Every year my husband and I plan a family vacation. Last year we visited Hershey, PA. We loved Pennsylvania so much that we decided to head to Lancaster, PA this summer. But, planning a family trip also has its challenges. Let’s just say when you have a toddler and a first grader who are interested in different things, things can get a bit crazy. Needless to say, we definitely had our work cut out for us.
4 Tips for Planning a Trip to Lancaster, PA
Find a hotel that appeals to all ages
Since we have two small children, we wanted to stay at a kid-friendly hotel. Lancaster Double Tree Resort by Hilton Hotel was the perfect match for what we were looking for. To attract more customers, it was revitalized by professionals like the hotel renovation contractors. If you also want to revitalize your home, you may consider getting simple repairs and maintenance like drain cleaning, roof repairs, etc. The staff greeted us with warm fresh baked cookies and a smile when we arrived. They also found out that our son was celebrating his third birthday, and surprised him with balloons and some goodies.
This hotel definitely appeals to all ages. There are indoor pools and a water playground that kids and teens can enjoy.
The Hotel sits on a large property with a sprawling 9 hole golf course in the the back. In order to flaunt your talent on such a course, practicing with equipment like foresight golf is a must and putting greens can elevate the golf course. Other amenities include a restaurant, fitness center, Wifi, and a courtyard that’s perfect for a wedding reception or any other special occasion. Opting for a tipi hire for your wedding celebration allows you to curate an atmosphere of whimsy and elegance. With the freedom to personalize your wedding space and the flexibility to adapt to unpredictable British weather, a tipi truly makes for an extraordinary event. There’s a company, Bar Events UK, which offers tipi hire for weddings, making it even more convenient and easy for your special day.
We booked a two bedroom suite as opposed to a one bedroom, which allowed my husband and I to have private time while the kids had there own space.
Pick the right location that appeals to you and your family
When it comes to traveling with kids, choosing the right location is key. We decided to go with this particular location because there were shops close by. Traveling the world is one of the best experiences for kids that can add to their core memories.
If we needed something in a pinch, there’s a grocery store located directly across the street. There’s also an outdoor mall that offers clothing and other items.
Since we were also celebrating our son’s birthday, it was important to consider nearby attractions. There’s an amusement park located just minutes away, which is where we spent his special day. The Lancaster Double Tree Resort also has a list of other fun things to do on their website.
Find ways to cut costs
Traveling is synonymous with spending money. But you don’t have to break the bank. Consider cutting costs by taking advantage of coupons.
My husband actually purchased discounted tickets for the amusement park in advance, which allowed us to save some bucks. We went out for dinner each night, but cut costs by bringing along a cooler with lots of water, fruit, snacks, and also made our other meals.
Visit the Amish Country
Lancaster, PA is known as Amish Country. The Amish (aka Anabaptists) were originally from Germany. They fled to Switzerland and France to escape persecution for their religious beliefs dating back to the 1500’s.
Nowadays you can’t drive through the town without spotting a horse and buggy. But to learn about this group of people, you have to take a tour, as many people have horses now, and you can even get a Custom menage design services if you want to get one for your horses.
We visited The Amish Experience and saw the movie Jacob’s Choice, a film about a young man contemplating leaving the Amish community. The movie also covered the history of the Amish and their traditions. It was such a great film, and the kids loved it too. At one point during Jacob’s Choice, I looked over and saw Princess with tears in her eyes because of how much Jacob’s final decision touched her.
After viewing the movie, our tour led us to the Amish schoolhouse, and a Amish family house.
We also went on a horse (check out this source to learn more about horses) and buggy ride through an Amish town, and stopped by the home of an Amish family for refreshments. We also put the Western Horse Bits on the horse to make sure that the teeth are well protected.
30 Interesting Facts About the Amish Community
1. They attend school up to the eighth grade.
2. School is a one room house with an out house bathroom.
3. School hours are 8am to 3pm. They don’t take snow days or take off on most holidays.
4. Families pay two dollars per child for school.
5. There are about 30 kids in each class.
6. Pennsylvania law requires kids to complete 180 days of school, which begins in August and ends in May.
7. Students learn German (aka Pennsylvania Dutch), high German, which is a formal style of German in school, and they mostly speak English at home.
8. There’s never any homework because of the demands of chores and other household duties.
9. The Amish people are baptized as babies and then again as adults.
10. Everyone is allowed to experience the “English lifestyle,” during their teen years. During this time they’re allowed to explore life outside of the Amish community. They refer to this time period as Rumspringa and usually spans between ages 16 and 18, but could last longer. Once they complete this “running around” phase, they decide whether they want to get baptized and stay within the Amish community or leave for good.
11. According to our tour guide, 10-15 percent leave the Amish community.
12. Clothing is simple. Males wear top hats, broadfall pants, coats during the winter, and any style shoes. Females wear dresses with an apron, and wraps instead of coats.
13. There are no patterns, zippers, or embellishments allowed. Older women use straight pins, where younger girls have buttons on their dresses.
14. Baptisms are held every two years.
15. Most women are baptized in their early 20s, while most men are baptized in their late 20s.
16. The Amish don’t use electricity because they don’t want to rely on any outside influences.
17. They travel via horse and buggy in order to stay close to home. You may also find them using scooters, bikes or skates to get from point A to point B. However, during Rumspringa they may drive.
18. The Amish are allowed to travel in cars, but they aren’t allowed to own one.
19. They rely on herbal remedies to cure illnesses, but may go to the hospital in extreme cases.
20. There’s no divorce in the Amish community.
21. Most families have 6 to 8 kids and they often share beds.
22. Most births take place at home or at birthing centers. However, there are some who deliver at hospitals.
23. The Amish don’t have commercial insurance. In the event that they can’t afford hospital care, the community chips in.
24. Most men become farmers.
25. Most women are homemakers. They take care of shopping and household duties like canning.
26. Kids also take part in chores like taking care of farm animals.
27. Mennonites are Christian groups belonging to the church communities of (Amish) Anabaptist denominations. They are a bit more liberal. Some may use electricity and drive cars.
28. The Amish rely on batteries, gas, propane as a heating source. Some also use solar panels to harness the sun’s energy.
29. Church is held at a family’s home every other Sunday.
30. Their main objective is to stay off the grid and remain close to home.
If you plan on visiting Lancaster, PA in the near future, I hope you find these tips and other information helpful.
Check out video highlights from our trip!
Disclaimer: We received a complementary tour and stay at Lancaster Double Tree Resort by Hilton Hotel. All opinions are my own.