Amish/Dutch Area
 

I am planning a trip to this area in the fall. Can anyone give me any ideas where we should go and what to see while we are there?

Where?

Solvang is a cute Dutch village.

Solvang, CA is a Danish Village, not a Dutch village. I think this person is looking for an area out East tho. I don't know if the Lancaster, PA Area is Dutch but it does have Amish, as does Holmes County, Ohio.

Aren't the Amish of German (Deutch)decent?

Sorry. Guess it would help if I told you where. The Pennsylvania area.

Cali is correct... you should head to Lancaster County, PA. Google on Pennslvania Dutch, Old Mennonite,and Amish. One town, Springs, is where one of my uncles was born and raised. It's beautiful country and you will enjoy your trip.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Bird In Hand -- Bakery by the same name -- is wonderful -- great pies!!!<BR><BR>Get a map -- that whole area is typically Amish. Lots of flea markets.

I can't remember the name of the town in the movie &quot;Witness&quot;, but there is a town by that name there, but the movie was actually shot in the town of Intercourse which if I remember was pretty clode to Bird-in-Hand. I guess they wanted a town with a moe German name. Also in Lancaster County, there is an Aamish Farm that is open to the public which is a great way to learn about the Amish lifestyle (it been a while since I have been to the area, but I guess it might still be open).

Just go down US Route#30 and you'll see lots of stuff and turn off to Bird in Hard and Intercourse. The Strasburg Railroad is fun, and interesting as is the locomotive museum nearby.

J Correa is correct, they're arent Dutch at all, but German. When they pronounced German as Deutsche it was take as Dutch. I thought it was an interesting enough area, but also extremely unfriendly. Maytown, Lititz, Paradise, and Intercoarse are some of the little towns. Gettysburg is also nearby and thats certainly worth a trip. I stayed at the Farnsworth House a small historic inn. I had flown into BWI and drove up I-83 from Baltimore and as I recall that runs right into Lancaster county and took just about an hour from Baltimore on a weekend. Gettysburg was farther west and I had a shortcut from locals through Westminster, MD and through Littlestown, PA that I couldnt duplicate if my life depended upon it now :) If you're into amusement parks and chocolate the famed Hershey Park is not far from Lancaster. I'm not, but Hershey looked like a nice town and I had to pay homage to the Hershey Plant :) Some of the best home made baked goods I've ever had were in this area.

My family stayed at the Strasbourg Inn several years ago. It had some family suites that worked well for me,my parents and my kids. Several family-style restaurants are in the area. The railroad is a scenic,fun way to spend some time.I think there is a big hot-air balloon festival in Strasbourg in the Fall.

Was actually in Lancaster County very recently to see the Amish country. It is very beautiful country but I was honestly a bit dissapointed. It appeared to me that there were more tourists and tourist traps than Amish to be found. I would suggest getting off Rt 30 and traveling some of the back roads. Bird In Hand has an authentic Amish craft market, but unfortunately it was closed the day we were there.

I have lived in Lancaster County Amish country all of my life and have to agree with btsbell. You will not spot too many Amish along Route 30. You are more apt to run into tourists, tourists traps, and outlet malls then any working Amish.To truly see them you have to get off of the main highways and get on the backroads. Just a warning though, Pennsylvania backroads can often be an adventure to drive with the shape that most are in.