<p>After we drop off our D at Bucknell, we’ll have about 36 hours before we fly home from Harrisburg. We’ll be with our other two kids, ages 20 and 14 and, since the 20 year old doesn’t live with us any longer, are looking forward to spending some time together. Any suggestions? In addition to sites, would love any specifics, even down to favorite hotels or restaurants. Gettysburg is an option but I haven’t received a great response on that…is there a respectful way to see/learn more about the Amish? If Hershey Park is <em>only</em> an amusement park, that’s not of great interest but there may be more there? We considered driving to Pittsburg as none of us have been there but, with only 36 hours, it doesn’t seem to make much sense. As you can tell, we don’t know much about the area so, if anyone’s up for helping, it’d be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>When will you be dropping him off?</p>
<p>Every year that we dropped a kid off at either Syracuse or Muhlenberg (Allentown), the Little League World Series was going in in Williamsport, PA. We finally managed to go four years ago, and really, really enjoyed it. No cost to get in. Just really neat to see how the whole thing is run.
<a href=“http://www.littleleague.org/worldseries/index.html[/url]”>http://www.littleleague.org/worldseries/index.html</a></p>
<p>The Amish are in the Lancaster area. Try [Amish</a> Farm and House](<a href=“http://www.amishfarmandhouse.com/]Amish”>http://www.amishfarmandhouse.com/), [The</a> Amish Village](<a href=“Bobit Business Media”>http://theamishvillage.net/), or [Ed’s</a> Buggy Rides](<a href=“http://www.edsbuggyrides.com/]Ed’s”>http://www.edsbuggyrides.com/). If you like trains, Strasburg ([The</a> Best Things To See And Do | Strasburg, PA](<a href=“http://www.strasburgpa.com/the-best-things-to-see-and-do/]The”>http://www.strasburgpa.com/the-best-things-to-see-and-do/)) has the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the National Toy Train Museum, and you can ride the Strasburg Rail Road.</p>
<p>Hershey ([Hershey</a>, PA > Fun & Attractions](<a href=“Things to Do in Pennsylvania | Hershey, PA”>Family Attractions | Hershey, PA)) has Chocolate World, ZooAmerica, and Hershey Gardens, in addition to Hersheypark.</p>
<p>There is a museum devoted to the Ephrata Community, an 18th c. Protestant monastery/convent, in Ephrata PA that’s pretty interesting. At Hershey you used to be able to tour the factory; now they have a shorter visit that keeps you away from the actual food (until you get to the gift shop) but does show you how the candy is manufactured.</p>
<p>The civil war museum in Harrisburg is interesting. You could pop over to Ashland after your tour (east of Bucknell) and tour an old coal mine. Lititz (near Lancaster) is a quaint little old town with lots of artsy stuff that you could combine with Lancaster stuff. Go on line and do a google of Intercourse, PA, which should give you ideas about learning more about the Amish. Harrisburg has a good minor league baseball game if you are into sports events.</p>
<p>Not sure if $$ are an issue, but, if not, see if you can arrange for a private tour guide at Gettysburg. We had one … someone who was a local community college professor, and he was wonderful. Really made the battlefield “come alive” (no pun intended!) Don’t remember his name, though…</p>
<p>If you go to Lancaster you can learn lots of stuff from the Amish. Depending on when you are in the area, the PA rennisaince fair may be going on.</p>
<p>Haha! Sitting in a hotel in Lewisburg right now. H and In came to help my D2 move from her summer residence here in Lewisburg to her senior yr residence, and to visit. </p>
<p>Anyway, you could go kayaking on the Susquehanna river. There is an amusement park much closer, but smaller, than Hersheys. It’s called Knoebels. There are some state parks, such as R.B. Winter, for hiking, etc. There is also a zoo called Reptileland just outside of Lewisburg.</p>
<p>And of course Gettysburg is not that far. Pittsburgh is.</p>
<p>Lewisburg has some decent restaurants for a small town. It also has a draft bar/restaurant with about 25 drafts.</p>
<p>Have fun. </p>
<p>Ray B…</p>
<p>The [Pennsylvania</a> Renaissance Faire](<a href=“http://www.parenfaire.com/]Pennsylvania”>http://www.parenfaire.com/) starts this weekend and runs on weekends (and Labor Day Monday) until October 30.</p>
<p>I love Knoebels!</p>
<p>If there are motorcycle fans in your group, Harley-Davidson does a great tour in York, PA which is about half an hour south of Harrisburg. Be careful in Lancaster. We got sucked into some really tacky tourist trap shops while looking for Amish-related information. There was a great quilt museum in Intercourse that we enjoyed. Not sure the name–People’s Place??–Also did a self-paced tour of the Amish area with a cassette tour tape—very informative. It’s been several years since we were there, but it was a great trip. Gettysburg wasn’t a hit with my teenagers–a little goes a long way with them! There are outlets in both Lancaster and Hershey, if you’re interested in shopping.</p>
<p>Definitely visit Lancaster. There is an historic tour of downtown Lancaster, if you are interested in that, as well as a tour of Wheatland, the home of President Buchanan. Take in Central Market on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s a great experience that the locals covet. They have the best produce and you can even find enough variety for lunch while you are there.</p>
<p>The truly best way to see the Amish is to drive the “back” roads. From route 30 east,(where the outlets are), take Ronks Road north (this is a few miles east of the outlets, and I believe there is a traffic light there). This will cross route 340 and end at Church Road. From here you could turn either right or left, and “pick your way” as we say here, traveling in a north or northeast direction. You might end up in Leola on route 23. But along the way, you should see real Amish farms, as well as their roadside stands. Just be courageous enough to drive along several of these back roads.</p>
<p>And then there’s Lititz. Lititz is an absolutely charming, quaint town along route 501, directly north of Lancaster. It has shops, restaurants, a beautiful town park, aannnndddd Wilbur’s Chocolate! If you have never eaten Wilbur’s Chocolate, you absolutely must get their Wilbur Buds.</p>
<p>PM me if you want more specific information.</p>
<p>Such fabulous suggestions from everyone–I will consult with the dh and the kids and check back if we have further questions. Can’t thank you enough!</p>
<p>Is Knoebel’s that close to where they will be? It is pretty awesome. (I’ve gone there from the eastern side of the Poconos.) I agree that you can get into some pretty non-authentic, touristy stuff in Lancaster County. You have to know what you are doing. You are getting good suggestions.
It’s more of a drive, but if you have never been to Valley Forge, I think it is a Do Not Miss.</p>
<p>I was in the Harrisburg area last weekend. We went to the [Allenberry</a> Resort & Playhouse](<a href=“http://www.allenberry.com/]Allenberry”>http://www.allenberry.com/) in Boiling Springs, which is just a short distance from Harrisburg. You can see resort activities & the shows playing at the Allenberry Playhouse on the website. </p>
<p>If you enjoy the outdoors, there is also [world-class</a> trout fishing](<a href=“http://www.yellowbreeches.com/]world-class”>http://www.yellowbreeches.com/) on nearby streams and hiking on the Appalachian Trail, which passes through the town of Boiling Springs.</p>
<p>If you have never been to Hershey Pa before at least visit Chocolate World and take the tour. It is fun no matter the age of the kids:)</p>
<p>If you drive west out of Lewisburg on Route 45 you will be in non-touristy Amish country after just a few miles. (Drive slowly because it is hilly and there often are buggies on the road.) The Amish farms are easy to spot because there are no power lines, sometimes the laundry is out, and sometimes the farmers are out, plowing their fields with their horses (or whatever, depending on the season). The Miffinburg Buggy Museum is about ten miles west of Lewisburg, just off 45. </p>
<p>Also to the west on 45 is the Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks in Millheim, a great place to eat if you are in the area. (It’s about 30 miles west of Lewisburg.)</p>
<p>If you like to hike I would recommend the Waterfalls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park. DH and I are campers/backpackers and have been to most of the National Parks. The scenery on this trail rivals many we have hiked. (The park was approved for National Park status in the 30’s, but WWII caused a disruption to the plan and it was never carried out.)</p>
<p>Penn State is about 50 miles to the west, with the Creamery, Sports Museum, et al.</p>
<p>Gettysburg has a relatively new visitor center that is fabulous and really brings the battle to life. I highly recommend that you go there. My kids (age 19 and 14 when we did it, both girls) really enjoyed it. Spend time at the visitor center, then drive around the battlefield. I had a great time hiking up Big Round Top with my aunt a few years ago, too.</p>