Our Favorite Summertime Activities in Lancaster County, PA

Summer is swiftly approaching, and with it comes time for vacations and family trips — but where will you go? With so many obvious choices to choose from, it’s hard to imagine there could be a place that has a little bit of everything. From fun restaurants, countryside day trips, and a historic railroad, to a giant amusement park and renaissance faire, Lancaster, Pennsylvania seemingly has it all.

Whether you plan to go for just a day or want to make a week out of your trip, Lancaster is a historic, inviting county that has so much to offer. If you’re looking to stay overnight, consider booking a room at one of the premier hotels in Lancaster ahead of time to get the best rates possible. Once you’ve found a place to stay, you can enjoy Lancaster to your heart’s content.

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite summertime adventures in and around Lancaster County for you to browse below.

Spend the day at Dutch Wonderland

If you’re a family with small children or just want to reacquaint yourself with your inner child, take a trip to Dutch Wonderland. Just outside of Lancaster, this 48-acre amusement park sports 32 rides and various attractions behind a stone castle façade. There is an interactive water play area, and many older attractions that have flourished in the fifty years that the park has been open for, including the Lady Gay Riverboat, the Wonderland Special Train, and the Turnpike with Antique Cars. The park has always placed an emphasis on traditional family fun, and the park has held true to the original owner’s intent all this time.

Explore the Amish Countryside

Rolling hills, sweeping farmland, and quaint countryside stands are the perfect way to get a closer look at Lancaster County. Otherwise known as “Amish Country,” the outskirts of Lancaster City definitely evoke images of a simpler, humbler time in Pennsylvania’s past. Horse-drawn buggies are a common sight on the roads, as are all the little markets and roadside stands one can find on any given day while driving around Lancaster. These stores sell everything from antiques to handmade goods, fresh produce and even fresher baked goods. The Amish culture is heavily ingrained in Lancaster and it would be hard for anyone to miss their influence, no matter where they are in the city.

Visit the Strasburg Rail Road

The Strasburg Rail Road is only 25 minutes from Lancaster City. There, you’ll find train rides for small children and access to pump car rides, self-propelled motor cars, and the railroad’s line of themed trains including open air, coach, pinball pendolino, first-class lounge, and dining cars. The historic railway features an antique coal-burning steam train to give you a look back into the past of rail cars. If you’re still curious about the past, there’s the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and National Toy Train Museum to visit while you’re there, too!

Go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

Located just 15 miles outside of Lancaster, the PA Renaissance Faire runs every Saturday and Sunday starting in August until the end of October. The “ren faire” is a great place to be transported back to simpler times — much simpler than they appear in the Amish Country, at least! Here, visitors can watch jousts and human chess matches, wander about the medieval village, and enjoy the many themed weekends they host. Kids and adults alike will find something to enjoy at the Renaissance Faire — there’s food, drinks, games, and live performances by skilled musicians, magicians, and actors all day long.

Unwind and experience Historic Downtown Lancaster’s nightlife

From April to October, every second Friday is “Taste the World Friday” in Downtown Lancaster. This walking tour takes visitors around to the many restaurants — as many as seven or eight — to sample various foods, each representing a different part of the world.

Dotted by restaurants, popular bars, and hubs of nighttime activity, Lancaster City has a lot to offer the night owls and evening enthusiasts looking for a drink or bite to eat. For those interested in a drink, you can sample any of the hundred beers on tap at the Federal Taphouse, or try one of the signature cocktails of the Horse Inn, a speak-easy themed bar. Dining locally puts restaurants like Aussie and the Fox, Citronnelle, and the Belvedere Inn at your disposal.

Downtown Lancaster has come to embrace the nightlife of the people who call it home, and is a fun, welcoming place to anyone who visit. If you’re still searching for the perfect way to spend your summer, try Lancaster City this year.