Best Things to Do in Lancaster, Penn.

Located in the heart of the quaint downtown district, Lancaster Central Market is a historic farmers market with a variety of vendors ranging from smoothie bowl shops to horseradish stands to, you guessed it, Amish-influenced cuisine. Honorable mentions include homemade jam, shoofly pie and the famous whoopie pies that stem from Lancaster County.

You can’t miss this restaurant. Directly across from a large Dutch windmill, Dienner’s Country Restaurant is a staple of its community. Aside from its well-loved desserts, Dienner’s homestyle menu of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and stewed vegetables gives you an introduction to the delicacies that the Amish have passed onto the community.

If there’s another thing the PA Dutch do well, it’s their homemade ice cream. A trip to Lancaster would not be complete without a stop at one of these characteristic shops. Down on the Farm Creamery capitalizes on this favorite dessert by selling locally created ice cream flavors, such as butter brickle and blueberry cheesecake, that guests can enjoy while petting the property’s goats.

Bearing the appearance of a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch town, Kitchen Kettle Village has a variety of shops selling Amish goods such as shoofly pie, jelly and jam, jerkies and a variety of relishes. While sampling these products, you can also peruse the diverse shops like Dutchland Galleries and Lancaster Yarn Shop that make up the village. 

Rachel’s does an expert job of bringing a bit of Paris into downtown Lancaster, serving up decadent crêpes to its loyal customers. From create-your-own crêpes to themed specials, these inventive takes on the classic French crêpe leave customers wanting to repeatedly return. 

Meshing together Caribbean-inspired recipes with a touch of South Asian and African-Creole influence, Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen serves an imaginative menu showcasing the varied culture that exists within Lancaster.

Lancaster has a surprisingly strong Latin American influence, and Flora’s fuses together flavors from Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia and Brazil, just to name a few. With a menu of an ever-rotating selection of the best Latin American dishes, a visit to Flora’s is always full of intrigue.

Among the handful of rooftop bars in downtown Lancaster, The Exchange reigns supreme due to its class and changing drink menu favoring in-season flavors, such as Perfect Pear, Banana Bread and Kind of a Fig Deal. Catch a sunset over the quaint metropolis with a cozy fire bringing you warmth.

On the flip side, Proof is a chic underground bar and eatery with a seasonal drink menu, exposed brick and the occasional cello player completing the atmosphere’s dapper vibe. Other highlights include the establishment’s featured wines, seafood dishes like tuna tartare and oysters on the half shell and charcuterie offerings.

It is not often that you will find a bowling alley, old-school arcade, restaurant and bar all in one. Decades combines these classics under one roof, serving up a modern take on favorite throwbacks like Ms. Pac-Man, Mario Kart and Skee-Ball. Play them all while holding a drink in hand.

An upscale restaurant steps away from Decades, The Belvedere Inn may be known for its award-winning food, but it has also become a local favorite for its drinking atmosphere. Head to the upstairs jazz lounge to enjoy the weekly performances, or visit on a Showtune Sunday for some avant-garde entertainment.

A staple of its community, The Fulton Theatre has a remarkable trail of history. It was once a point on the Underground Railroad and hosted stars such as Debbie Reynolds, Mark Twain and Louis Armstrong on its stage. Nowadays, the theater performs grand productions rivaling the likes of Broadway but at a much more economical price.

Prima Theatre takes a bold approach to its concerts and musicals, with limited seating surrounding a center stage of performers. An in-theater bar lightens the spirits of even the crankiest theatergoer.

Many of the city’s galleries are on the first and second blocks of North Prince Street, better known as Gallery Row. A few notable mentions include Gallery on Market, Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery, Christiane David Gallery and Red Raven Art Co.

Families visiting Lancaster might be familiar with the Strasburg Railroad, a must-stop for train-obsessed children wanting to experience a short ride through the area’s farmland. While this appeals to families planning a day out, those 21 and older can embark on a more stylish outing: a 45-minute wine and cheese train ride with first-class seating arrangements. 

Larger than any Broadway stage you’ve ever encountered and home to some of the most convincing animatronics is Sight & Sound, a biblically based theater that brings Bible stories to life in grand-scale productions. In addition to its original scores and scripts, each performance features live animals that reside on the property and have been trained by theater professionals.

Dutch Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind theme park catered to young families. Step into this unique kingdom to experience its mixture of thrilling rides and toddler-friendly attractions. During your day, keep your eye out for the Pennsylvania Dutch influences sprinkled throughout the park, such as the giant Dutch Wonderland pretzel, miniature park chapels and animatronic displays of the Amish sewing quilts and baking pies.

Depending on the time of year that you visit and how close you are to the farmland, you may get to experience the hair-raising smell of the recently spread manure on the crops. Don’t let this deter you from the area’s beautiful landscape. Lancaster Balloon Rides rate well with locals and tourists.

Transformed from an 1800s cork company, Cork Factory Hotel is now a trendy locale with a luxury feel. Those with a fetish for exposed brick will find this hotel more than appealing. It gives off those Brooklyn vibes in this up-and-coming city.

With its impressive affiliation with the arts, it is no surprise that Lancaster is home to a boutique accommodation by the name of Lancaster Arts Hotel. You can get a taste of the city’s budding art scene through the hand-picked artwork strategically placed throughout the hotel’s lobby and guest suites.