Our whirlwind Lancaster trip
We hit the road Thursday just after 7am. We do not sleep in even on vacation! We went down via the Delaware Water Gap to avoid some traffic and get off the thruway a bit. We stopped for a bit to stretch our legs in the park and arrived at the Martin Guitar factory JUST in time for the tour. It was very interesting. Jim had a great time. We had a lovely picnic outside and I read while he went back in to visit the museum.
Then on to Weyerbacher Brewery, where we had a great tasting! On next to two wineries in the Reading area, both very good. We were served by the owner in both wineries which was a real treat. There was no one else tasting in any of the places, always a bonus.
We spent Thursday night at the Marriot in Reading, I had a free night remaining from the credit card. It was really nice - I had a great dip in the hot tub and pool, and was the only one enjoying it! We ate dinner that I had brought - we had a microwave in the room.
Friday morning we went to Ephrata Cloister. As it worked out we walked in (again) as they were about to start a tour! There was only one other couple on our tour, and we really enjoyed it. For me this visit was the highlight of the trip. Super-interesting history and a great place. After the Cloister we had a picnic in the car (too cold to eat outside!) and then off to the Green Dragon market. A cross between county fair, farmers market and dollar store. Very odd place! I bought a hunk of farmer's cheese to enjoy with wine later and a $5 dress. Fun. Then off to another winery, which I liked a lot. They offered free unlimited tasting so I did the flight. Jim was driving, why not! Delicious.
Friday and Saturday we stayed at an Airbnb. We had a third floor room with a shared bathroom in a house in the historic part of Lancaster. Our hostess was the best - it was a great place to stay!
Friday night we enjoyed our new beer/wine and cheese and heated up lasagna I'd made ahead. Saturday morning we headed over to the Lancaster Central Market, which we enjoyed a lot, a very nice indoor farmer's market. We took a walking tour of Lancaster and then went "home" for lunch. In the afternoon we toured Hans Herr House, an 18th century farm/house that provided a nice historical window into life at that time and filled in some of the gaps from our earlier tours. Loved it there. Next off to Amish Farm and House, where we did another historical tour and spent time at the farm. Very interesting! We were beat after all those tours and back to the house for a repeat of the night before: wine in front of the fireplace!
Sunday we got up early and headed out - we stopped on the way home for a picnic at Delaware Water Gap but other than that drove pretty much straight through. A great trip!
Expenses round-up: Lodging: $128 for the Airbnb. Ephrata Cloister admission $19. Lancaster walkingtour: $12. Hans Herr House tour: $16. Amish Farm and House Tour: $15, Pretzel factory tour: $7. Total attractions: $69. Food: Pretzels: $2; Coffee: $2; Farmers cheese: $2; Tomato: $2. Total food: $8. Gas: $81. Overall total: $286 for a four-day trip. Not terrible. I did splurge on the tours and gas was a lot, but that was the price for going so far from home. We haven't taken a far-away trip like this one since December 2010, over three years ago.
Then on to Weyerbacher Brewery, where we had a great tasting! On next to two wineries in the Reading area, both very good. We were served by the owner in both wineries which was a real treat. There was no one else tasting in any of the places, always a bonus.
We spent Thursday night at the Marriot in Reading, I had a free night remaining from the credit card. It was really nice - I had a great dip in the hot tub and pool, and was the only one enjoying it! We ate dinner that I had brought - we had a microwave in the room.
Friday morning we went to Ephrata Cloister. As it worked out we walked in (again) as they were about to start a tour! There was only one other couple on our tour, and we really enjoyed it. For me this visit was the highlight of the trip. Super-interesting history and a great place. After the Cloister we had a picnic in the car (too cold to eat outside!) and then off to the Green Dragon market. A cross between county fair, farmers market and dollar store. Very odd place! I bought a hunk of farmer's cheese to enjoy with wine later and a $5 dress. Fun. Then off to another winery, which I liked a lot. They offered free unlimited tasting so I did the flight. Jim was driving, why not! Delicious.
Friday and Saturday we stayed at an Airbnb. We had a third floor room with a shared bathroom in a house in the historic part of Lancaster. Our hostess was the best - it was a great place to stay!
Friday night we enjoyed our new beer/wine and cheese and heated up lasagna I'd made ahead. Saturday morning we headed over to the Lancaster Central Market, which we enjoyed a lot, a very nice indoor farmer's market. We took a walking tour of Lancaster and then went "home" for lunch. In the afternoon we toured Hans Herr House, an 18th century farm/house that provided a nice historical window into life at that time and filled in some of the gaps from our earlier tours. Loved it there. Next off to Amish Farm and House, where we did another historical tour and spent time at the farm. Very interesting! We were beat after all those tours and back to the house for a repeat of the night before: wine in front of the fireplace!
Sunday we got up early and headed out - we stopped on the way home for a picnic at Delaware Water Gap but other than that drove pretty much straight through. A great trip!
Expenses round-up: Lodging: $128 for the Airbnb. Ephrata Cloister admission $19. Lancaster walkingtour: $12. Hans Herr House tour: $16. Amish Farm and House Tour: $15, Pretzel factory tour: $7. Total attractions: $69. Food: Pretzels: $2; Coffee: $2; Farmers cheese: $2; Tomato: $2. Total food: $8. Gas: $81. Overall total: $286 for a four-day trip. Not terrible. I did splurge on the tours and gas was a lot, but that was the price for going so far from home. We haven't taken a far-away trip like this one since December 2010, over three years ago.