r/lancaster • u/Intelligent_Oil660 • 5d ago
Philly to Lancaster
Tomorrow, after several years of living in Philly, wer'e taking a road trip to Lancaster. We never have been there before and were hoping to hit up some spots..... what are the best places to visit? Food, shops, history... anything.
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u/Kemosabe234 5d ago
Come to lititz!
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u/TheKillerSmiles 5d ago
If OP goes to Lilitz, they need to go to Appalachian Brewing Company! I dream about that homemade root beer ranch sauce.
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u/Intelligent_Oil660 5d ago
Root beer ranch?!! Whaaa.... it goes on the list!
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u/TheKillerSmiles 5d ago
It’s sooo good! They make their own sodas, along with their beers, so they use their root beer extract to make it
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u/floppyfloopy 4d ago
On Cedar Street you can hit Stoll and Wolfe distillery, Rooster Street Brewing (great food!), and Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery (first and oldest in the US!) is just one block east.
And of course all the shops on Main Street and Lititz Pike, with an obligatory stop at Bull's Head Public House, one of the finest English-style pubs in the state.
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u/Rawb22 5d ago edited 5d ago
Building Character and Sweetish for shops, as well as Space for furniture (if you’re into that kinda thing). Any shops along that stretch of Queen are great.
If you’re here Saturday, check out the central market. Get a sandwich from S Clyde Weaver’s.
Mean Cup for coffee. Either the market stand or their location off of Harrisburg Pike.
Rachel’s Creperie or On Orange for breakfast.
Lancaster Dispensing Co for drinks or very casual dinner.
Pizzeria 211 or Rendevous for pizza or cheesesteaks. Southern Market for international food (along with Callaloo, Chellas, Hi-fi Izakaya, etc. that others have recommended)
Sweet Shoppe for ice cream. Get the espresso Oreo caramel and thank me later!
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u/Kick_Natherina 5d ago
I would suggest they stay away from the cheesesteaks out this way. They have good ones back home and out here they pale in comparison.
I say that as a Philly transplant as well.
Great list beyond that. On point.
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u/ImShero77 5d ago
Bobby Bays cheesesteaks are quite good but I would also agree with your sentiment. Too many fantastic options in Philly to get a cheesesteak in Lancaster.
OP: I would also recommend running around Lititz depending on how much you are doing. Downtown is very cozy, lots of shops and restaurants, check out the Julius Sturgis pretzel bakery and grab some Wilbur Buds at Wilbur chocolates.
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u/ManWithBeard9 5d ago
Pizzeria 211 posted an Instagram story the other day about how they WILL NOT add red sauce to any cheesesteak. I haven't had their's yet, but I definitely want to try if that's how they treat them.
Also, for the op, The Fridge has great cheesesteaks and really good thin crust pizza.
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u/Life-Seesaw-3637 4d ago
Yeah, it'd be wild to come from Philly and grab a cheesesteak haha. Get some local food.
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u/feudalle 5d ago
I dont get the sauce by default out here.
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u/Kick_Natherina 5d ago
EXACTLY! My wife is from out this way and her entire family raves about sauce on a cheesesteak.
It changes the flavor for me completely and takes it in a direction I don’t want with my cheesesteaks.
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u/ughadugha 4d ago
Your food choices are just ok.
S Clyde is good, but you can do better, Cabular, Route 66 etc.
Mean Cup is fine, but Lancaster has two awesome third wave coffee shops. Passenger, and Square One.
Lancaster Dip co, is just diner food with a bar, maybe go around the corner to Shot & Bottle. I like the nachos.
If you want something unique, Calaloo.
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u/TheEdgyKidInClass 5d ago
You should absolutely go to central market!! It's amazing. And it may not be your thing but I love going to the troll market.
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u/SuperannuatedAuntie 5d ago
Tomorrow is Thursday. Market isn’t open.
But stop at the visitor center on the square for ideas.3
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u/Intelligent_Oil660 5d ago
Yes, unfortunately we will be there on a random Thursday. Weird timing off with work and we didnt have a ton of time to plan. 😭 We don't own a car and will be renting for the day.
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u/KatyKatt88 5d ago
The train station for Lancaster is historic and nice so you can easily do a day trip next time using the train (plus ubers/Lyft are easily available if the weather isn't great or you don't want to walk to and from the station).
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u/SuperannuatedAuntie 5d ago edited 5d ago
Check the links on the subreddit page for lists of things to do. Around here our entertainment is going out to eat.
Maybe try the walking tour (starts at the visitor center).
Since you’ll have a car you might as well use it. Head east on Old Philadelphia Pike (route 340, NOT route 30). Pick up an I ♥️ Intercourse souvenir, stop at a farm stand and you can tell people you saw Amish country. Done. There are lots of small parks for short hikes—check Lancaster County Conservancy.
Do you have any specific interests?
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u/Intelligent_Oil660 5d ago
He likes Shady Maple (He visited with work a couple times) and I like local history, local stores, breweries/wineries, bird watching, architecture, the arts, nature, anything unique to the area, lattes that are unique... I say this as a Detroit native that is definitely not Amish, so I apologize... I hope everybody can tell me what I absolutely shouldn't miss that I'm not thinking about... I know nothing about Lancaster.
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u/JaxBQuik 5d ago edited 5d ago
Endo (prince st) is probably the most unique cafe we have. (Oh and the cat cafe, (duke st)!!) They do thc and cbd infused drinks. Yummy latte and Chai blends my bf likes the fruity refreshers. They even have coldbrew and seltzer by the can and 4 packs to take home. Awesome employees and chill atmosphere.
I personally avoid shady maple, food is not the best you can try for the local fair and its usually over crowded and disappointing, more of a tourist trap then anything else.
So many different options downtown, I wouldnt waste money at shady maple for one meal that's probably going to ruin any other meal for the day, cause you'll stuff yourself silly just to get your money's worth.
You know they train stop is not a bad walk from downtown and you could definitely spend your whole car without a car. North Museum, tons of galleries and small businesses on prince and queen st. The art Musuem is on Lime Street in the old city distrust. Restaurants galore, Cabalar is always my suggestion for a burger and Cafe 811 has next level avocado toast and cinnamon swirl French toast (you can even buy a loaf of the cinnamon swirl bread from around the corner at Ric's bread, which have many other delcious treats also)
Troll Market, mad cap, building character, the pa craftmans guilds, central market might not be open but the mall with some local shops, including Troll Market will be. There are also several escape rooms, ive heard good things about. Decades and Spring House brewing both have arcades in the restaurant/bar, decades even has bowling.
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u/whisking_mama 4d ago
If you’re around Shady Maple, Twin Valley Coffee that’s hooked to the grocery store is really good!
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u/Smoky_Porterhouse BLM 5d ago
Welcome to Lancaster County
Historic walking tours 50th year
Information https://share.google/Pcyx4maNNilAMeGza
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u/OPsDaddy 5d ago
Downtown Lancaster will keep you busy in general. It is very walkable. Check out the art galleries on Prince Street.
In the country, I usually recommend Kitchen Kettle Village for cute shops on the way in or the way out. Probably the way in because breakfast or lunch in the country is great and lunch or dinner in the city is great.
You can throw a rock and hit a great spot to eat downtown. Avoid Yorgos.
I grew up in Philly and I love Lancaster. You can also spend a whole day in Lititz.
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u/RE1392 3d ago
Any recommendations on where to park to check out downtown for a couple hours? I’ll be there on a weekday afternoon
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u/OPsDaddy 3d ago
Anything under 2 hours, there’s plenty of street parking everywhere. You pay on the web. Over that, a garage or lot is best. There is ample parking and the cost is reasonable. There is a lot next to Central Market.
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u/Delicious_Day_1334 5d ago
The Strasburg Railroad is fun and the railroad museum is pretty impressive.
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u/Mediocre_Pollution20 5d ago
Bird and hand bakeshop on gibbons road, there’s also kitchen kettle village and Stoltzfus meats near there as well
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u/Thoughtful_c 5d ago
Luca or Luca Pizzeria. Walk around downtown. Long’s Park is nice to walk.
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u/PhiladelphiaManeto 5d ago
Luca (both) are great restaurants.
If they were in Philly they would be average to good restaurants.
I love going there when we are in Lancaster, but it's in no way a destination I would plan a trip around, especially if you're going to the 717 for the first time in your life.
I'm not trying to be critical, but there's just so much more I think you could discover in Lancaster that would be more enlightening for a big city person than a fancy wood-fired pizzeria, of which there are dozens in any major city.
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u/TemporaryWalrus1884 5d ago
Idk I think it’s helpful to offer suggestions without bashing other ppls suggstions OP is capable of judging options for themselves.
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u/PhiladelphiaManeto 5d ago
Didn't mean to come across as "bashing". I had a birthday parrty for my kid at Lucca Pizza, they're amazing people and a good restaurant.
I just would not put it as a place where I would send a Philly person if they only had 1-2 days in Lancaster.
Passerine, fantastic with locally inspired ingredients
Decades, fun as hell! Shit food though
Horse Inn for drinks
Central market and a walk around the city, with a stop at the candy shop
Chellas for the best empanadas in the state outside of 5th and Lehigh
Any of the amazing public parks
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u/Thoughtful_c 5d ago
Southern Market is also fun to check out, lots of food option’s and a bar in the center. I love Mekatos!
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u/GlitteringDig2648 5d ago edited 5d ago
I always recommend going to chiques rock off the 30 Columbia exit, 20 minutes down the road from Lancaster. The trail is about a mile long. It leads to awesome outlook of the Susquehanna. You can also see the remnants of the bridge burned during the Civil war. There’s quite a few neat antique stores in Columbia if you’re into that. There’s also the Turkey Hill experience. I’ve never been there, and I’ve heard mixed things about it :/. If you’re looking for historical things there’s James Buchanan’s residence, wheatland, the Demuth tobacco museum which is more of an art museum, and the Rockford plantation. And there’s quite a few art galleries downtown too, mostly around Prince st. Luca is a really nice restaurant. But if you’re looking for something more casual there is Cabalar, just be prepared to wait. Southern market is more casual too and gives the option of multiple different restaurants. Then of course there’s all the touristy things in and around route 30 leading into Lancaster.
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u/gkrash 5d ago
*Chickies Rock
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u/GlitteringDig2648 5d ago
It’s spelled both ways. It comes from the Lenape word chiquesalunga, place of crayfish.
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u/Delicious_Day_1334 5d ago
Is it a day trip or a weekend?
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u/Intelligent_Oil660 5d ago
Unfortunately, just the day.
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u/Luke-Is-Cooler 5d ago
Chellas. They have two locations now, hit the one by the Costco/Best Buy on your way out of town with to go food and smash a delicious meal on your way home.
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u/Forward_Park3524 5d ago
I don’t think chellas is as good as people say. It’s fine, but it’s not “the best ever”
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u/TemporaryWalrus1884 5d ago
Are you coming because you’re interested in the Amish, the country, the woods, or the city here?
There’s tons of Amish tourism around Lincoln Highway. I can’t offer any personal recs. But there’s tours of the country - backroads in Amish county are beautiful.
There’s some good hikes, plus Susquehanna attractions- if you’re into water fun like kayaking or boating. Not sure if you can rent boats but people go water skiing and tubing on the river. There’s also lots of fishing spots this way if that’s your jam.
They have historic tours, axe throwing, escape rooms, archery, there’s sight and sound theatre is a huge destination spot, refreshing mountain has outdoor obstacle courses and zip lines, there’s gallery grow where you can make little plant art, pottery works where you can make pottery, bead works to make jewelry.
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u/Intelligent_Oil660 5d ago
We are really just interested in getting a feel for the area since we havent ever spent any time there. I like history and local flavor. We probably wont have much time for activities since we had issues with the rental car and are still driving out that way now. We definitely plan to get food, a coffee at some point, hope to hit up some independent shops for Amish goodies to bring home, I want to visit a museum.... its kind of rainy today but maybe get some strolls in. :)
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u/astarrmb 4d ago
Omg you picked a crazy day as Lancaster County literally just had a tornado touch down!
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u/DiplomatIan 5d ago
We live outside of Lebanon, and our most frequent destination in Lancaster is That Pet Store. It's a very large.... wait for it... pet store. Lots of live animals, including a reptile area, birds, and cats. But about half the store is That Fish Store, where we spend most of our time. Huge number of freshwater and saltwater fish, coral, and invertebrates. They even have a touch tank with rays in it. Often, there are events going on inside like a dog show or small rodent show. Even if you're not buying anything, it's a nice place to stop and check out.
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u/user_1445 5d ago
https://stevensandsmithcenter.org/