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Home » Blog

Things To Do In Amish Country and Hershey, Pennsylvania

Last Updated: Dec 4, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Visiting Amish country is so much more than watching the Amish go by in their horse and buggies. When you're on a getaway to Amish country in Pennsylvania, there are a lot of things that have nothing to do with buggies or barns.

Amish horse and buggy on a farm.

From excursions into the countryside to indulging in an evening treat of homemade ice cream, there is always something interesting on a getaway to Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Plan Your Amish Country Getaway

This sample itinerary can be enjoyed during the week or weekend. It will give you a taste of some fun things to do and eat in Pennsylvania, including the towns of Lititz and Hershey. Trip highlights include:

  • Making your own chocolate bar at Hershey's Chocolate World.
  • Lunch at the Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz.
  • Enjoy a night in a cozy bed at EJ Bowman Bed and Breakfast.
  • Drive a scooter through Amish country and indulge in ice cream.
  • Shop until you drop at Green Dragon Farmers Market and Auction.
  • Dine on Pennsylvania Dutch Style Home Cooking.

Let's take a look at a sample two-day itinerary.

Jump to:
  • Plan Your Amish Country Getaway
  • Hershey's Chocolate World
  • Lititz, Pennsylvania
  • E J Bowman Bed and Breakfast
  • Strasburg Scooters
  • Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction
  • Dienner's Country Restaurant

Hershey's Chocolate World

Entrance to Hershey's Chocolate World.

Day 1: Begin your journey at Hershey's Chocolate World located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, naturally. Hershey's is located approximately 3.5 hours southeast of Pittsburgh and two hours northwest of Philadelphia.

Hershey's Chocolate World is a chocolate lover's dream come true. If you have ever wanted to try your hand at designing your own candy bar, this is the place. You can go online and buy a ticket for $26.95 before you go. Print out your ticket and make your way to the exhibit.

You will be provided with a hairnet and apron and then guided to computers where your chocolate-making experience really begins.

You get to choose a base of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate. Then you have a choice of fillings to select. The final result is a thick chocolate bar made with your inputs and enrobed in milk chocolate.

You also get to design a cover for the metal box that your chocolate bar is nestled in at completion.

Create Your Own Candy Bar sign.
Women holding custom made chocolate bars at Hershey's.

Whether your choose to make a chocolate bar or not, you should definitely explore Hershey's largest chocolate store where you will find familiar favorites along with exclusive sweet treats available only at the store.

Brown coffee mug filled with Hershey's candy.
Display of exclusive candy for sale.
Hershey's Kisses birthday cake flavored kisses.
Woman holding Kit Kat Fruity Cereal Kit Kat bar.
"One is only Happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy" sign.
Glasses filled with miniature Reese's cups.

Making a chocolate bar isn't the only activity at Hershey's Chocolate World. Other things to do are:

  • Go on a chocolate tour (free) where you learn how cocoa beans are transformed into sweet chocolate,
  • Watch a 4D Chocolate Movie ($7.95 per adult, $6.95 for children ages 3-12),
  • Attend the theatrical performance of Hershey's Unwrapped ($15.95 for adults, $12.95 for children),
  • Dine at the food hall, and more!

After spending a few hours where the focus is on chocolate, make your way to a cute little town where pretzels take center stage. Lititz, Pennsylvania is a 45-minute drive from Hershey.

Lititz, Pennsylvania

Historic Lititz Main St. Shops sign.

While Hershey's is known for chocolate, Lititz, Pennsylvania is known for pretzels. In 2013, the city was named the coolest small town in the country.

In downtown Lititz, you won't find a Wal-Mart or Target. Instead of chain stores lining the streets, there are locally owned boutiques and shops that offer customers an experience they cannot get anywhere else in Lancaster County.

Zest! store in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Sidewalk in Pennsylvania.
Sidewalk by shops in Pennsylvania.
American flag erected by a sidewalk.

Lititz was first settled in 1742 when Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf arrived from Saxony, Germany.

The Count was a leader in the Moravian church, which still has a presence in Lititz to this day. There is a Moravian gift shop, antique shop, and church - all part of the Lititz Moravian Historic District (national historic district) which includes 113 buildings.

Gray stone building with light green shutters and a window box.

Although it has been nearly 300 years since its settlement, you can still see traces of history in Lititz, like the Johannes Mueller House which he acquired in 1792.

Johannes Mueller house in Lititz.
Man walking in period clothes in front of Johannes Muller House.

Mueller was the town dyer (one who would color fabric). His home was located in the stone portion of the building and his business was in the adjacent wooden structure.

A stroll down East Main Street and South Broad Street is a must, especially if you enjoy architecture.

Old wooden house in Pennsylvania.
Old stone building in Pennsylvania.
Lititz Springs National Bank building.
Alden House Bed and Breakfast brick building.
Stone building in Lititz.

In Lititz, you'll find a variety of food to satisfy your appetite, like pretzels from Julius Sturgis - the country's oldest commercial bakery. Among other places you can grab something quick are Sugar Whipped Bakery, Cafe Arabella, and Tomato Pie Café.

Miniature tomato pie on a plate with carrot fries on the side.

The Tomato Pie Cafe is an eclectic urban eatery inside a building with rustic charm. With indoor and outdoor seating, this eatery serves up its signature tomato pie as well as other delicious comfort foods like the Rooster Street Beef Burger! Their carrot fries with dill dipping sauce are a veggie lover's dream.

Salad with red onion and croutons.
Plate of carrot fries with dipping sauce on a table.
People behind serving counter at Tomato Pie Cafe.
The Tomato Pie Cafe.

Word on the street is that if you want to taste America's best cannoli, head straight for Lititz at Piccolo Eatery. (I can personally attest to the fact that the cannolis are outstanding!)

You won't find American-Italian food there - they only serve authentic Sicilian and Southern Italian cuisine, including their mouthwatering cannoli.

Woman's hand holding a cannoli.
Italian chef sitting at a table.

The Lititz Farmers Market is the best time to get your hands on fresh produce and other goods grown by local farmers. Every Thursday evening from spring through fall, find live music performances, and chef demonstrations with children’s activities for all ages!

Sunflowers in a black bucket.
Large red brick building in Pennsylvania.
Woman and child at picnic table in a park.
Two rows of baskets filled with blackberries for sale.
Woman selecting peaches at a Farmer's stand.

The farmers' market takes place from May until October, 4:30pm until 8:00pm, in Lititz Springs Park.

E J Bowman Bed and Breakfast

Cone flowers in front of a yellow historic bed and breakfast.

After spending the better half of your day imbibing on chocolate and exploring Lititz, you'll be delighted to check into E J Bowman House, an 1860 Italianate home located in the heart of Lancaster County filled with antiques from eras past.

E.J. Bowman House bed and breakfast sign.
Large cement urn filled with pink flowers.
Painted ceiling and fan.
Antique organ with red needlepoint stool.
The Murphy Room sign.
Two twin beds.
Dining room table with floral centerpiece.
Breakfast plate with ham, baked orange, and pancakes.

Its location at 2674 Lititz Pike in Lancaster makes it an ideal spot for further exploration of the area.

Diane, the owner, is a great hostess and will make you feel welcome. And if that's not enough, surely her homemade breakfast will win you over.

Be sure to book your room online prior to your trip as there are only five guest rooms and they are often full.

Strasburg Scooters

Two women wearing red, white, and bule helmets.

There's even more fun on Day 1 - a Scootin’ for Scoops Ice Cream Scooter Tour with Strasburg Scooters.

Before your tour begins, you can pick up dinner in Lititz at one of the places that piqued your interest or stop by the Farmers Market in Bird-in-Hand. Inside the market, you can order soups, chili, and sandwiches, and naturally, there is a lot of homemade Amish bread.

There are two locations of Strasburg Scooters - Bird-in-Hand and Strasburg. Regardless of which location you choose, you will explore Lancaster County through the back roads of Amish country.

Strasburg Scooters Guided Tours sign.
Motorized scooters.
People in three-wheeled scooters.
Quaint shop in Bird In Hand, Pennsylvania.
Colorful Amish garden on a farm.
Amish horse and buggy with green rolling hill in background.
Ice cream treat with cherry on top.
Woman's hand holding ice cream cone with two scoops of ice cream.

There are several tours to choose from, including:

  • Bridges & Brunch
  • Covered Bridge
  • Date Night in Amish Country
  • Ultimate Amish Adventure
  • Sunset Covered Bridge Tour
  • The Spooky Scoot
  • Scootin' with Santa

On a personal note, I highly recommend the Scootin' For Scoops tour which includes a stop at Down on the Farm Creamery for some homemade Amish ice cream.

Amish horse and buggy going down a road.
Amish horse and buggy on parkway.

When the tour sadly comes to an end, head back to EJ Bowman Bed and Breakfast for a restful night followed by coffee and breakfast the next morning.

Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction

Day 2: After breakfast, hop in your car and make your way to Green Dragon Farmers Market in Ephrata. The market is a quick 21-minute drive from EJ Bowman Bed and Breakfast.

Best Farmers Market in America sign.

The Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction is a must-stop when in Amish country. It was voted the #2 Best Farmers Market in America and once you are there, it's easy to see why.

There are over 100 vendors with fresh produce, homemade goods like soaps and jams, local craftsman wares for sale as well as delicious treats from bakeries who make their bread on-site!

Green Dragon market.
Basket of carrots for sale.
Strawberries in baskets.
Baskets of potatoes.
People shopping at a flea market.
Melon Man market stand.
Fresh fruits and vegetables for sale.
Green beans for sale at farmer's market.
Shopping bags.
Stack of sweet cherries for sale.
Cherry tomatoes for sale.
Bags of potato chip seconds.
Cactus in a stone bowl.

You never know who you might run into at Green Dragon. While there, my sister and I were delighted to meet cookbook author Sherry Gore while she was selling her homemade marshmallows!

Two woman smiling.
Homemade pastel marshmallows.

Dienner's Country Restaurant

Once you have shopped until you are ready to drop, drive 32 minutes to the town of Ronks, Pennsylvania for a hearty Pennsylvania Dutch lunch.

Vegetable plate with a garden salad and dinner roll.

You can order off the menu at Dienner's Country Restaurant or opt for their lunch or dinner buffet which has plenty of options to satisfy even picky eaters.

Dienner's Country Restaurant sign.
Salad bar.
Fresh baked dinner rolls on food bar.
Pie slices on display.
Six loaves of fresh baked Amish bread for sale.

NOTE: The Green Dragon Farmers Market is ONLY open on Fridays, so plan your trip accordingly. The above trip took place on a Thursday and Friday in July 2021.

If you have more than 2 days, you can spend an entire day at Hershey Park and enjoy fun roller coasters, a museum, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, and a water park with rides for the whole family.


There are so many ways to explore the Hershey and Amish Country region--whether it's for a group of girlfriends, friends, family or even solo.

The amiable townships in this area offer their visitors an intriguing balance between modernity and tradition that can't be found anywhere else!

Additional reading/resources:

  • The Moravian Church
  • The History of Lititz
  • Count Nikolaus Ludwig
  • Discover Lancaster

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Welcome to Silver Sun Seeker. Life is too short to stay at home. Let's hit the road and discover some great destinations where the food is delicious and the sun is shining. We're Lynda and Jeff, two Generation Xers making our way across the South - and wherever else our car, boat, or plane will take us - in search of beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and fabulous food.

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