Pennsylvania

Amish Country!  Our favorite stops in Pennsylvania are near Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse, on the backroads.

Thank you Angie Tasnady MacFarland for this collage of your photos.

We stayed at the Country Acres Campground, owned and run by the Smucker Family.  
http://www.bird-in-hand.com/index.php/places_to_stay/stay_overview/country_acres_campground/

They offer their customers at Country Acres,  Amish Country Motel, and Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, a complimentary bus tour  which was unbelievable.  They drove us around the backroads in a small bus, told us about Amish beliefs and customs, and took us to more than a few of the local shops that are located on Amish farms.  We loved it! This was the most picturesque area we have seen on any of our trips around the USA .  Too bad I put my camera away.  I wasn't thinking.  I could have taken pictures of the landscape, buggies, etc. without being offensive to the Amish.


Here are a couple of our favorite stops -

 Countryside Roadstand
2966 Stumptown Road
Ronks, PA 17572

This place had the best soft pretzels I had ever eaten.  They are dipped in butter, and they literally melt in your mouth.  They also have delicious homemade lemonade and root beer.  Their store is filled with gorgeous quilts, canned goods, birdhouses, etc..  The young girls who served the pretzels were sweet and friendly.  They even have RV parking, so we were able to go back on our own another day. We had to buy the pretzel mix so we could have them at home. When our tour guide asked about our children, (we had 5 of our 7 with us), and she learned our 7 were about the ages of the owners' children, she introduced us to  him.  What a wonderful family they have.  We hope to visit their store again this Summer.

Another favorite, 
Riehl's Quilts and Crafts      
247 East Eby Road
Upper Leacock, PA 17540
(717) 656-0697
http://www.riehlsamishquilts.com/

I know it seems odd that you can buy real Amish things from a real Amish family on the internet, but you can.  You couldn't a few years ago when I was there, but now you can.  They also have hundreds of beautiful handmade Amish quilts.  This where I found a trip-around-the-world quilt in just the colors I was looking for.

Please tell me if you have a favorite stop in Pennsylvania.  Does your family have a favorite place to shop or eat?  Something we shouldn't miss?  Please Share.