Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Address:Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Travelers will find a truly unique and authentic cultural experience in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Those willing to spend some time off the beaten path will get an appreciation for Amish traditions.

The Old Order Amish community draws the most interest from tourists. The Amish welcome visitors to tour their farms, villages, and shops. As the Amish traditionally have large families, all of the attractions are geared to include and even cater to children. For the shoppers in the family, quilts are quite popular as authentic souvenirs of the area. The same may be said of the locally produced foods, such as pretzels, baked goods (don't miss the shoofly pie), fresh produce, and preserves.

Early Protestants, from Germany began settling in the area in the early 1700's, among them the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonites. For religious reasons, these people have resisted much of the change that has taken place around them in the past 300 years. Visitors will notice many of the obvious differences – electricity is shunned and horse and buggy the preferred form of local transportation. The dress style is plain, conservative, and quite distinct. Amish culture radically departs from contemporary US culture. The values that inform much of U.S. culture, competition, self-reliance, vanity, progress and higher education are held in low esteem by the Amish.

Ironically, the draw of the quaint countryside, plain people and horse-drawn buggies has led to an ever-increasing influx of tourists. To truly experience the beautiful fields and covered bridges, rent a bike or go out and dine on the local cooking. There is also the possibility of spending the night with a family who rents out rooms.

Witness, a widely acclaimed 1985 movie starring Harrison Ford is acclaimed as a good representation of the Amish lifestyle. It was filmed in Intercourse Pennsylvania and other nearby locations. In the 90s the Amish were revisited have by Hollywood in the movie "for Richer or Poorer" about a couple (played by Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley who hide out among the Amish and have to accustom themselves to a simpler way of life.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country covers an area of southeast Pennsylvania roughly 15 by 20 miles just east of Lancaster. It includes the towns of Intercourse, Strasburg, Bird-in-Hand, Paradise, and Ronks.