Lancaster Tourist Traps

Visiting Lancaster County was a pleasure, but tourists should avoid MOST of the "buggy rides" operations. We took one last year that was an open carriage in the Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA (one of the top destinations in its area) A dozen people were packed in the open carriage (not a traditional Amish-style carriage) after waiting over an hour. It was hot and being packed in with ten strangers made it worse. The animals were overworked and balked and sweated through the whole ride. It was obviously an operation out to make the most money it could by packing people into the biggest carriage they could at the expensive of two horses and $16 a head. I wouldn't suggest taking a ride at all-- most of them do use traditional buggies like the Amish use, but travel down roads you can access with your car, WITHOUT being a target in the break-down lane for cars whizzing by anywhere from 35 to 55 mph.

Unique Suggestions: -Choose a buggy that is small and covered like the traditional operations
- Stay away from Route 30 and main roads
- Find an Amish driver-- they really can do the tours themselves
-Don't wait more than 30 minutes

Fun Alternatives: Take a drive down meandering backroads in the area between Intercourse and Route 30- its extremely rural and there are farmstands-- you can stop your car at your pleasure and visit an actual Amish farmstand. Just don't take pictures!

Perhaps I've been to too many buffets in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but I think that Miller's Smorgasbord, in spite of the hype, is nothing more than a cafeteria. It is the standard fare that you can find in any diner; and, it is very bland and overcooked (mushy shrimp give me creeps). They do serve prime rib, but, somehow, they even manage to turn that into a non-event. At almost $30 a head, it just ain't worth it. And they don't serve alcohol...not even wine.

BUT, please don't be afraid to stop by their bakeshop (adjacent to the restaurant). Although a little pricy, you won't be disappointed. They have excellent shoofly pie.

Unique Suggestions: Eat the desserts....it's the only thing they do well.

Fun Alternatives: Lapp's Restaurant...it's just down the road...'tho' it's not an "all you can eat" buffet and, 'tho', they serve the same food, at least it's tastier and not overcooked.

As with most main drags in a tourist area Rt. 30 is litter with tourist trap shops. Every few feet you will see signs for Amish this and Amish that. Some of the shops do have Amish items but you are going to pay an arm and a leg for them

Unique Suggestions: Only because of the sign I would say check out "Not just stuff, Amish Stuff."

Fun Alternatives: Go off of Rt. 30 just 1 mile in any direction and you will see many of the same items for much less.