Things To Do in Lancaster
Keep in mind that your student is sharing your family life. You are not obligated or expected to play tour guide or entertain with expensive outings. This is a list of possibilities, not expectations!
Choose activities that naturally fit your family and include your student. Be yourself and invite your student along with you in your daily activities. Spending time together running errands, shopping, cooking and visiting others. Socializing at extended family gatherings and church activities is never wasted time.
As you answer questions about Christmas celebrations, you will have many opportunities to share your faith. If you want to network with other host families and share activities, contact other host families that live near you. If you are going somewhere and would like to take another student along, by all means, invite another student.
Here is a partial list of possible things to do. We recommend calling for more information regarding operating times and admission fees. It is impossible for us to keep up with details.
- sledding, skiing, tubing, ice skating, snowboarding, snomobiling, 4 wheeler rides
- bowling, roller skating, indoor swimming at community centers
- play board games or card games as a family
- drive through a covered bridge
- visit Christmas light displays. Hershey Candy Lane is free,
- live nativity displays, watch the papers
- church Christmas programs
- visit a farm, watch cows being milked
- ride an Amish buggy, ask someone you know
- get a tour with Mennonite Information Center
- PA Dutch Visitor's Center (Greenfield Industrial Park)
- Get a documentary about your student's home country on vhs/dvd from Lancaster County Library. Watch it together and discuss it.
- Old Candle Barn (watch candles being made)
- Stoltzfus Sandwich shop (has bulk food & sandwiches)
- Old Country Store quilt museum (free)
- Nancy’s Notions & the housewares store behind the fabric store between Candle Barn & Kitchen Kettle. (Sue’s family calls this “Amish Wal-Mart”!) Traditional, real Amish clothing, housewares and toys. Be sure to check out the gas lights!
- Kitchen Kettle Village (don't miss the free jelly samples!)
- Intercourse Canning Company (more free samples of pickels & chow chow!)
- visit a quilt shop, or show how a quilt is made, or make a pot holder together
- bake Christmas cookies together
- make "Asian" food together, or prepare a "PA Dutch" food
- visit antique shops
- go shopping
- attend a community concert or Christmas celebration
- visit 10,000 Villages on Rt 272 in Ephrata. Have dessert at the Tea Room
- go hiking at Middle Creek. Visit the wildlife center for examples of PA animals
- Visit Central Market, Bird-In-Hand Market, Roots Market or Green Dragon
- Wilbur Chocolate, self-guided mini tour
- Sturgis Pretzel ($2 admission)
- Herr's Potato Chip Tour
- Strasburg Railroad
- Wheatland
- Lancaster Heritage Museum (downtown on the square)
- Lancaster CIty's New Year's Eve celebration
- Longwood Gardens
- Civil War Museum in Harrisburg
- Skiing at Bear Creek (Macungie) or Ski Roundtop (Lewisberry)
Day Trips (if you’re really into being a tourguide)
- Art Museum of Philadelphia
- Franklin Institute, more $$
- Baltimore/Inner Harbor/Aquarium
- Philadelphia area around Independence Mall, Liberty Bell