to view. If you choose the one to the right it is a lobby. When you pan around to the convex glass wall, that is the dig site.
If you click on the lower left green dot, it is another lobby out side of Freedom Hall. Turn around until you see the brick wall. Use the 'up arrow' a look at the entire building. This is another house the were able to build this hotel around. I can't remember the historical relevancce of this house. (You can also see it from the Level 2 middle green dot)
This hotel was millions and millions (177) of dollars and a huge political debacle for many years, but it's finally done.

Here is a link that might be useful: lancaster marriot

Thanks for the link - at least now I know how I missed it. I'm surprised there wasn't a sign in the lobby or a little brochure in the hotel room to alert visitors to check it out. But the lobby is rather large and spread out so there may have been a sign that I missed.

Oh I am sorry! I think she is looking for more Amish countryside rather than the city. Now you made me want to check it out.