Family Fun

Springside Par 3 Golf Course
135 S Ridge Rd
Reinholds, PA 17569
(717) 336-6098Nestled amongst gently rolling hills in picturesque Lancaster County, Springside Par 3 Golf Course begs the discovery of those who are looking for an enjoyable round of challenging golf at a reasonable price.  This par 54 golf course is 1,193 yards in length and great fun for golfers of all ages. The course is easy to walk with all holes less than 100 yards in length and can be played within two hours.  The course is lighted for night play and offers free club rentals.  Located in Reinholds in northern Lancaster County, Springside is within reasonable driving distance from the cities of Lancaster & Reading and anywhere in between.

Mennonite Information Center 
2209 Millstream Road
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 299-0954 / (800) 858-8320
Conveniently located along Route 30, in the heart of Lancaster County, the Mennonite Information Center arranges tours of PA Dutch farmlands and explains the faith, heritage, and practices of the Amish and Mennonites.  The Information Center offers an interactive exhibit and presents films that explain who the Amish are and how they differ from Mennonites, with whom they are associated within the Anabaptist tradition.  Visit an extensive book store, browse their gift shop, and explore an intricately designed full-sized reproduction the The Biblical Tabernacle, which is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.

A is for Amish Buggy Rides 
312 Paradise Lane
Ronks, PA 17572
(717) 725-8664
Featuring the most ride options available in Lancaster County, A is for Amish Buggy Rides is a must-experience destination for any visit to PA Dutch Country. Located at the famous Red Caboose complex near Strasburg, guests can enjoy the on-location petting zoo as they watch whistling steam trains passing by on the Strasburg Railroad. While the majority of authentic Amish attractions are closed on Sunday for sabbath worship and rest, A is for Amish Buggy Rides offers a Sunday Special which takes riders on a leisurely tour through the Amish countryside.

The Amish Farm and House
2395 Covered Bridge Drive
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 394-6185
The Amish Farm and House offers visitors a unique educational perspective on Amish culture. Guests explore the authentic simplicity of everyday Amish life by participating in the option of a 40 minute Guided House Tour and/or a 90 minute Countryside Bus Tour. Following each House Tour, guests can leisurely browse the spacious grounds of the 15 acre farm, while enjoying a variety of family friendly activities and interacting with local artisans. Shop the the gift shop for a discerning selection of local artisan creations.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm 
150 Cherry Hill Road
Ronks PA 17572
(866)546-1799
Located near Strasburg, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm offers captivating fun for the whole family. Open during the summer and fall seasons, this family owned 15 acre farm features an interactive 5 acre corn maze and 60 other farm fun attractions. From a Baby Chicks Hatchery & Lil’ Farmers Playland to the Paint Ball Range & Round Bale Racers, activity choices range from the cute & adorable to the rambunctious & competitive. Of course, lots of good food is available too.

Old Windmill Amish Farm Tour 
262 Paradise Lane
Ronks, PA 17572
(717) 687-7929
With an invitation to visit soon, Jesse and Anna Lapp welcome PA Dutch Country visitors to experience life on an authentic Amish farm.  Their 1-hour tour helps guests to discover the quiet simplicity of the Amish lifestyle and to learn about the history of Old Windmill Farm.  This unique experience is great fun for the entire family and multiple generations, with experiences that include gathering eggs, bottle feeding calves, and walking the grounds of this third generation farmstead.

Abe’s Buggy Rides 
2596 Old Philadelphia Pike
Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
(717)392-1794With their invitation to “Come Ride with Us,” Abe’s Buggy Rides offers visitors the unique opportunity to slow down and experience Lancaster County from the inside of an authentic Amish buggy. You will be escorted by friendly guides who are well trained in working with horses and very skilled at driving buggies.  Choose from private rides ranging from 2 to 6.5 miles in length, as well as a one-hour rides with interesting stops along the way.

Gretna Theatre 
Pennsylvania Avenue
Mt Gretna, PA 17064
Box Office: (717) 964-3627
Admin Office: (717) 964-3322
Each summer, the best of Broadway comes to south-central PA with live performances staged by Gretna Theatre, one of the oldest and most-beloved summer theatres in the nation. They offer a captivating mix of Broadway musicals and comedies, as well as musical revues and theatre productions geared for young audiences. Take in a show but plan to spend additional time enjoying the authentic beauty and unique setting of the Mt. Gretna community, which is steeped in fascinating history and rich tradition.

The Lil’ Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm 
246 Paradise Lane
Ronks, PA 17572
(717)687-8237
Located on a local Amish farm near Strasburg, The Lil’ Country Store & Miniature Horse Farm is a place of discovery and fun for every age.  From the famous homemade root beer & home-grown blackberry juice to locally made quilts and crafts, their country store is filled with delicious treats and captivating gifts. Step into the Stoltzfus woodworking shop and observe where all their custom frames are made.  Enjoy a free, self-guided tour of the clean and easily accessible barn that is home to their friendly miniature horses that love to be petted.  Saddle and cart rides are available.

Lapp’s Toys & Furniture
2220 Horseshoe Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
(717)945-5366
Located in the heart of PA Dutch country, Lapp’s Toys & Furniture is your locally owned and family operated source for authentic, traditional toys and furniture.  In a plastic throw-away era, where the packaging is often more durable than the items they contain, the hand-made wooden creations at Lapp’s are built to last, along with the enduring memories they bring.  For over 25 years, the Lapp’s have been handcrafting the best in quality wooden toys, doll furniture, children’s furniture, distressed trunks, toy chests, and play sets.  Discover the beauty of simplicity and appreciate enduring quality.

Choo Choo Barn 
226 Gap Road (Rte 741 East)
Strasburg PA 17579
(717)687-7911
With an amazing attention to detail and lots of captivating wonder, you are invited to experience Lancaster County’s Choo Choo Barn, which features over 150 hand-built animated figures & vehicles and 22 operating trains.  Designed for the enjoyment of all ages, this hidden gem captures the imagination of young and old alike and has retained the interest and loyalty of thousands of families through multiple generations.  The expansive 1,700 square foot layout contains many iconic scenes from Lancaster County and features traditional Amish farming practices…all surrounded by the “chugs and choos” of O gauge model trains.

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery 
219 East Main Street (Rte 772)
Lititz, PA 17543
(717)626-4354
Founded in 1861, Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America and is filled with captivating history.  Visitors to this Lancaster County original are able to tour the original pretzel bakery where they will see the ovens built by Julius Sturgis and learn about the history of pretzel baking in America.  Tour participants get a hands-on lesson in the art of pretzel twisting and can observe skilled bakers twisting old-fashioned soft pretzels by hand, just as was done 150 years ago.  Browse through the Bakery’s retail store and shop for a variety of delicious treats and souvenirs.

Refreshing Canopy Ziplines
455 Camp Road
Stevens, PA 17578
(717) 738-1490
(888) 353-1490
For those who enjoy invigorating fun with awe-inspiring views, Refreshing Canopy Ziplines offers exhilarating adventure through the treetops of Refreshing Mountain.  Whether you are a cautious novice or an eager veteran, as the area’s only zipline, Refreshing Canopies offer Lancaster County outdoor recreation at its extreme best.  With two courses to choose from, the Canopy Tour is comprised of a series of cables and platforms that take you on a thrilling tour through the forest canopy with all its resident wildlife.  Zipline participants are safely harnessed to a pulley that rides the sturdy cables which allows them to “zip” from platform to platform through the “canopy” of trees, through which the courses have been built.  In addition to the ziplines, there are several other adventure challenges that are just waiting to be conquered, including an “Indiana Jones” bridge, Tarzan cables, and a cargo net.

Outback Toys
101 W. Lincoln Avenue
Lititz, PA 17543
(888) 414-4705
Every local business has a story to tell but among the most unique and compelling is the beginnings and growth of Outback Toys.  What started as a sideline venture in a shed “outback” for the Binkley and Hurst Brothers Company, has grown into a thriving enterprise at its own location.  Your best source for farm toys, Outback Toys sells the majority of their inventory on-line and via catalog but you can stop for a personal review and amazement at their store in historic Lititz.

Cozy Crop House…A Scrapper’s Haven
@ Two Locations in Lancaster County
[email protected]
Imagine a home set up as a scrapbook studio…with tables, lighting, supplies, and scrapbook friends. Dream of all the comforts of home with none of the concerns! No meals to prepare, no laundry to do, no non-scrapping interruptions. Enjoy all this and more in the heart of Lancaster County, when you come to the Cozy Crop House with your scrapping friends. Whether you arrive for a weekend retreat or stop by for a crop event that lasts a day, you will leave refreshed, with a feeling of great accomplishment.

Elva’s Barnyard Art Studio & Gallery
1519 Brunnerville Road
Lititz, PA 17543 
(717)-626-6582
Nestled in the center of an idyllic Lancaster County farm north of Lititz, Elva’s Barnyard Art Studio & Gallery provides a relaxing but engaging setting for those who love the beauty and creativity of art.  Artisan Elva Hurst is an extraordinarily talented chalk artist who excels equally in writing and other artistic mediums.  The Barn serves as gallery, studio, and classroom…this is a real hidden gem, where talents and abilities come to life and find freedom in their expression.

Farmhouse Memories
148 A Harristown Road
Paradise, PA 17562
(717) 442-1907
Farmhouse Memories provides their happy guests a comprehensive collection of scrapbooking supplies, a full line of quality fabrics, and an assortment of miniature quilts and quilt making resources.  Whether you are a seasoned scrapper or just wanting to try your hand at card crafting for the first time, you will find everything you need for conveying your creativity and communicating your thoughts.  If you have the right tools and supplies, the fun can begin at whatever pace you feel comfortable with.  Need some inspiration for your scrapbooking and card making journey?  Throughout the year, Farmhouse Memories plays host to a variety of classes that provide hands-on instruction.

Jim Mack’s
5745 Lincoln Hwy
York, PA 17406
(717)252-2013
Located “just across the border” from Lancaster County near Wrightsville, Jim Mack’s has been a favorite family fun destination since 1958.  Known far and wide as the Home of the Thick Chocolate Malt, Jim Mack’s makes all of their ice cream on-location, featuring a wide variety of homemade flavors and a tasty casual fare menu.  The 24-hole Cones & Clubs miniature golf course, bank-shot basketball, and arcade provide a fun time for the whole family at reasonable prices.  Visit the property’s mini zoo that contains well-cared for animals that can be safely enjoyed.

The Petting Zoo at
The Pretzel Hut
2224 Furnace Hills Pike
Newmanstown, PA 17073
(717)627-4887
The Petting Zoo at The Pretzel Hut is a family fun destination that awaits your happy visit.  Stop by for the awesome eats and ice cream at The Pretzel Hut, then come around back to the see the well-maintained petting zoo, filled with furry and feathered animals that call the peaceful woods of Furnace Hills “home.”  From the stoic peacock to the grunting pot-bellied pig, you and the children in your life will appreciate the fun at this hidden gem, located at the northern most tip of Lancaster County on Rte 501.

Nickel Mines Pool
4915 White Oak Rd
Paradise, PA 17562
(610)593-1288
Located in the peaceful countryside of Lancaster County, you are invited to experience Nickel Mines Pool, a hidden gem that has been providing memories for families and friends for many years.  Along with those who have annual memberships, this unique hidden gem is open to everyone with reasonable day and evening rates.  The super-sized pool ranges from 3 to 10 feet and includes two new slides and a designated lane for lap swimming. The kiddie pool provides easy access for parents to monitor their children. You can spend the day at Nickel Mines Pool without going hungry or needing to leave the premises for food. The snack stand is known and appreciated for their variety of great tasting menu options.