As soon as you enter Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special.
Home of one of the world’s largest Amish communities, the greater Lancaster area is a must-see bucket list destination for tourists and is ideally suited for senior travelers, given its natural beauty, plentiful activities, and slower pace. At the same time, Lancaster has emerged as a top choice for retirees, with a choice of several attractive 55+ communities. We will discuss Lancaster as a retirement destination later in this story.
Kathy and I spent several days in Lancaster County recently. It was our first visit. We were impressed with the area’s bucolic farmland, quaint towns full of great food and interesting shops, and perhaps most of all, we were impressed by the unique and fascinating culture and lifestyle of the Amish and Mennonites for whom Lancaster County is well known.
About the Amish
Lancaster County includes the largest and best-known Amish community in the world, with about 37,000 residents. The Amish established settlements in Lancaster County in 1760, before America became a nation, in part because the area has some of the finest farmland anywhere. Family farming is at the heart of the Amish lifestyle. In some respects, life hasn’t changed a great deal for Amish families since those early days.
When you visit Lancaster County, you will quickly notice the horse-drawn buggies, the main form of transportation for the Amish, who shun motorized vehicles because they want to remain separate from the world and its corrupting influences. The Amish are a conservative Christian group who take the Bible seriously and live a simple lifestyle, without modern conveniences and technology. They are hardworking and family focused. The Amish are sometimes referred to as “the Plain People” due to their lifestyle and clothing. Both men and women dress modestly, including long-sleeve shirts and full-length dresses for the women. The women wear head coverings and no jewelry.
As a tourist, please show respect for the Amish and their customs. They do not like, for instance, to have their photos taken. Be patient if traveling behind a buggy. Remember, this is their home; you are merely a visitor.
You can learn more about the Amish, Mennonites and related groups in Lancaster County by visiting LancasterPA.com.
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— See Related Story: Visiting Ohio’s Amish Country
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Tourism in and around Lancaster
Tourism is big business in Lancaster County, with a total tourism impact of $2.91 billion annually, according to Discover Lancaster. In 2018, 8.85 million visitors came to Lancaster County That’s more than the total number of tourists who visit any one of the three most popular national parks in a year — Grand Canyon, Yosemite or Yellowstone.
When Kathy and I visited Lancaster County, we wanted to experience the authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, shop the quaint local shops, learn more about the Amish way of life, and enjoy the rural scenery. We stayed five days, and there was more than enough to see and do. We still didn’t see it all and would love to go back. Renting through Airbnb, we stayed in a downstairs apartment in a home surrounded by farmland and where buggies passed by on the street. There are plenty of hotels to choose from, but we felt more a part of the community by staying in a residential neighborhood.
From Lancaster to Intercourse
The City of Lancaster is the hub of Lancaster County, but the Amish family farms are located throughout the county, with colorful small-towns with names like Bird-in-Hand, Paradise, Lititz, Ronks, Ephrata, Strasburg, and yes, Intercourse. That word had a different meaning when Intercourse was named in 1814, but today’s Intercourse is second only to Lancaster as a center of Amish-related tourism activity in Lancaster County. Whether you want delicious family-style dining, locally made crafts, fudge, jams & jellies, or handmade quilts, you can find it all in Intercourse. As you can see, they even sell T-shirts!
We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon strolling through Kettle Kitchen Village, a cute walkable collection of more than 40 shops and restaurants in Intercourse. Two quick-serve restaurants we liked were the Harvest Cafe and Kettle Cafe. Kathy enjoyed visiting a Christmas store named Grande Place and Lily’s Personalized Teddy Bears.
You can learn more about all the interesting small towns and villages in Lancaster County at Discover Lancaster.
Learning About the Amish Lifestyle
One of our objectives in coming to Lancaster County was to learn more about the Amish. A great place to start is Plain & Fancy, a 10-acre attraction in Bird-in-Hand that will leave you with a much greater appreciation for the Plain People. Be sure to watch Jacob’s Choice at Plain & Fancy’s Amish Experience Theater. This production follows the fictional Fisher family as they strive to preserve 400 years of Amish tradition. You can also visit a nine-room Amish home and a school room. Kathy and I took the buggy ride through the farm and the adjacent countryside. If all that touring makes you hungry, you can eat on-site at the Smokehouse BBQ & Brews. There’s even an inn for overnight guests.
A similar attraction that will add to your appreciation of the Amish is The Amish Farm & House, a 15-acre farm in the city of Lancaster. It features a real Amish school house and bus tours.
While in Bird-in-Hand, not far from Plain & Fancy, we recommend visiting Kauffman’s Fruit Farm & Market. They have one of the best selections of locally sourced and produced fruit, canned goods, candies, and other items. You won’t find better apple butter (or pumpkin, pear and other varieties) anywhere. My favorite find was the honey peanut butter. It’s so delicious that I bought more later from their online store.
Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking
Shoofly pie
Prepare to enjoy mouth-watering, down-home, farm-style meals when you visit Lancaster County. The food alone is worth the trip. One word of advice when visiting Lancaster County is to avoid chain restaurants because the local ones are so unique and so worthwhile. Yes, you can find familiar national chain restaurants in the county, but why would you want to?
Many restaurants serve family style, where guests share foods like at home, but most also offer menu service or a buffet. Be sure to try a local favorite, shoofly pie, a tasty Dutch dessert made with molasses. It’s great paired with coffee.
You won’t have a problem finding plenty of local restaurants, but two we enjoyed were Good ‘N Plenty in Smoketown and Dienner’s Country Restaurant in Ronks. Both are popular spots that offer authentic, fresh local foods that you won’t find outside Lancaster County.
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— See Related Story – “E-Bikes Overtake Buggies for Some Amish“
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Farms, Windmills and Covered Bridges
Have your camera ready when traveling through the beautiful countryside of Lancaster County. The hills and valleys are dotted with picturesque family farms. The well-kept homes reflect Amish sensibilities and style. Often, two or more generations will share a single homestead. No power lines run to the homes, since the Amish do not use bought electricity; a few households have solar panels to generate their own power. Clothes hang from backyard lines to dry, like most Americans did generations ago.
Small Amish school houses are also a common sight throughout Lancaster County. Schools are typically single room, with all grade levels studying together. In addition to horses and buggies on the rural roads, you will occasionally see children on one-wheel (non-motorized) “scooters,” a bicycle-like design unique to Amish culture. 
You will also discover windmills, covered bridges and other features not commonly seen elsewhere in the American landscape. Also uncommon is the serenity and quietness of the countrywide, where motorized vehicles only pass occasionally and no freeways intrude. Lancaster County’s natural beauty and rural charm stand in contrast to the rest of our hustle-bustle, 21st Century American lifetyle. After being there for a few days, you may not want to leave!
Sight & Sound Theatre
Photo courtesy of Sight & Sound Theatre.
One of the highlights of our vacation in Lancaster County was attending a live stage show at the magnificent Sight & Sound Theatre, located in Ronks. This large, modern theater has a mission of telling Bible stories in a way that honors God and brings families together. Each year, a different Bible character or story is featured, plus an extra Christmas show in November and December. Kathy and I have seen shows at Sight & Sound about the life of Jesus and the life of Sampson. Both were excellent productions.
Sight & Sound Theatre is popular with seniors. When we visited there, the parking lot was lined with tour buses bringing groups of senior adults from several states. We highly recommend Sight & Sound Theatre, which has a second location in Branson, Missouri.
What To See Nearby
Lancaster County has plenty to keep visitors busy, but it’s location is also close to other attractions and historical sites. Our main side trip was to visit Hershey, Pennsylvania, the town built by chocolatier Milton Hershey and nicknamed The Sweetest Place on Earth. In addition to being a successful businessman, Hershey was a generous philanthropist who left a lasting legacy in his hometown. The Milton Hershey School is 
now the largest home and school in the world for children in need. The M.S. Hershey Foundation ensures that the community and its residents continue to have a quality lifestyle. The Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center provides highly specialized care for residents of Central Pennsylvania and beyond.
When visiting Hershey, plan to include a few hours to tour Hershey Park, the theme park that includes information on the town and company’s history and a look at how chocolate candies are made. While there, stock up on boxes of Hershey candy bars and leave room to sample Hershey’s own popular brand of ice cream.
History buffs will find plenty to see within easy driving distance of Lancaster. Possible stops could include Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and Philadelphia, among others.
Retiring to Lancaster County
U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Lancaster as the No. 3 best place to retire in America, beat out only by Fort Myers and Sarasota, both popular Florida retirement havens. The only other Northern city in the top 10 was Grand Rapids, Michigan, at No. 9. With a population of just over half a million, Lancaster ranked highly due to its overall quality of life and pleasing blend of urban and rural lifestyles. Taxes in Pennsylvania are generally favorable for retirees, with a low state income tax, relatively low property tax rates, and no state tax on Social Security benefits. Housing costs in Lancaster County fall below the national average.
Lancaster County is centrally located for seniors who like to travel. Within less than a full day’s drive (or train ride in some cases), one can reach either Niagara Falls or Virginia Beach; New York City or Washington, D.C.
While retirees live throughout Lancaster County, they also have a wide selection of attractive 55+ communities from which to choose, with home prices from the $100,000’s to the $600,000’s. Typical of the Lancaster County communities listed by 55places.com is Traditions of America at Lititz, a newer community with 329 single-family and attached garden homes. Situated on 60 acres and within walking distance of downtown Lititz, the community features a clubhouse complete with a fitness spa, heated swimming pool, restaurant/bar, outdoor recreation area, library, and tennis courts. Another popular 55+ community is Home Towne Square, located in Ephrata. When complete, it will feature 300 craftsman-style homes with front porches and plenty of charm. The community includes walking and biking trails, a swimming pool, and a 7,100-square-foot clubhouse. You can read about all 10 of the 55+ communities in Lancaster County on the 55places.com website.
Learn more about Lancaster County
Visit these websites to learn more Lancaster County, Pennsylvania:
Feature photo credit: DiscoverLancaster.com / Terry Ross
(Note: This article does not include any sponsored or affiliate links. This blog receives no compensation from any of the entities mentioned. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are intended for informational purposes for the benefit of our readers.)
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