Oh, there are just so many things to do. You can just put your car on the road and drive, and you'll find loads of things. Some of our favorites:

Green Dragon Market (outside of Ephrata)--open on Fridays. Amish food stands, country crafts, livestock, as well as all sorts of flea mkt type stuff.
The outlets on Rt. 30
Wilbur chocolate factory
Seltzers Factory tour
Ephrata Cloister
Landis Valley Farm Museum
There are pretzel factories you can tour
You may want to stop in at some of the Amish or Mennonite grocery stores (be sure to take your cooler, you WILL want to fill it to bring home)
Good's Stores (www.goodsstores.com)-a small chain of interesting stores that sell to the local population--they have household stuff, toys, fabric, clothing, garden things, etc.
There are good restaurants on almost every corner, it seems.
You can take buggy rides in Amish buggies (remember, the gray ones are Amish, the black ones are Mennonite)

But really, I like best the little tiny shops and stores you find just driving down the road. You don't even need a plan, just get in the car and go, and stop whenever you see something interesting.

Sight and Sound, The Outhouse. There was a thread on here recently of things to do in PA. Think it was started by Paula, PA.

I used to work at the Farm Museum when I worked as an intern for the Pennsylvania State Museum and Historical Commission.

The two old guys who collected all that stuff?

Genuine packrat nut cases! But talk about some NEAT stuff!

Oh, forgot to add The kitchen Kettle Village (www.kitchenkettle.com)--bunch of little shops and restaurants. The centerpiece is, of course, a shop that sells Kitchen Kettle jams, etc.

I love the farm museum. I used to take the kids there every few weeks and the grandson goes on field trips there. Those two old guys remind me of me..didn't know when to stop collecting the old stuff.

You'll be close to one of the neatest places I've ever visited. Have you been to Longwood Gardens? It is spectacular!! This time of year you can see the fountain shows when it gets dark on Saturday night. I think this is the link:
www.longwoodgardens.com It is more than worth spending an afternoon or evening of your time there.

This is one of the premier ornamental gardens in the world.

I need to jump in and thank jannor for this suggestion. Definitely putting it on my list of places to see in the future. It looks very interesting. Below is the link from a search.

Here is a link that might be useful: Longwood Gardens

clubm:

Lancaster to Kennett Square, PA where Longwood Gardens is located is just over an hour's drive. Not a bad drive there either. I live close to Longwood and it's a beautiful (picture taking) place to visit - one of the tourist places around here.

The link below has a section on "free things to do" too. Might be worth checking out.

Here is a link that might be useful: things to do in Lancaster

I may be there myself in a week depending on many things. Lancaster County in PA is full of covered bridges. All over the US, these wooden structures are disappearing and most that are standing today have been extensively rebuilt or are replicas. That's to be expected of a wood structure that's been sitting outside for over hundred years. But what is important is, was the repair faithful to the original design? Reboarding the superstructure and flooring might be considered minor, or maintence repair. However, tinkering with the support frame is major.

When you find a truly old bridge, photogaph it! It may not be there next year. I know of two bridges that I have photographed that are now destroyed: One in Madison Co, IA and another in Parke Co, IN.

I found several brides in upper Vermont and New Hampshire that were for show only. They looked great and still carried traffic, but when I examined underneath the bridge, the full story emerged. The small towns in the northern part of these two states do not have sufficient budget to repair these bridges to bring them up to today's required loads, yet at the same time they desired to retain the "look and feel" of the bridge. Tourist trade is a factor. I found how they solved this problem. Under the old bridge was another bridge, the one supporting the loads. The highway department had installed the load bearing parts of a modern bridge made of steel H-beams. The wood bridge became merely decoration sitting on steel beams - sort of took away the nostalga.

So, take your cameras and document the bridges.

In my opinion, there are two times in the year when these old bridges have the most photo appeal, and that is in the fall when the leaves turn and after a fresh snowfall in the winter. The lousiest time is late winter and early spring with no greenry of snow cover. Summer pictures can be great too; You have to be more selective and creatiive with composition.

I live in Pa and had been wanting to visit there for years....finally did it.......we stayed at the Amish View Inn.....even had a whirlpool bath in our room! I was in heaven......LOL. Within walking distance of that inn, there was a amish fabric shop...OH LORDY......i coulda spend a fortune! I also went to the christmas museum, that was a fun fun time, and i really enjoyed it, but was disappointed in the gift shop at the end....wanted to take a momento home, but the shop was almost empty....
Anyway, here is the link to the museum we went to. Id like to go there again one day cuz I definetly didnt get enuff time there
HAVE A GREAT TIME
http://www.nationalchristmascenter.com/general/exhibits_intro.aspx

Well I specialize in family activities so I probably can't offer you any good suggestions. Although who knows, you ladies might be able to enjoy a few things that we've enjoyed as a family.

We've gone to Strasburg Railroad to see Thomas the train but you might enjoy the wine and cheese train there.

has a huge corn maze that requires a bit of skill to get through but it can be fun for the right group. If you ladies like a challenge, you might enjoy that. I know the Red Hat Ladies have scheduled outings there and companies sometimes use the maze as a team building exercise.

I've never been to the but it's been popular for a long time. They're doing The Wedding Singer now.

For just a weekend, I think I could spend most of that time at the outlets!

Sorry, I should have said Lynda_PA (?). I think she lives there.

We were just there for a few days last week. Mid week rather than the weekend. We just really needed to destress.

We got there late afternoon so we did the Strassburg train ride the first evening. Splurged and rode in the frst class car. $20/person. Very oppulent, plush seats, beautiful woodwork, leaded glass windows...not like any other tourist train we've been in. DH loves these train rides, and we were thrilled to see the plush seats. He just can't take the bone jostling anymore.

We stayed at the new Windham, in Lancaster, just down the street from a big amusement park, Dutch Wonderland. (We didn't go, but from the looks of it, it is very popular)

There are also many outlets for any kind of shopping.

Oh, we also went to the National Clock and Watch Museum, in Columbia,PA (but still in Lancaster County.)
We got there before it opened to the public, so they told us to go to Hinkles - a local pharmacy - for a cup of coffee. Wow what a place. Old time pharmacy with a little bit of everything, AND a breakfast lunch dinner area where all the locals go for a cup of coffee or some food and the latest happenings of life.

Very nice people.

Just remember Route 30 is very commercial. BUT a couple blocks over from Route 30 are the back roads that envelop you into a simpler way of life.

We did dinner at 'Millers Smorgasbord, and lunch at Plain and Fancy.
Food was very good.

Mostly we just drove around and visited the various cottage industries. Road signs got our attention. Where roads form a tee, the stop signs read. "STOP except for right hand turns."

Be sure to stop in at the Amish visitor center and at the Menonite visitors center, where you can get advice and brochures....and most important local maps.

Shop at a local Amish grocery store, for fresh peaches, melons, corn....YUM. but don't overlook all the farm stands everywhere along the back roads.

Enjoy your trip!

Be sure to go to Intercourse (I sit on the porch of the pretzel shop and drink lemonade and eat pretzels) and Bird in Hand. I like to stop in hardware stores and see what is for sale. Bet yours doesn't sell horse stuff.
Yes hit the back roads for sure - splurge on a GPS if you don't own one. Traffic can be a nightmare on 30. Just be careful to share the roads with the buggies!
Lancaster city is not rural. Rt. 30 is more like Disneyland decorated with black hats.

I live in Lancaster, so I'm sending you an email with my phone number and I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

Erin

Whoops, I spoke too soon. You don't have an email link, so if you want to, you can email me at EN001@lancastergeneral.org