All Things Amish

Departure Points:

Yankee Trails, Rensselaer - 6:30am
Pet Smart, Crossgates Commons - 7:00am
Catskill, Exit 21 Commuter Lot - 8:15am
Kingston Plaza, Kingston - 8:35am

Tuesday, July 16

Board the coach today and travel to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Upon arrival we'll visit the Julius Sturgis Pretzel House. Founded in 1861, it is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America! Tour the bakery including the original ovens built by Julius Sturgis and learn the history of pretzel baking. Get a hands-on lesson in pretzel twisting using flour and water and observe the bakers twisting pretzels by hand. There will be time in their shop following the tour and everyone will get both a hard and soft pretzel to enjoy. Next we will stop at Wilbur Chocolate up the street to get some locally-famous, Wilbur Buds. In 1894, founder H.O. Wilbur developed a process that deposited specially blended chocolate into a solid shape that resembled a flower bud. on to our accommodations at Country Inn of Lancaster (717-393-3413). You will have time to relax and freshen up before heading to dinner (included) at Bird in Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasboard. Using only the freshest ingredients, they source as much as possible from local farms. Enjoy traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food, including many of Grandma Smucker’s original recipes, as well as a variety of other delicious dishes. (Note: Bird in Hand has temporarily relocated to the former Revere Tavern). Following dinner we will return to the hotel and the rest of the evening will be on your own.

Wednesday, July 17:

A full breakfast is included at the hotel this morning. This morning we will travel to Kitchen Kettle Village where there will be free time for shopping and browsing. There are 40 shops jammed full of Lancaster's simple pleasures; be sure to stop by the Jam & Relish Kitchen to see Amish ladies in action as they make pickles, relishes, jams & jellies, right in the store kitchen! There are plenty of samples to try and there’s no doubt you will come away with at least a jar or two of Amish delights! After our shopping stop, we will head back to the hotel for a delicious buffet lunch featuring different pizzas, stromboli and salad. After some time to relax and freshen up, we will enjoy a matinee performance at the Sight & Sound Millennium Theatre, just 10 minutes away from our hotel, to see the all new show Daniel. Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the powerful kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in the one true God remain steadfast through every test of faith? From the fiery furnace to the infamous den of lions, DANIEL is a spectacular theatrical experience for the whole family. Witness one of the Bible’s most hope-filled stories as it comes to life in this brand-new original stage production from Sight & Sound Theatres®. Enjoy floor seating for this epic 2 ½ hour show with a 20 minute intermission. Following the show we will stop for a delightful dinner (included) at Miller’s Smorgasbord. At Miller’s, they cook from scratch and prepare meals that you’ll want to tell your friends about. They get supplies like sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, squash, peppers and onions from Amos, Ben, Manny and Elmer, their Amish neighbors, whose farms surround the restaurant.

Thursday, July 18:

Following breakfast (included) we will be met by a local guide, who has many amish friends, for a 3-hour Amish Farmlands tour. Travel the scenic byways through the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country to see a slice of rural life. Travel into the countryside and talk about the Amish customs and traditions. Pass by several one room schoolhouses which are still being used today by the Amish children. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see some folks working in the fields or Amish horses and buggies on the roads. After our tour lunch is included in an Amish home. Look forward to a family style meal of two meats, three vegetables, homemade bread, and delicious homemade desserts. We will dine with Sam Lapp and his sons while Ruth and the girls serve us a family style meal. Yes, the family will be dining with us! After lunch we will leave the area at 2:00pm with an approximate arrival in the Capital District at 8:00pm. One stop each way.