Features > Getaways > A Vacation with the Lancaster Amish
If visiting the beautiful Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania sounds appealing, there is a way to find many of the important elements of such a vacation in one place.
No visit to Lancaster would be complete without a ride in an authentic Amish buggy, a visit to a working Amish farm, educational information about this group and fabulous home cooked food created from traditional Amish recipes. A stay at the Amish View Inn puts all of these elements in one location.
The AAA three diamond, boutique hotel is set right next to a working Amish farm. During the day, the clean lines of the fields can be seen from the window of the hotel room. Just across the road, buggies go back and forth up and down a dirt road. On Monday, Amish garments can be seen swaying in the breeze, having been hung out to dry on the traditional wash day.
Located on the property is the Amish Experience Theater. This is a multimedia presentation that seeks to help visitors understand Amish customs, style of dress, and other aspects of Amish life. Visitors can tour a nine-room house that mimics an Amish farm house to get an even better understanding of the daily lives of this group of people.
A local Amish family owns a company that provides buggy rides and these rides begin at the hotel. Visitors are taken on a ride through working Amish farms, and have the chance to see an Amish school house, machine shop and horse stable and also have a chance to patronize some Amish road side stands.
The buggy driver will be happy to answer any questions. This buggy ride is a great way to be able to interact with members of the Amish community in a respectful, non-intrusive manner. Be sure to ask permission before taking photographs. Some buggy drivers will not mind, but others prefer not to have their picture taken.
Dinner is served at the Plain and Fancy Farm Restaurant, just a few steps from the front door of the hotel. The food is served family style and includes many Amish favorites such as home style roast beef, fried chicken, pork chops, chow chow and a selection of fresh from the farm vegetables and fabulous desserts.
There is plenty of shopping within a short drive from the hotel as well. Antiques, quilts and other items can be found in one of the many shops located nearby.
The hotel itself offers amenities galore. The rooms are extremely comfortable and nicely appointed. Some rooms feature a fireplace and/or Jacuzzi tub. A state of the art fitness center, video arcade and a pool are available as well.
A full breakfast is included which includes oatmeal, made to order eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, waffles, assorted fruit, cold cereal and several varieties of juice, pastries and breads.
For a visitor who only had a day or two in Lancaster, and wanted to see as much of the Amish experience as possible, the Amish View Inn offers a perfect solution.
Cindy | Jun 2, 2009 | Category: Getaways