From the immersion in Amish culture to a ride on the oldest operating railroad in the US, there are plenty of reasons to spend some time in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Whether you’re planning a last-minute October trip (note our campgrounds in the area close at the end of month) or planning for next year, you won’t be disappointed with a gateway to Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
For starters, why is it called Pennsylvania Dutch Country? It is so named for the immigrants that settled here and not necessarily from Holland, but instead the many countries from the Germanic region of Europe that includes Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
With the mix of cultures that settled here, you can imagine that from a food standpoint, this is going to be an interesting destination. For example, shoofly pie is a traditional dessert here that is made with molasses. Similar to a coffee cake, it is often eaten for breakfast but can be a dessert as well. When it comes to condiments, Pennsylvania chow-chow, or simply, chow-chow is the way to go here. The origin story differs, but in PA Dutch culture where nothing goes to waste, this tasty relish was a result of salvaging veggie scraps. Cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, sweet peppers, onions and beans are combined, seasoned and brined to create chow-chow. Another PA Dutch staple that was a result of the “nothing goes to waste” philosophy is scrapple. Scrapple, or Pannhaas, is made from pork scraps and trimmings and combined with cornmeal and flour into a loaf. Other unique foods to try here include Lebanon bologna, Pennsylvania soft pretzels and of course, any of the Amish offerings. Visit Discoverlancaster.com for some options for food tours.
A big attraction here is the Strasburg Rail Road, which is the oldest continuously operating railroad in the country. It began giving rides in 1832 and is still doing so today – in fact, a great way to see the beautiful countryside in Lancaster County is to hop aboard for a steam train ride through the 2500 acres here. Another step back in time would be a visit to Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, a living history experience that focuses on the history and culture of the area from 1740 to 1940.
Of course, the Amish culture and history is another draw for the area. A look into the authentic Amish lifestyle can be found at The Amish Village (amishvillage.com) which offers several tours of the 12-acre property. Farm animals in an Amish barn, a blacksmith shop, smokehouse, Amish artifacts, and Amish shops can all be found here. The Mennonite Life Visitors Center is another option for insight into Amish life.
Fall here means apples, pumpkins, and corn mazes. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks is one-stop shopping for all of this and is also home to the number one corn maze in the country, according to “USA Today”. To see all the fun that can be had at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm visit cherrycrestfarm.com. The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is another fun event and runs through October 27.
From a camping standpoint, there are seven campgrounds in the Pennsylvania Dutch area, and they include Appalachian Camping Resort, Thousand Trails Circle M, Thousand Trails Hershey, Thousand Trails PA Dutch Country, Robin Hill Campground, Spring Gulch Resort Campground and Sun Valley Campground.
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