Best known as a good base to explore Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the historic city of Lancaster is evolving into a cool destination in its own right. It features a lively dining and drinking scene, quirky shops, and several interesting small museums, along with lots of activities for the kids. Places to stay include hotels belonging to major chains as well as unique heritage properties and family-friendly accommodations. Surrounding the city are several Amish neighborhoods where visitors can experience the community's traditional way of life first-hand and indulge in one of America's best food experiences, the Pennsylvania Dutch smorgasbord.
Where to stay
in Lancaster
Best Places to Stay for History
With its mix of Georgian, Victorian and Beaux Arts buildings, Historic Downtown Lancaster is a perfect place to stay for those wishing to explore the city's rich history. Accommodations include modern hotels as well as unique historic properties. South East of Downtown, Strasburg, or "Train Town" as it's known locally, is where rail enthusiasts should choose lodgings to discover the story of Lancaster's heritage railroad. As well as modern hotels, the area has a selection of 19th-century inns. Intercourse is an Amish community where visitors can tour authentic Amish farms and learn about the region's history. Accommodations here range from roadside motels that are perfect for a road trip to family-run inns.
Historic Downtown Lancaster
Historic Downtown Lancaster is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Central Market or Fulton Theatre.
Recommended hotels in Historic Downtown Lancaster
Strasburg
Shopping, restaurants, and theaters highlight some of the notable features of Strasburg. Make a stop by Choo Choo Barn while you're exploring.
Recommended hotels in Strasburg
Intercourse
Unique features of Intercourse include the shopping and restaurants. Make a stop by Kitchen Kettle Village or American Military Edged Weaponry Museum while you're exploring the area.
Recommended hotels in Intercourse
Top Places to Stay for Dining
Many restaurants in Lancaster have embraced farm-to-table cuisine and the slow food movement. The City Center is a great place to have a fine dining experience at one of Lancaster's top restaurants. Stay in a boutique hotel or historic property to really appreciate the atmosphere. You can't visit Lancaster without trying Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. Rural inns and roadside motels in Bird-in-Hand are the best place to book a room for the many family-run restaurants offering smorgasbord meals and delicious home-made specialties including shoofly pie, bacon dressing, chicken corn soup, and chicken pot pie.
Bird In Hand
Bird In Hand is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Bird in Hand Farmers Market and Bird-in-Hand Stage while you're in town.
Recommended hotels in Bird In Hand
Where to Stay for Family Activities
Strasburg is an ideal place to stay for those traveling with kids. They can ride on a steam train, visit the National Toy Train Museum, or go to the Choo Choo Barn, a huge model train that took 70 years to build. Consider accommodations in Ronks, another Lancaster neighborhood with plenty of attractions for children, including adventure farms, a living history village, and the Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park with roller coasters and water slides. There are plenty of affordable, family-friendly hotels in the area, some with swimming pools. Choose a hotel in Columbia, about a 30-minute drive from the center of Lancaster, where the kids can become ice cream makers for a day at Turkey Hill Dairy Farm.
Strasburg
Shopping, restaurants, and theaters highlight some of the notable features of Strasburg. Make a stop by Choo Choo Barn while you're exploring.
Recommended hotels in Strasburg
Ronks
Travelers come to Ronks for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like The Amish Village and Sight and Sound Theatre while you're in town.
Recommended hotels in Ronks
Columbia
Columbia is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Turkey Hill Experience and Susquehanna River.
Recommended hotels in Columbia
More Hotel Options in Lancaster
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