Best Restaurants in Lancaster PA
July 26, 2019Key Takeaways: A Culinary Guide to Lancaster, PA
- A Premier Dining Destination: Discover why Lancaster is a must-visit for foodies, featuring a blend of world-class fine dining, traditional Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbords, and nationally recognized, award-winning chefs.
- Iconic Local Staples: Savor scratch-made traditions at Miller’s Smorgasbord — a local landmark since 1929 — and enjoy signature smoked meat, local dishes and artisan brews at the Smokehouse at Plain & Fancy, located right on the AmishView property.
- Nationally Acclaimed Eateries: Explore a landscape of restaurants honored by the James Beard Foundation, the New York Times, and USA Today, ranging from romantic hotspots to innovative, farm-to-table kitchens.
- Enjoy the “best complimentary breakfast in the area” at AmishView Inn, featuring farm-fresh, made-to-order items paired with stunning views of the surrounding Amish countryside.
Family-Friendly Lancaster PA Inn
June 30, 2019
After spending the day exploring with your family, come back to our Lancaster inn to kick back and relax. We have an indoor pool where your kids will be able to continue the fun and a whirlpool where you can indulge in a carefree zone! For your kid’s entertainment, and maybe even for an adult with a childlike curiosity, we have an arcade room that’s available 24 hours a day! To view our outstanding hotel amenities visit our breakfast and amenities page online! When you’re ready to plan your stay in Lancaster Amish country give us a call at 1-866-735-1600!
Lancaster Amish Community
June 11, 2019You’ll pass by numerous buggies and farmlands while staying at our Lancaster hotel in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Amish community takes a slower approach to life, which will give you a new found appreciation for quality time. While in Amish country, you’ll notice the variety of handcrafted one-of-a-kind items while shopping in Lancaster, PA. There’s an abundance of Amish owned stores where you can pick up handmade quilts, furniture, baked goods, and more! Once you bake a pie with freshly-farmed Amish ingredients, you’ll never look at baking the same again! The beautiful side of the Amish community is that they cater to faith, family, and farming, which is fascinating to the modernized world today, and will leave you with a better understanding of the important things in life!
Amish Furniture
December 19, 2017The Amish community is well-known for their high quality furniture. Many are left wondering how they do it, especially without using electricity. The answer is overwhelmingly skill. By employing tremendous woodworking abilities, handed down from generation to generation, the Amish have developed an extraordinary legacy.
First, the craftsmen choose the right wood for the piece. A nice cherry wood for a table, or a maple or mahogany. Depending on the client’s request, any wood is possible. Without particle board, or shortcuts, they build furniture using hand tools and tools that are powered with diesel compressors alone. The process is slow and laborious, but yields fantastic results.
Why Buy Amish Furniture?
Because it’s good. Furniture from the Amish community is generally very sturdy and lasts a lifetime. They utilize a painstaking attention to detail, so pieces are genuinely cared for throughout the process. Each piece is unique and visitors to your home will notice.
They have an expansive inventory potential. The Amish woodworkers are versatile, and will create anything from chairs to cabinets. There are several variations of style and technique that different sects use. For example, the Shaker and Queen Ann styles differ significantly. The Shaker pieces emphasize simplicity while the Queen Ann pieces include engraved ornamentation.
The process is environmentally friendly, and it promotes local business. The Plain community steadfastly refuses to waste supplies so trees are not torn down in vain. They also often own their own businesses, and purchasing goods from an Amish-run store stimulates the local economy.
Local Amish Craftsmen:
If you’re interested in acquiring some authentic Amish furniture pieces during your stay at the AmishView Inn & Suites, here are a few local locations!
Peaceful Valley Furniture
3347 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse 17534
Fisher’s Quality Furniture
3061 W. Newport Road, Ronks, PA 17572
Gish’s Furniture and Amish Heirlooms
2191 E Lincoln Hwy, Lancaster PA
Dutch Selections
793 Lancaster Pk, Quarryville PA 17566
King’s Kountry Korner
101 Centerville Rd, Gordonville, Pa
Carriage House Furnishings
3572 West Newport Rd. Ronks, PA 17572
Harold’s Oak House
412 Newport Avenue, Christiana, PA 17509
Transportation and The Amish
December 12, 2017Key Takeaways: Understanding Amish Transportation
- The Goal of “Slow Travel”: The Amish use horse-drawn buggies and scooters to encourage a slower pace of life, allowing more time for contemplation and family connection.
- Community-Building Through Travel: Because traditional travel takes longer, it fosters a “culture of dependence” where neighbors rely on one another to help with childcare or chores, strengthening community bonds.
- Modern Exceptions: While they do not own or drive cars, many Amish will hire drivers (often called “Amish Taxis”) or use trains and buses for long-distance business trips or time-sensitive emergencies.
- Unique Vehicles: Beyond the iconic dark gray buggy, you will frequently see the Plain community using pony carts, non-motorized scooters, and even tractors (limited to farm use) around Lancaster County.
- Preserving Heritage: By limiting high-speed technology, the Amish protect their close-knit traditions and prevent the “rushed” influence of modern secular society from encroaching on their values.
The Amish are often recognized by one of two things: their dress, or their buggies. The Lancaster landscape is peppered with gray and black-topped buggies as well as the sound of hooves on asphalt. Visitors to Lancaster are awed by the sight, and surprisingly little is known about the Amish outside their towns. As a result, visitors often ask about how the Amish get around, and we’d like to oblige!
Transportation Preferences
Plain folk prefer modes of transportation that are slower, it’s true. But they’re not limited to horse-drawn buggies – they also use pony carts, scooters, and tractors. Their vehicles usually don’t utilize electricity, and are limited in distance capability. The reasoning is far more complex than its surface implies.
The Amish prefer slower, lower tech transportation because it encourages introspection and community. The longer the trip, the more thinking. Traveling in horse-drawn buggies or scooters allows more time for contemplation. Not consistently being busy zooming here and there leads to fuller, richer living.
Additionally, the Amish heavily depend on each other as neighbors and friends with each trip. Imagine a typical errand trip for you: groceries, appointments, and shopping. It might take three hours, tops. But for the Amish, that same trip would take triple the time. They must rely on the community to watch the kids, or feed the livestock, or even manage the business.
These requests foster relationships, and in turn trust. Having a tight-knit community of reciprocated familiarity and trust is integral to the Amish culture. As much as they’d like to completely travel in this fashion, there are exceptions.
Transportation Exceptions
Typically, the Amish will try alternate methods before resorting to contemporary vehicles. Sometimes the distance is just too great, or the situation is time sensitive. For example, say an Amish business owner hears about a last-minute sale on livestock – but it’s in California. If it’s important enough for his family’s livelihood, he must purchase it. He cannot reasonably be expected to travel there and back, with thousands of pounds of cargo, in a more traditional Amish vehicle. He will instead contact a driver with a truck.
Drivers like this exist all over areas replete with Plain folk. The Amish individual will not drive the vehicle, but in keeping with his church’s guidelines will ride as a passenger. He can purchase the livestock and transport it without risking speed or his beliefs.
Depending on the sect, the Amish can contact drivers for much simpler scenarios. They can also travel on boats and trains – as long as the church approves.
It’s All Relative
Ultimately, the Amish decided to take a step back, and to focus on each other and their religion. With this kind of discipline, they have been able to preserve a deep cultural heritage. Their close-knit community thrives despite lacking some modern technology.
So plan your trip to Lancaster County with a stay at AmishView Inn & Suites, a journey by buggy with Aaron & Jessica’s Buggy Rides and a trip to a Amish farm with Amish Experience, all located right here on Plain & Fancy Farm.
Simple Pork & Sauerkraut for a PA Dutch New Year
November 14, 2017Key Takeaways: Sauerkraut – A Traditional PA Dutch New Year’s Classic
- A Symbol of Good Luck: Discover the heritage behind the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut to kick off the New Year—a custom rooted in the idea of “rooting forward” into a prosperous future.
- Simple 4-Step Recipe: Master this authentic slow-cooker dish with a straightforward process that combines savory pork roast with the tangy, fermented flavors of local sauerkraut.
- The “Secret” Ingredient: Learn why a fresh apple is essential to the cooking process, providing a subtle balance to the acidity of the sauerkraut for a truly traditional flavor profile.
- Slow-Cooked Perfection: Achieve the ideal texture with a specific six-hour cooking method designed to tenderize the pork while infusing it with garlic, dill, and dry mustard.
- Taste the Original: Experience the authentic flavor of Lancaster County by visiting local eateries near AmishView Inn & Suites, where regional heritage recipes are served right from the source.
Microbreweries in Lancaster County
October 30, 2017Lancaster County has a rich cultural heritage. However, we’re not only known for our historical legacy and Amish tradition, but also our brewmasters! Lancaster County is home to a number of craft breweries whse connections are downright decadent. There’s a reason we’re called the “Little Munich of America”. With more than a dozen in the area, let’s take a look at five local brewpub favorites.
Wacker Brewing Company
Wacker Brewing Company dates all the way back to 1853! When Joseph Wacker made his purchase, it stayed a family-run business until 1938. After surviving a devastating fire, and prohibition, the Wacker family sold its brewery to John Duschl. He maintained the business until 1956 when midwestern breweries overtook the market. In 2014, Wacker Brewing reopened – surging with creative energy combined with classic recipes. To see this historical landmark, head to 417 West Grant Street in Lancaster.
Their popular light-bodied dark beer, “Little Dutch Dunkel” is among their most popular beverages. A Dunkelweizen (“wheat beer”), this beverage starts with a bready flavor and finishes lighter like a lager.
Another popular beverage is their “Wacker’s German Pale Ale”, or “Kolsch”. This particular item is pale and fruity, with a medium to light bodied flavor.
Lancaster Brewing Company
In 1995, Lancaster Malt Brewing opened in the iconic tobacco warehouse of Lancaster city. Refashioned as a brewpub, this is where Lancaster Brewing Company still stands today. You can see the big brick building for yourself at 302 North Plum St. Lancaster, Pa.
Lancaster Brewing Company features several intriguing beer options, one of which is their “Milk Stout”. Deliciously sweet, this craft beer has hints of malt with overtones of milk chocolate and coffee. It’s a dessert drink for sure, and a nice introduction for newer craft beer aficionados.
The “Hop Hog IPA” is made especially for hop-lovers. This potent brew charges – like a hog – with hop flavor for a dry, yet satisfying, experience.
Spring House Brewing Company
Matt Keasey began the Spring House Brewing Company in 2006 as a tiny operation. However, his concoctions drew admirers from miles around, and he quickly outgrew his barn! His unique style and experimental brews can be experienced at 25 West King Street in Lancaster.
Spring House offers the “Big Gruesome Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout” for its sweet-loving Stout fans. Made with raw cocoa, vanilla beans, and peanut butter, this beverage has a full-bodied, rich taste. The raw cocoa packs a punch, but the peanut butter mellows it out for a truly mighty experience.
“The Astounding She-Monster Mango IPA” is a Spring House specialty. This beverage combines sweet mango with sour citrus for a fruity sensation.
St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company
In 2010, Jon Northup and Mike Price opened a one barrel nanobrewery in Ephrata. After receiving overwhelming community support, they expanded to a three-barrel operation using local Mennonite-crafted metalwork. By 2015, St. Boniface’s rapid growth resulted in a 15-barrel brewery with over 90% of its production sold in-house. St. Boniface has become a local staple, and you can visit its rustic brewpub at 1701 W. Main St. in Ephrata.
St. Boniface developed the “Paideia Pale Ale” to represent the prototypical ideal for all pale ales. It’s single-hop and malt blend are pure, with reduced bitterness.
Their “Libation DIPA” is meant to evoke the gods themselves. Its emphasis on malt, and unique hop blend, showcase a sweetly balanced beer.
So Much Beer, So Little Time
Not enough time to visit all the breweries during your stay at Amishview Inn? Don’t Worry! You can always come back to finish your tour, we would be glad to have you again. If you are looking to try multiple craft brews at one location, don’t forget to check out our friends at Smokehouse at Plain & Fancy Farm or Rumspringa Brewing Company!
American Music Theatre Christmas Show
October 17, 2017We love when guests come to visit us for the holidays! You can be sure our halls will be decked, and whether you prefer to shop or to be entertained, Lancaster County has something just for you. In fact, within minutes of the AmishView Inn you can experience some of the best holiday shopping, antiquing, and shows for all ages.
We would like to put the spotlight on one of our favorite annual Christmas shows – The Christmas Show at American Music Theatre! It’s truly a spectacle of fun and nostalgia.
Performances To Make You Feel The Christmas Spirit
With the holiday season on its way, people are prepping for family traditions and festivities. Soon, holiday decorations will adorn homes and shops. Holiday music will delight listeners over the airwaves and cheer will be everywhere. For many, the time of Christmas is filled with wonder and whimsy. Each year features a different Christmas Show with live music and amazing sets.
In 2026, American Music Theater Christmas Show isWinter Wonderland. This a festive and heartwarming Christmas show in Lancaster County whisks audiences away to enchanting holiday settings—from a charming Bavarian village to the twinkling magic of the North Pole. This dazzling production features stunning sets, beautiful costumes, and live performances of your favorite sacred and secular holiday songs. With a sensational cast, a live orchestra, and even a visit from Santa himself, Winter Wonderland Christmas Show delivers the sights, sounds, and spirit of the season in a joyful experience the whole family will treasure.
This enchanting musical holiday adventure brings together friends old and new for a heartwarming celebration of the season. With awe-inspiring performances, festive tunes, and plenty of cheer, it’s an experience designed to delight audiences of all ages. Plus, enjoy the outstanding musical arrangements played by the American Music Theatre orchestra!
It’s Showtime!
The 2026 Christmas Show at AMT will be running from November 3rd until December 30th, so don’t miss this spectacular show! Only a few minutes from AmishView Inn, let the talented performers at American Music Theatre in Lancaster help you experience the joy of past holidays.
Let Us Be Your Home For The Holidays
Looking for a winter getaway? Let AmishView Inn be your home during the holidays! Our beautiful views and optional adult-only wing can give you the peaceful retreat that you deserve. Plus, we are only minutes from American Music Theatre. Contact us now to get more information or make your reservation today.
Holiday Shopping In Lancaster County
September 28, 2017Looking to do some holiday shopping in Lancaster County? Early birds and last-minute shoppers alike will find that Lancaster is the perfect place to shop this holiday season. Whether you are looking for national brands or local goods from Amish Country, you can find it all. Here are some of our favorite places to finish off that gift list in Lancaster.
The Barn and Hearth Shop
The Barn & Hearth Shop offers a thoughtfully curated selection of locally made gifts, specialty foods, and artisan-crafted goods. As a modern home accents store with rustic charm, it features unique décor, kitchenware, apparel, accessories and seasonal items. Guests will find Lancaster County favorites like Miller’s Bakery treats, nostalgic candies, signature jams, and Olio olive oils. Whether you’re shopping for your home or the perfect gift, The Barn & Hearth Shop blends local character with fresh, welcoming style.
The Shoppes at Miller’s
Right next to Miller’s Smorgasbord, you will find several shops. Anna’s Gifts and Sundries featuring locally made jewelry, Lancaster themed apparel and crafts from local artisans. Locally Made Food Shop where you’ll find Miller’s baked goods, jams, pickled items, and candy as well as locally made kitchenwares. The Quilt Shop at Miller’s with hand stitched quilts and other locally made crafts. Ruthie’s is a upscale women’s clothing boutique.
The Quilt Shop At Miller’s
Hundreds of Handmade Quilts.
Choose from hundreds of handmade quilts, quillows, wall hangings, and exquisite gift items from Amish, Mennonite, and other local artisans. Members of the friendly, knowledgeable sales staff are always available for questions.
Our meticulous Quilt Shop staff selects only the finest examples of craftsmanship to fill our spacious 3,500 square foot, well-lit showroom. Located at The Shoppes at Miller’s.
Kitchen Kettle Village
If you’re looking for less mainstream gifts, Kitchen Kettle Village offers a variety of local goods. Located in Intercourse, PA, this collection of over 40 shops specializes in rustic and artistic wares. Home-canned jams, handcrafted leather goods, hand-stitched quilts, and more are available at the Village. You can also find specialized gifts including an assortment of handmade crafts. More information is available on their website. Best of all, it’s located only minutes from AmishView!
Antiques Shopping
Lancaster County is well-known for its antiques shops and what better place to find those nostalgic toys you once owned (or listed on your childhood Christmas Wish List)? TripAdvisor lists numerous antique stores near us, and our guest services staff would be more than happy to help you decide which ones to visit.
Tanger Outlets
Located right off of Route 30/Lincoln Highway, this outlet mall houses over 50 individual shops. Tanger’s layout makes it easy to park in one spot and spend the day walking through all of your favorite shops. Clothing, toys, housewares, and everything in between are available from the shops at Tanger Outlets. The outlets make it simple to tackle that shopping list! They keep an updated directory of their shops online for your perusal.
Park City Center
Located at the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Route 30, Park City Center is the largest enclosed shopping center in Lancaster County. With nearly 1.5 million square feet of space, and over 170 stores, Park City Center is one of the best places to get your holiday shopping done. This mall is divided into 8 wings, with several anchor stores, including: Kohl’s, JCPenney, Boscov’s, and Raymour & Flanigan. A full listing of their shops can be found here.
Spend this Winter Season Holiday Shopping With Us!
When you stay at Amishview Inn, you put yourself right in the middle of some of the best holiday shopping available. Spending your days shopping, and your nights relaxing in one of our rooms overlooking Amish Country, makes for a great vacation! Don’t forget to mention our Free Shopping Enhancement.
Lancaster County is the perfect destination for those seeking modern amenities and comfort while in pursuit of nostalgic, quaint experiences that can take you back to simpler days for Christmas. Indoor and outdoor holiday events are taking place throughout Lancaster and neighboring counties.
AmishView Inn & Suites, Tripadvisor’s Top Lancaster hotel, is one of the best places to stay, be near it all, and still be able to enjoy quiet, retreat-like accommodations. We even offer adults-only building for those without children.
Book your stay today!
