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Great Family Trip for the Whole Family: Lancaster, PA

By Jennifer Ahn, co-publisher of New City Nyack Macaroni Kid July 28, 2016
We were looking for a family vacation not too far from home by car, that would be suitable for 3 kids ages 9, 7 and 4 and also be great for the grandparents and uncle who would be joining us. After debating several locations, we all agreed that Lancaster, PA would be the perfect spot. It was only about 3 hours away from home, and it had just the right amount of fun & relaxation for a brief 3 day vacation for the whole family to enjoy. 



When we arrived in Lancaster, PA, our first stop was at the Discover Lancaster Visitors Center. This is an absolute MUST for any family traveling in the area. The staff was kind and extremely helpful. We spoke with Tom who helped us see where everything was on a map. He told us about local restaurants and gave us vouchers and coupons for various activities. We were grateful for him and for this center to start us on our trip. It was warm, friendly, and clean. The art exhibit was an extra bonus for the kids and grandparents to experience while we were wrapping up our conversations with Tom. By the way, the bathrooms were clean and free coffee is provided for guests. 

After a good meal at a local restaurant, Katie’s Kitchen, we headed over to the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm located in Ronks, PA. It was later in the afternoon and we knew that the farm closed at 5pm, so we wanted to make it there with enough time to try the 5 acre corn maze. My 9 year old son and I attempted the mid-level corn maze. We grabbed our flag and off we went.



My husband and mother-in law took the little ones through the easy level of the corn maze. We were having a great time collecting stamps along the way through the maze, and all of a sudden it started to downpour! We were running in the rain and thankfully the staff at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm told us where to go within the corn maze for some shelter. We were soaked and covered in mud from the knees down. Luckily, my husband and the other group were safe and dry in the hut located in the middle of the corn maze. So we didn’t finish the maze quite like the way we had imagined, but it was a memory that will last forever! The rain stopped and we decided to see what else the Adventure Farm had to offer. The kids enjoyed the rubber duck races, the hay sack slide, seeing the animals and jumping on the jumbo pillow. If it hadn’t rained, it might have been more fun, but all in all, this was a place worth visiting on the trip. My brother in law bought some delicious fudge and candy at the sweet shop there; those were some of the best gummy bears I’d ever tasted in my entire life! 


Early the next morning, we headed over to a great restaurant for breakfast, Ida’s Cafe, and it was absolutely delicious -- probably the best meal we had throughout the entire trip! It was the usual breakfast options, but the food was super fresh, the staff was kind and helpful and it was perfect for our family! 

After Ida’s Cafe, we headed over to the Turkey Hill experience. We are an ice cream loving family so this was a “must-do” in Lancaster, PA for us. It did not disappoint us at all. We all had a great time eating the samples, making our own ice cream flavors and learning about the entire process for making our most favorite dessert. This was a fun experience and for families who love ice cream, this is a great stop for you. 


Later that afternoon, we went on a 45 minute train ride with the Strasburg Railroad. We had our tickets and boarded the coach train. As the ride to Paradise, PA began, we were all fascinated by the history narrated throughout the ride. It was interesting to hear about past presidents, ghost stories and true facts about today’s Amish farms in the area. It was a beautiful ride to Paradise, PA. Once we arrived, the train stopped and rest while the engine had to be moved to the front of the train. The conductors were kind and friendly toward the guests. We had the opportunity to move to the Open Air car because one of our family members was not feeling so well. The open air and wider view of the area helped and we had a more enjoyable ride back to the station. This was a beautiful trip and it was a nice way to see the farms and hear about the history of Lancaster, PA. This is a must-do for train lovers out there! 




This was a short 3 days trip with family, but if we had more time we wanted to check out some other great places: 
The Lancaster Science Factory
The North Museum of Nature and Science
Kitchen Kettle Village 
Choo Choo Barn 
Dutch Wonderland
Sight and Sound Theater

For families that are traveling with grandparents and children, I would strongly suggest planning only one or two activities for each day. We had to modify our plans to allow time for both the kids and grandparents to rest and recharge. We would also suggest calling restaurants in advance for reservations. With a large party, we often had to wait for seating. All in all, we had a wonderful vacation and made many fun memories. We hope to visit again soon and try some other activities in the future. 


Disclosure: New City Nyack Macaroni Kid was provided complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review to the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm and the Strasburg Railraod. All opinions are solely that of the author.