Fabgrandpa and I worked at a campground in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for one year, in 2007. We loved working in a rural area that was so close to urban areas like Fredericksburg, Maryland and Washington, D.C. When we accepted the job there, I don’t know what I expected, but was pleasantly surprised by the farmland and orchards. We spent every day off exploring Pennyslvania, Maryland, and D.C. Here are 5 things to do in Pennsylvania.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania Amish Country
We went for a drive through the Amish country around Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We saw lots of farms, with clothes hanging on clotheslines; Amish people driving their horses and buggies along the roads; a quilt museum, and several Amish stores where you can buy things like jams, jellies, bread, butter, and pickles made by the Amish. It was quite a site to see if you have never observed an Amish community before.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Land of Little Horses
While we were working in Gettysburg, our grandchildren came to visit. We took them to the Land of Little Horses that right down the road from the campground. It was a fun day for all of us. There was a zoo on the grounds. You could buy a cup of food to feed the animals while you were walking around. Animals you will see include miniature horses, ponies, horses, camel, alpaca, sheep, goats, deer, peacocks, pigs, and more! One of the things we enjoyed the most was a show, where trained animals performed tricks. Our granddaughter was chosen from the crowd to play basketball with a dog! She had so much fun. And of course, the dog won. Plan your trip to Land of Little horses here.
Farm Stands
It seemed like there was a farm stand on every road in rural Pennsylvania. The one we like the best was Harbaugh’s Farm. They have lots of different vegetables for sale at their stand every season throughout the year. We also went to stands in other parts of the countryside in Pennsylvania where we found raspberries, cherries, peaches, apples, blackberries, and more, depending on the time of year. Whether you are traveling by car or by RV, you can find fruits and vegetables to eat right then, or to take home with you in the RV.
Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Bakery Tour
I know you must be familiar with Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels. Did you know you can tour their factory for free? The tours are conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, and 2:00pm year round. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. You’ll see the process of making pretzels, robotic machinery at work, the packing room and the oven room, where the pretzels are baked! The tour is suitable for children over 5 years old, and lasts for 30 minutes. The best part? You get a free bag of pretzels at the end!
Haines Shoe House, Yorklyn, Pennsylvania
If unusual architecture is what you are looking for, the Haines Shoe House is a must see. It is 25 feet long and 48 feet tall. It was built by Mahlon Haines, a millionaire who made his fortune selling shoes. The house was used as a billboard to sell Haines Shoes. It is in operation today as a museum and ice cream shop. Stop by to take a tour and have an ice cream cone. For more information, click here.
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