Welcome to Lancaster PA

What happens when two Texans end up living in Lancaster PA? We, Rick & Beth McKinney, moved to Lancaster County PA in 1981 after living in northwest Pennsylvania for five years.

We found a lot to like about Lancaster, both the County and the City.

Who would have thought that we would find people who still ride in horse drawn buggies, farm with mules and do not have electricity in their houses? We discovered that Lancaster County is home to a large Amish community who live just this way.

The beauty of the small farms in the countryside is breathtaking. In the growing season, the fields are full of row after row of corn stalks, blowing wheat, soybean and tobacco.

Lancaster County Tobacco Barn

It is fascinating to watch farm hands plant tobacco in the Spring. They sit on a low platform attached to the back of a slow moving tractor, planting the young seedlings by hand.

After harvesting, the tobacco is dried in barns with vent slats in the walls. The slats open up to provide ventilation in the barn. This keeps the drying tobacco from overheating and catching on fire.

We learned about PA Dutch cooking. Lancaster County has some great places to dine on this local cuisine. We also found many good local restaurants providing excellent ethnic and American style menus.

Living in Lancaster County provides the best of both worlds - small town and rural living with close proximity to major cities. We are within an easy drive of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York City.

And there is so much more...

The historic Fulton Opera House is located in Lancaster City. This is the home of the Fulton Theater and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. The Lancaster Central Market, located in historic downtown Lancaster, is a great place to shop for fresh produce, flowers, meats, cheeses and much more.

How much do you know about James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States? You can learn more than you ever wanted to know by visiting Wheatland, his home and retreat for 20 years.

Are you interested in hiking and the outdoors? There are some great parks, trails and many other outdoor activities.

Looking for a place to stay? Lancaster PA has some fine local hotels, bed and breakfasts, as well as the major chain hotels.

It doesn't matter what age you are, whether you have a family or you are single, there is something interesting for you to do here in Lancaster PA.

Explore what it means to visit Lancaster PA in the pages of this web site.

We encourage you to contribute your own stories of places to go, places to eat and places to stay. You will find an opportunity to share your experiences at the bottom of many of these pages.