York Things to Do

Not far from York is Longwood Gardens. It's only about an hour away and it will be well worth the travel. The gardens is comprised of 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows; 20 outdoor gardens; 20 indoor gardens within 4 acres of heated greenhouses; 11,000 different types of plants; and spectacular fountains.

Adults Jan 5-March 31, 2004: $12 ($8 on Tuesdays)
April 1-Nov 24, 2004: $14 ($10 on Tuesdays)
Nov 25, 2004-Jan 2, 2005: $15 (no Tuesday discount)
Youths (ages 16-20) $6
Children (ages 6-15) $2
Under age 6 FREE

Don't forget your camera!!

This is a candy store/factory/museum.
There were some candy samples to taste.
The museum was momentos and historical pictures supplemented with a milk truck, international awards and facts about chocolate making.
The tour was brief the day we were there because we did not schedule ahead. It included a nice but glib spokesperson and a demonstration of taffy pulling behind a glass window (something about germs and inspectors).
The store was just opening and we were late for our next destination, so we just picked up a souvenier cup but they had plenty of items there to satisfy most young people. And of course there was plenty of candy to buy.
The museum and factory tour were free; the souveniers were reasonably priced but I thought the candy prices were a bit high (notwithstanding the great taste of their bittersweet samples).

At Rocky Ridge State Park, you can walk through the park and look at all the holiday lights & decorations. There's food & hot drinks, usually set up as fundraisers from Girl Scout & other groups.

When: November 26 - December 31, 2004
Closed December 24 & 25
Monday - Friday 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Nestled in a mature oak forest on a quiet mountaintop, Christmas magic is a half-mile long walking trail that meanders through more than 250,000 Christmas lights, holiday scenes, animations, and five enclosed, heated pavillions.

Additional activities include crafts, food, and
a G-guage train display.

Admission: $6 for Adults
$5 for those over the age of 60
$4 for children ages 4-12
Free for Children under 4
Group Rates are also available

Pfaltzgraff began as a family owned business in Pennsylvania in 1811. The company still exists today and they produce quality dinnerware, stoneware and accessories. The store has 2 floors that are perfect for browsing and dreaming about revising your home decor. There are Pfaltzgraff items not available in your favorite department store. They have stemware and candles and other novelties in addition to complete lines of their dishes that you won't see elsewhere. Its also a great place to pickup gifts.

When driving or walking around the city of York you will see about 20 murals painted on the sides of buildings. When I lived downtown the mural below was painted on the side of my apartment. It made it super easy to tell people exactly where I lived.

The murals depict life in the city of York.

The Harley factory is here. Every year they have a big blow out and people from everywhere come. It does get crowded so book your hotel in advance or you probably will not find a room. They also have tours here is the Harley website with link to Yorks Tours:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/content/pages/factory_tours/york.jsp?locale=en_us

And a link to York County with Harley's number and times plus other things to do:
http://www.yorkpa.org/index.asp?act=page&pag_id=71

Information for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts (from their website):

Tours are free and last approximately one hour.

Tours begin at regular intervals between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended that you arrive early in the day. Modified tours may be conducted due to manufacturing requirements. Tours are not offered on major holidays, or during production changes and year-end maintenance.

Tour schedule is subject to change. Please call prior to your visit for up-to-date tour information.

Tour center and gift shop hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Tour Center will be open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. beginning Saturday, June 5, through Saturday, August 21, with the exception of July 3. Factory tours will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.

Christmas Tree Hill in the Mansion
If you are one of those people who really enjoy decorating your home for Christmas (and other times too) there is a wonderful selection of tree ornaments, Dept. 56 buildings (and similar collections), teddy bears, candles, and much more. A wider variety available here than in their smaller stores.