Tag: bikepacking
Explore the Bike Trails of Lancaster County
October 15, 2020Touring Lancaster County by bike is an exhilarating experience and a great way to explore the countryside that surrounds AmishView Inn & Suites, Tripadvisor’s #1 Lancaster hotel!
While the bed and breakfast atmosphere of our inn makes it tempting to retreat and relax during your stay, we don’t want you to miss out on the beautiful farmland views and scenic bike trails so easily accessible in Lancaster County.
We’re so excited to help visitors discover how much the Susquehanna Valley has to offer. Whether you’re a tourist who loves to bike, a dedicated bike tourist, or a bikepacking devotee who needs a break from roadside camping, we welcome you and offer these local bicycle resources.
Following is a list of biking trails in Lancaster County near AmishView Inn & Suites. Many cyclists just ride the bicycle-friendly roads in Bird-in-Hand.
ENOLA LOW GRADE TRAIL
(approximate 24-minute drive)
This 8.27-mile rail-trail is a crushed gravel pathway that provides a scenic view along the Susquehanna River. The trail is open year-round, highlighting Lancaster County’s robust and vibrant foliage in the fall, waterway wildlife in spring and summer, and the river’s calming effects in winter.
View the Susquehanna Riverlands Enola Low Grade Trail Map.
ICE CREAM LOVER’S BIKE RIDE TRAIL
(less than 4 miles on bike!)
This 42-mile bike ride that typically starts at Landis Valley Museum (about 23 minutes away from here) and includes 3 ice cream stops along the way. It’s a route created by members of Lancaster Bicycle Club, which has temporarily offered public access to the route. You do not need to coordinate with the club to enjoy this trail.
With Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop among the featured ice cream shops, you can start your ride there via Route 340. The Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop is just 3.5 miles away from AmishView Inn & Suites! Other ice cream shops along the way include Lapp Valley Farm and Oregon Dairy. The route crosses over three covered bridges: Hunsecker’s Mill, Bitzer’s Mill, and Pinetown-Bushong’s Mill
CONESTOGA GREENWAY TRAIL
(approximate 20-minute drive)
In 1999, a group of municipalities in central Lancaster County built the Conestoga Greenway Trail that runs along the Conestoga River. Bikers can enjoy this protected green space that showcases the river and the Little Conestoga Creek. The trail connects to Lancaster County Central Park, which includes a Garden of Five Senses and an environmental center.
View the Conestoga Greenway Trail Map.
WELSH MOUNTAIN NATURE PRESERVE
(approximate 23-minute drive)
This 2.4-mile loop is mostly used for hiking and walking but there are areas designated for mountain bikes. The preserve extends into Money Rocks County Park. Open trails are marked for specific use.
View the Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve Mountain Biking Trails Map.
LANCASTER JUNCTION TRAIL
(approximate 26-minute drive)
Part of the former Reading-Columbia rail line, this trail travels through farmland and borders the northern half of Chickies Creek. Its level, well-graded surface makes it enjoyable for novice and seasoned bicyclists alike.
Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation recommends trail visitors park in the Champ Boulevard Parking Lot.
View the Lancaster Junction Recreation Trail Map.
In addition to biking trails, Lancaster County has many regional trails and nature preserves to help our guests enjoy and explore the outdoors, whether pedaling, riding, driving, or on foot.
So, we invite you and your family to come stay with us and immerse yourselves in the peaceful country scenery and riverside views offered by Lancaster County biking and hiking trails. Whether you explore established trails or set out on your own route through Amish Country, we know your stay with us will be a well-deserved, stress-free vacation.
Enjoy Safe Overnight Stays in Lancaster County
September 17, 2020As the number of coronavirus cases steadily declines, people are starting to travel again. It’s exciting to know Lancaster County tourism continues to emerge from COVID-19 and visitors from surrounding counties and states are once again discovering the beauty of Amish Country.
People are ready to shed their cabin fever: Families coming to Lancaster for the Amish experience or to see shows at American Music Theater or Sight & Sound, couples looking for a romantic getaway, outdoor enthusiasts exploring nearby hiking and biking trails, and so many others.
Some folks are so ready to venture away from home that they’ve created a new way to travel: Bikepacking. It’s a mix between camping, biking, and backpacking, with a sub-niche called “credit card bikepacking” for those who carry their belongings but, instead of roughing it at a campsite, they stay in hotels and eat at restaurants.
We welcome them all! Even better, the safety precautions we’ve taken — and continue to take — to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 could make an overnight stay at AmishView Inn even safer than that backyard barbecue your neighborhood planned.
It’s OK to Take that Roadtrip
While our award-winning hotel staff and those at other local venues follow CDC recommendations and government guidelines to ensure the safety of guests, we feel confident that Lancaster County is the ideal post-quarantine destination. There’s a reason why we’re ranked the best hotel in Lancaster County by TripAdvisor. Actually, there are many reasons.
Here are just some of the many precautions our hotel is taking to make sure our guests enjoy an affordable boutique-inn experience, confident that their overnight stay in Amish Country is just as safe, if not more, than a backyard barbecue.
- Staff undergoes a comprehensive training program that includes detailed information about the coronavirus and how to control its spread. Our entire staff is required to participate in this two-hour training program before returning to work
- Masks are always worn by staff. You’ll still get the exceptional customer service that keeps repeat guests coming back to us each year, but you’ll have to look at the smiles in our eyes for now.
- Guests are required to wear masks (except when seated to eat in our Great Room)
- Staff and guests are maintaining safe social distances, 6 feet between you and other guests/staff.
- We remind guests to frequently wash hands; staff is required to do so.
- Hand sanitizer and gloves are available throughout the hotel for any guests who wish to use them.
Enjoy a Country Breakfast
Nothing says “spoil me” better than a delicious, hot breakfast to start the day.
AmishView Inn and Suites has nearly 1,500 “excellent” traveler ratings onTripAdvisor.com and our amazingly delicious country breakfast buffet is often one of the reasons hotel guests love to stay at our 3-diamond hotel in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Although modified for COVID-19, our full buffet breakfast is unmatched in this area and is free as part of your guest experience.
Your complimentary, hot country breakfast includes baked oatmeal, bacon and sausage, made-to-order waffles, lots of delicious breads and cereals, juices, hot beverages, and lots more. Check out the details here.
Escape to Country Life
It’s been a stressful several months for everyone and now that the quarantine has been lifted, it’s time to escape to new surroundings. The country life of Lancaster County, with its rolling farmlands, one-room schoolhouses, and roadside farm markets, offers one of the best options for a stress-free vacation.
As Lancaster’s Number 1 hotel, AmishView offers stunning views of Dutch Country and quaint accommodations that enable you to stay near favorite tourist destinations like:
- Kitchen Kettle Village
- Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market
- Lancaster Central Market
- Green Dragon (rub shoulders with the Amish)
- Roots Market
- Antiques Market
- Smokehouse BBQ & Brews
- Plain & Fancy Farm
- Sight & Sound Auditorium
- American Music Theatre
- So much more!
Your Room, Your Retreat
Our hotel rooms are not your typical suites. We offer four room/suites options as well as adults-only (kids-free) rooms, all of which overlook scenic Amish farmland. Amenities include kitchenettes to make your road trip more affordable (or more intimate as you stay inside, away from home, away from everything!).
We’ll help you choose the room that becomes your retreat for the duration of your visit to Lancaster County. Our staff members go out of their way to offer superb customer service. In fact, we offer customer relations. We have guests who have returned for 17 years because of how welcomed they’ve felt during their stay at AmishView. Read about memorable guests moments, shared by our staff.
When you’re ready to travel, AmishView is ready to welcome you and help you discover this ideal road trip destination.