Amish Tours in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The Amish first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the 1700s. Seeking a respite from religious persecution in their European homeland, the Amish built new homes and communities in Lancaster County and several other rural areas of the United States. The Amish have long attracted the attention of tourists to Pennsylvania, in part because their customs, dress, crafts, lifestyle and cuisine are unique in comparison to modern United States culture. You can explore the Amish culture of Lancaster County with a variety of tours.
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Homestead Tours
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Perhaps the most informative tour, from a cultural standpoint, is the home and farm tour. In Bird-in-Hand you can visit the Amish Country Fischer Family Homestead, where you can see how a traditional Amish family cooks, dresses and attends worship services. At the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, you can tour a home, farm and a one-room schoolhouse. The Living History Village and Farm in Lancaster is a recreation of an authentic Amish village.
Buggy Tours
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A buggy tour through Lancaster County is an authentic way to experience the countryside that the Amish of Pennsylvania call home. Aaron and Jessica Buggy Rides is owned by "Plain Folk," or practicing Amish. A local, Amish tour guide will tell you about the life of the Amish during your tour. AAA Buggy Rides offer a five-mile long tour of area covered bridges, as well as a shorter four-mile ride. Ed's Buggy Rides tours go through an authentic Amish farm.
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Motorized Tours
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Though perhaps lacking some of the charm and authenticity of a buggy tour, a bus or Segway tour is a practical way to see the Amish countryside, especially considering that summer temperatures in the area can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Brunswick Tours offers an Amish country day excursion in an air-conditioned bus. Red Rose Segway Tours rents self-balancing Segways to visitors ages 16 and over for self-guided tours, as well as providing guides for more in-depth Segway tours.
Craft Tours
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The Amish are perhaps best known for their crafts and cuisine, which they make using the same methods they used in the 1700s. Lancaster Amish Tours allows small groups of visitors to learn an authentic Amish recipe with the help of a local "Plain" woman. They also do small group tours of cow milking operations and carriage making shops. The Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum boasts a large collection of authentic Amish quilts. You or your child can make an Amish craft at the Make a Friend Workshop.
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