Amish Country: Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Our first order of business was to find a place to stay! This was not a problem as the lodging options are plentiful in Lancaster County, ranging from chain motels/hotels to bed and breakfasts to working farms. We opted to stay at a new Hawthorn Suites directly on Lincoln Highway. There are two main roadways that will take you to most of the Amish related attractions and shopping in Lancaster County, U.S. 30 (Lincoln Highway), and Highway 340, also known as Old Philadelphia Pike.

U.S. 30 travels just north of downtown Lancaster. Continue eastward on Lincoln Highway to visit the towns of Ronks, Soudersburg and Paradise. There is plenty of shopping, dining, and lodging to explore along this main route.

We found a gem of a restaurant, Miller's Smorgasbord, on Lincoln Highway between Ronks and Soudersburg. I can't think of a better word to describe this marvelous buffet than "smorgasbord," as there was such a large variety of dishes to choose from. We also got our first taste of the wonderfully rich shoo-fly pie, one of the more famous dishes of the area. Some locals claim that this sweet dessert got its name because the large amount of molasses and sugar used in this pie would attract flies; therefore once the pie was set out to cool one would have to "shoo" the flies away. If you're hankering for a sample of shoo-fly pie, stop by Dutch Haven on Lincoln Highway in Ronks, where they give out free samples. You can't miss it, just look for the large windmill on top of the building. They sell a wide variety of souvenirs as well.

My quest was to find an authentic Amish-crafted item to take home as a souvenir. I was surprised to find that many of the stores in this area sold more typical mass-produced items than authentic hand-made treasures. So my advice is to check labels. If an item is Amish made, it will be noted. The Quilt Shop at Miller's is located next door to Miller's Smorgasbord and was one of my favorite stores for browsing. The quilts are handmade and are truly exquisite! Gloves are required in this store if you want to touch any merchandise. Sadly I was only able to browse as some of the quilts sold for well over $1,000!

To visit some of the other communities in Lancaster County such as Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, take Highway 340 East, also known as Old Philadelphia Pike. Bird-in-Hand is a quaint town with an interesting name and even more interesting origin. One legend behind the name goes back to the time when Old Philadelphia Pike was being surveyed. Two surveyors debated on whether to stay the night at an inn located in present Bird-in-Hand or to stay in Lancaster. One of the surveyors replied that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," and that inn was then known as "Bird-in-Hand Inn." The inn still operates today as Bird-in-Hand Village Inn and Suites on Old Philadelphia Pike.