I am thinking about Pa and the Amish Country, as well as maybe Hershey's. What else would you recommend for a trip in this area...and how many days should I allow? Also, would like mentions of hotels with the budget traveler in mind. Thanks much.

If you do come to the PA Amish country, one place worth a visit is in Ephrata. The Mennonite Central Committee has a Materials Resource Center there. Call (717) 733-2847 for hours.

The MRC is where they prepare aid packages for shipment overseas. They also make quilts there, and have a small retail operation where they sell quilting materials and other odds and ends. They also host the preview (generally late March) for the great annual MCC Quilt Auction in Harrisburg at the beginning of April. Just had it this past weekend, in fact. Awesome.

The MCC holds these quilt auctions around the country, though PA is the biggie. Some googling should give you some more leads...

As another poster mentioned, the furniture business has been a good source of income for some Amish communities. We have stores called Amish Showcase, here in Denver, and have purchased many pieces there, like a dining room set, writing desk, side tables, bench, etc. The workmanship is so beautifully done. It takes a little while to get your order, but you can choose your wood and stain in many, many combinations. Fewer choices in styles, and they don't make changes easily.

But the wood is selected carefully and the pieces are constructed seamlessly, using nicely grained, thick solid wood (not chintzy thin wood). We've always ordered solid cherry wood and it's gorgeous. It will last several lifetimes.
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I was in Holmes County and drove by the Walmart. There was a whole row of covered hitching posts with horses and carriages tied up to the posts.

I am buying a beautiful cherry china cabinet for my kitchen redo at Stone Barn Furniture near Mt. Hope. I love their wood pieces there.