Cool stuff to do near Intercourse, PA?

First off, this is not a spoof thread. I swear!

The family and I are spending a week in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, in early August, and I am wondering if you have any suggestions for cool activities. My kiddos are 6 and 9, and the grandparents will also be in tow, if that matters.

So far we are planning a trek to Gettysburg, and we'll be hitting Hershey Park (and another amusement park). My wife thinks she has found an outlet mall somewhere close, too, so I have that to look forward to. I believe we are also going to the mint in Philly, and may swing by the Liberty Bell.

Please post any cool Intercourse (PA!) experiences below. Thanks in advance for any helpful replies!

Dave

ummm, PIITB?

Uhhh... trying so... hard...
giggity

cow tippin?

Heh, outlet mall.
"Your one-stop shopping destination for crap we were too ashamed to put in our real stores!"

landis valley in Lititz--number one favorite http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/
and while going there stop at Wilbur Chocolate
AVOID Millers Smorgasboard
Go to Intercourse Canning...they usually have a coupon on their web page www.intercoursecanning.com
Kitchen Kettle----tourist trap
Sturgis Pretzel...good to do along with Anderson Pretzel and Herr's Snack Factory Tour
Outlet mall is right outside of hershey park, the other park is probably Dutch Wonderland, night as well do Chocolate World while you are there.
eat----do not miss Shady Maple, go there you'll know why I say to eat there.
AVOID Millers Smorgasboard
Strasburg Railroad, especially if into Thomas the Train
Turkey Hill Experience..your kids would love
Downtown Lancaster has a farmer's market on Fridays I believe....loved it
Rule of theumb if you haven't ordered: http://www.padutchcountry.com/tra...-guide.asp that usually has good coupons...stop at the Official Lancaster Visitors Info as soon as you get there.
AVOID...you guessed it Millers Smorgasboard.
Do check this out:
http://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asp

hope this helps

Quote from UncleJace : ummm, PIITB?

qft !

I've heard FANTASTIC things about Miller's Smorgasbord.

Actually, I haven't ever heard anything about it until this very day.

Quote from unclejace : ummm, piitb?

+1

Millers Smorgasboard is supposed to be pretty good.

I have absolutely no knowledge of Millers Smorgasboard what-so-ever

OP i believe the people have spoken! Obviously you should PIIHB at Miller's Smorgasbord. doooo it~

Quote from ditb : First off, this is not a spoof thread. I swear! The family and I are spending a week in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, in early August, and I am wondering if you have any suggestions for cool activities. My kiddos are 6 and 9, and the grandparents will also be in tow, if that matters. So far we are planning a trek to Gettysburg, and we'll be hitting Hershey Park (and another amusement park). My wife thinks she has found an outlet mall somewhere close, too, so I have that to look forward to. I believe we are also going to the mint in Philly, and may swing by the Liberty Bell. Please post any cool Intercourse (PA!) experiences below. Thanks in advance for any helpful replies! Dave

You didn't say if your kids are girls or boys. In Intercourse they have some great horse drawn buggy rides. They also have this place called Make A Friend it's like Build A Bear, but you make an Amish Doll, really cool cultural experience. There is a pretzel factory in Intercourse as well, they have a tour which is free and they let you twist your own pretzel.

Quote from vettedrvr55mph : landis valley in Lititz--number one favorite http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/ and while going there stop at Wilbur Chocolate AVOID Millers Smorgasboard Go to Intercourse Canning...they usually have a coupon on their web page www.intercoursecanning.com Kitchen Kettle----tourist trap Sturgis Pretzel...good to do along with Anderson Pretzel and Herr's Snack Factory Tour Outlet mall is right outside of hershey park, the other park is probably Dutch Wonderland, night as well do Chocolate World while you are there. eat----do not miss Shady Maple, go there you'll know why I say to eat there. AVOID Millers Smorgasboard Strasburg Railroad, especially if into Thomas the Train Turkey Hill Experience..your kids would love Downtown Lancaster has a farmer's market on Fridays I believe....loved it Rule of theumb if you haven't ordered: http://www.padutchcountry.com/tra...-guide.asp that usually has good coupons...stop at the Official Lancaster Visitors Info as soon as you get there. AVOID...you guessed it Millers Smorgasboard. Do check this out: http://www.padutchcountry.com/index.asp hope this helps

Good list, the Tanger Outlets are not far from all of this; since the Grandparents are in "tow" with this group; if they have AARP cards, they can go to the Customer Service Area there at the Tanger Outlet and show their AARP card and get a free discount booklet; it's available to anyone with an AARP Card at any Tanger Outlet - FYI.

Gettysburg is great, and you kids will spend time just playing in one area, once you discover it; I won't spoil the surprise. Not sure your kids would be that enthralled with the museum there and what it has to offer; but for adults; it's a do not miss opportunity, that teaches you so much about the Battle of Gettysburg. Touring the Battlefield, what can I say, during the day you will see so much; at night time, riding through is absolutely spectacular. There is so much to see there and learn about.

Strasburg Railroad - is a definite to take the ride on the railroad, and then tour the museum there, if you have never been there before.

Dutch Wonderland is great for little kids.

Make sure there are no "concerts" happening at Hershey Park as well, when you are going there, as they hold concerts there all the time.

Make sure you have a GPS unit with you, as if you get out on the Country Roads, it's like you are in the middle of no where - literally, if you do not know the area at all. At night time, you will drive for miles and miles and see nothing, then come across a farm house, no lights, nothing; if you are on the back country roads.

It's a beautiful area, the people are friendly, but there are a lot of tourist trap areas; the idea is to avoid those, and get off the beaten track; if you are able to.

If you are going into Philly, stop at the new Independence Visitor's Center
http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com/
Here you will find all the information you need about visiting the area, plus get maps, and everything you need. Everything is within walking distance from there to the Liberty Bell, to Independence Hall, to Betsy's Ross's House, and everything historic about Philadelphia. It's quite safe to do a walking tour of the area during the day time, there are garages to park nearby. You might want to check out what is happening at Penn's Landing, as there are normally activities going on there, which isn't far from the historic area of Philly, as well as South Street, which leads you right down to Penn's Landing across a bridge to this. Information about activities would be online. They have walking tours in the evening as well of the historic area of Philly. Stay away from South Street past 9pm, it becomes an absolute "zoo"; it's not a place you want to take your kids to after that time of night.

.

Shady Maple is a definite yes. I've never gone to Miller's, but nothing is better than Shady Maple. Make sure you skip lunch (if going for dinner) that day.

The outlet malls in Lancaster are pretty much bleh. Not any different than anywhere else. I'm really surprised the whole "90's" outlet mall trend hasn't completely died yet. You can find some local Amish shops in the area just by driving around that will be much more interesting.

You can tour the Herr's potato chip factory (free when I went several years ago) if you need to kill some time..it's in the general area.