Hands-on House

This place is nice, but too small! You only have three rooms, so it can get boring. Also, the…read moreastronaut's left arm is coming off.

We were looking for something to do with our two five year olds and this museum came up in our…read moresearch. Even better is that it has reciprocal membership with the Carnegie museums so we were able to get in for free! First, I was impressed with their covid precautions. They temp check you before you enter. Each child is given a bag with legos, crayons, pencils and other miscellaneous items to be able to safely enjoy the various exhibits. We spent our time on the first floor. There were dinosaurs, a beehive, lizards and snakes (a python named Monty) and even a slime making. It was a great way to spend some time while the kids had some opportunities for hands on learning. The staff were all very friendly and great with the kids. There is nothing earth shattering or ground breaking at the museum. But if you have kids ten or under, it is definitely worth visiting.

Dino eggs

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Leopard gecko

Lancaster Science Factory

3.4 mi

A fun and educational place to bring the kids to. Almost everything is interactive which is great…read more The place isn't huge per say, but you can easily spend 2-4 hours here. The space is separated into different stations and has a nice flow to it. We came on the weekend and although there were a lot of people, it never felt overcrowded or that that there was too long a wait for any of the exhibits. Admission is $13 per person which I think is fair. Overall my kids had a lot of fun and we would love to come back again in the future.

Visited again and whole factory has changed the exhibits and layout from 4 yrs ago. $12 now for 3…read moreand over. Sky bridge: keep your shoes on and climb. They also have something similar at Long Island children museum and NJ Liberty Science center. Tons of hands on with brief explanation at each station. Outdoor stations are also available at the courtyard. Today the maker space is reserved for summer camp only. I wonder what activities do they have for the public usually. Like before, free parking across the road. Love the high ceiling and the feel of kids are free to explore. Will definitely return.

Green filter vs. Gray funnel

Musical play

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The Demuth Museum

(6 reviews)

If you're a fan or art and/or a frequent visitor of art museums in the U.S., you may recognize…read moreCharles Demuth's work. He's often credited as setting the stage for Modernist art. Lancaster has two museums honoring Demuth. One is inside Demuth's house in downtown. (It happens to be one of the oldest buildings in the area.) It's a proper museum with exhibits about his life, house, and work. There are even a few areas for children to interact with history and art. Outside is a beautiful garden that his mother kept for cooking. The second museum is a contemporary art museum with art from local artists spread across two floors and three galleries. Staff are kind and admission is a suggested donation of $5.

The Demuth Museum was a welcomed distraction during my visit. Lancaster isn't that big of a town,…read morebut there is hustle and bustle out on the street that you can escape from by entering this museum. It is honestly a well put together museum that is detailed to Demuth and his connection to Lancaster. This museum is part viewing and part interaction. It is two floors and you can move about it at your own pace and in any direction you feel appropriate. Take you time while doing this and you can definitely find a place to the side to appreciate the art. At the time of my visit the downstairs had an exhibit of art on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is a small exhibit but the pieces you find in the exhibit can definitely be appreciated. They rotate what is on exhibit in here dependent on what they can get on loan. I was told that they would be doing a change up soon on the pieces and it would be a whole new experience. Throughout the rest of the museum the pieces you see are pieces of Demuth himself. They have many pieces from Demuth that they rotate in and out of viewing sot that means you may not experience the same thing twice in a long while. With this museum being the family home of Demuth, you not only get to view the museum, but the home that is kind of a time capsule of when it was in use as a home. Upstairs it goes more into depth on Demuth himself. You can view the materials he used to create some of his art and learn about his life when he was younger and his travels to study art. In what I would say is the last room for you to visit is a room that contains art of artist that were from other countries looking to start anew in America. One piece invited you to write a message of encouragement to add to the piece of art. This really added an interactive touch to this museum. From the upstairs you can see the garden that inspired Demuth to produce some of his art. And where he spent time with his family.

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Lancaster Museum of Art

3.5

(2 reviews)

3.8 mi

Listen, due your homework before checking out a place. Don't do what I did before I showed up here…read more Check to see what the hours are before you venture here and have to figure out what to do for your day since it is not open. As you can see, this is a local museum and it truly does embrace the community it sits in. The time that I visited this they were having an exhibit that showcased local artists. That would be why you don't see any pictures of the art from me out of respect for those local artists. They were actually getting ready to switch over exhibits when I visited. Even though it looks small from the outside, the inside is quite spacious and totally gives off the art gallery vibe. Rooms that echoed if you spoke or simply took a step. The exhibit stretched multiple rooms on each floor. Since this was an exhibit for local artists you were able to purchase the art on display. When I was here there was an older couple that had come in and talking with the employees. They had purchased a few pieces over time from here. What was nice was that you could vote when you finished your visit on which piece of art you thought was extraordinary. I wonder what the results was of that vote. I'm going to have to look into that.

Kind of lame. There's only 3 rooms and we were only there for 10 mins. Good thing we didn't drive…read moreall the way up to Lancaster just for this. Go to Gallery Row if you want to see art galleries for more than a few mins.

Jackson Pollock day at our Summer Art Camp

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Lancaster museum of art

1719 Museum

4.8

(8 reviews)

8.0 mi

Why is the Hans Herr House significant and who the hell was Hans Herr?…read more The house itself is significant as it is the last remaining structure that is still standing from the original group of Mennonites who came to the Lancaster County area to escape religious persecution from their native Switzerland. The house is also significant in that it is the oldest structure in Lancaster County and likely the oldest remaining Mennonite meetinghouse in the Western Hemisphere. The original group traveled from Switzerland to Germany to escape religious persecution then after a governmental regime change they were forced from Germany to England where they met with William Penn who allowed them to colonize a portion of what is current day Lancaster County or when they arrived in 1711, the extreme most western frontier of Pennsylvania. One interesting piece of information is that the house did not belong to Hans Herr as it was built by his son Christian which is why his initials are over the doorway along with the inscribing mark of 1719. On the tour you are told why the name remained(s) Hans Herr House versus Christian Herr House but honestly I forget why. Maybe something just deferential from Christian towards his father or because of his father's status with the original group that came to the area or maybe everyone just liked the flow of the name more so it's based on tradition? The tour itself is around 40-45 minutes and it starts in the building which houses the gift shop and you are given a brief overview of the Anabaptist faith, the Mennonites who are direct descendants of the faith and a map which shows the route the initial settlers took from Switzerland to Pennsylvania. After that you are taken over to the house where you see the three rooms which make up the first floor (kitchen, bedroom and all purpose dining room-meeting room-family room) and the second floor which is where the eight children slept and finally the basement which is accessed from a side entrance outside of the house. You learn that the key to the home's design is that they didn't believe in wasting any space so every inch served a purpose such as not having hallways so as soon as you walk in the front door you're right in the kitchen. One thing worth noting, if you are someone who is hardcore hung up on only visiting historical places if they have lots of original items then this place might not be for you. There is not a whole lot original to the house that you can see with the exception of a piece of the ceiling insulation on the first floor (rye straw + manure + ??), the wooden crossbeam over the kitchen fireplace and the steps which go from the second floor to the third floor attic (obviously you can't use them). Past that I think most everything else was changed out in the 19th century when the house was still used as a residence or in the early 70's when the initial renovation occurred to make things into a tourist destination. If you want more original take a look at the bibles on display in the gift shop which are original to Hans and Christian. I wouldn't call the Hans Herr House a must see, but it's interesting enough and the tour is the right length to keep everyone interested along with being located close enough to most of Lancaster County's tourist elements. If you go: The 1719 Hans Herr House is open April 1 through November 30, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Forty-five minute Herr House tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This is not the tour information for their reproduction Native American Longhouse. That tour is offered at 10 a.m., 12 noon and 2 p.m and has an entirely different focus. Prices are currently Adults: $8, Children 7-12: $4 and Children 6 and under: free with a slight discount if you choose to tour both structures. There are also several special events that happen throughout the year and that information is available on their website.

I visited the 1719 Museum this past Saturday and really enjoyed the experience…read more The guided tour starts with a short film about the property that provides some great context for the rest of the tour. Then you leave the visitor center and walk over to the first structure of tour, which is a full-sized reproduction of a Native American longhouse. Longhouses (large multi-generational family homes made of logs, saplings, and tree bark) were once ubiquitous in Pennsylvania, including along the Susquehanna River. At the time the Hans Herr home was built, south-central Pennsylvania was home to several Indigenous tribes, including the Shenks Ferry, Conoy, Lenape, Mohawk, Nanticoke, Seneca, Shawnee, and Susquehannock peoples. The 1719 Museum collaborated with the Circle Legacy Center and members of the local indigenous community to build the longhouse reproduction in order to share the history of and honor Pennsylvania's native communities and educate visitors to the area. With your guide, you walk into the longhouse, where you sit down while the guide explains quite extensively about the Native communities in the area, the longhouse and its architecture, and the relationships between the indigenous people and the Mennonite people who made homes in the area. After the longhouse, the guide walks you over to the Hans Herr House. It was built in 1719 and is a 2-story, rectangular sandstone Germanic-style dwelling. It is the oldest dwelling in Lancaster County and the oldest Mennonite meetinghouse in America. The guide walks you through various rooms in the house and shares information about the Herr family as well as the larger Mennonite community in early Pennsylvania history. Our guide was Cindy, and she was incredible. I learned so much about the Native, Indigenous and Mennonite communities of 18th century Pennsylvania (and - in the case of the Native peoples - a much earlier history of their lives in Pennsylvania). She really educated us on a broad range of topics, while keeping the tour fun (I love fun education)! She made my tour extra special. If you're spending some time exploring Lancaster Counter, the 1719 Museum should definitely make your itinerary! In one place, you can learn a little bit about Pennsylvania's Native and Mennonite communities, and it's just a special place!

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Historic Rock Ford

(8 reviews)

5.1 mi

We had a wonderful visit to the Rock Ford Plantation. It was a quiet day and had our own private…read moretour. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. This truly is a little hidden gem. The property is gorgeous and it's worth a visit.

I visited Historic Rock Ford on Sunday and learned so much. The house was built around 1794 for…read moreGeneral Edward Hand, an adjutant general to George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Rock Ford is a Georgian-style mansion, where General Hand lived with his wife and children until his death in 1802. His wife passed away in 1805 and only briefly remained in the Hand family before becoming a home for tenant farmers for the next 150-ish years. The house was saved from destruction by the Junior League in 1958 and then renovated and restored to what it looks like now. I learned all this and more from our guide Priscilla, who was wonderful. She told us about the man, the family, and the house, as well as the enslaved people and indentured servants who are a part of the home's history, too. The tour lasted a little over an hour, so I didn't have time to find the John J. Snyder, Jr. Gallery of Early Lancaster County Decorative Arts, which is also on the property. The house was beautiful, and the information I learned from Priscilla about General Hand and his house was very interesting. If you're interested in history and historic homes, the Historic Rock Ford is worth a visit!

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Lancaster Marionette Theatre

4.9

(19 reviews)

On a small, side street stands a brick building. Black shutters hug the windows while the flower…read morewindow boxes above loom over the sidewalk below, waiting for an audience. A Historic Marker proclaims that a famous puppeteer was born nearby. The white door left slightly ajar wears a sign, "Sold Out." Some places might feel forlorn wearing those words, but not here--this is the home of Lancaster Marionette Theater. From the moment you walk into Lancaster Marionette Theater, the magic surrounds you, and what Robert Brock has created on Water Street in historic downtown Lancaster is something out of a storybook. From the John Durang Puppet Museum, to the Backstage Tour, and most of all to the delightful marionette performance itself--everything about this charming building is full of Brock's heart and soul. When I first heard about this small but quaint theater, it gave me visions of memories growing up watching The Sound of Music. We all remember the famous scene of Maria and the children performing their marionettes while singing "The Lonely Goatherd." When I ordered tickets to see Peter Pan, I did not know what to expect but I was looking forward to sharing this experience with my twelve-year-old son. Brock, a native of Lancaster, fell in love with theater and puppets as a little boy when his dad made a puppet play theater for his sister one Christmas. As an adult, he went to Boston Conservatory and majored in Music Theater. In 1990, Brock's Hole in the Wall Theater opened with hand puppets, but when his shoulders gave out, he switched to all marionettes ten years later. January of this year, the name was changed to Lancaster Marionette Theater, and with it came renovations including a new "green" updated lighting system. There are so many parts of creating each show. Making wooden carved puppets, creating patterns for costumes, cutting out the material, sewing clothes, sculpting clay for the heads, painting the marionette, writing the script--these are just a few of the steps Brocks takes. Perhaps that is what makes this small theater so unique. The audience gets the chance to meet the founder and artistic director, Robert Brock, during the Backstage Tour. While learning that it takes him 50-60 hours to build each marionette, audience members feel Brock's charisma and passion for the theater. During the tour that day, Brock told the crowd about a project he is currently working on about dinosaurs. While he still performs some of the same shows each year, he continues to create new ideas. My son and I arrived that Saturday in October for the last performance of the year for Peter Pan. There was a large group of young children attending, and the theater has a policy about children being quiet during the performance. This policy was explained and delivered from one of the staff before the show, standing right in front of the stage, and it was aimed at the children so they could understand. Somehow--it worked. I did not hear a peep from the children throughout the 35-minute show. Brock explains on his website, "Shari Lewis used to say, 'Never write down to children.'" Perhaps that is the key. We left that day with a new appreciation for puppets. It was amazing how Peter Pan was brought to life with just one man--with music, strings and some pixie dust.

This place is great! Go see a show! Then see another one! We have taken our nieces and nephews…read moreseveral times to the kid-oriented puppet shows. They are between the ages of 6-11. All enjoyed themselves. The pre-show backstage tour is fascinating to them because it also includes jnfo on how the artist makes the puppets so don't miss out on that. We recently attended one of the more adult oriented shows. It was over the top awesome. We would definitely do this again for date night! It was funny, minimally baudy.... Great costumes and singing. It is a very small theatre which means every seat is a good one.

Robert Brock, Artistic Director, with the cast of marionettes he created for "Sleeping Beauty". TIXS: https://lmt.yapsody.com/

Experience the "Art" of the Marionette. Not just for children. Tixs & Info @ LMT.Yapsody.com

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A B&W promo shot for "Man With Puppet" an excellent 9 min documentary. See it on vimeo https://vimeo.com/108069341

President James Buchanan's Wheatland

4.1

(15 reviews)

4.3 mi

If you enjoy history, stop by this former house of President James Buchanan, the only bachelor U.S…read more president. If you want to go inside, you have to book a guided tour. They are only a few times certain days of the week. The grounds are usually open for you to wander and sit. Personally, I found the house beautiful from the outside.

The man had TASTE. If you're into furnishings and stuff this is a must see! Tiger striped maple on…read morebalustrades on the stairs. The China, the art!

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Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum

4.1

(17 reviews)

0.1 mi

It Takes a Village…read more Forty acre village comprised of a farm, historic buildings, artifacts and some amazing craftspeople. We didn't really know what to expect coming here but were completely blown away by what we found. The Good: *Firstly, the craftspeople that were here during our visit were all simply amazing but special big ups to the Tinsmith and Blacksmith as they were both a pure joy to talk to. They both possess so much great knowledge and skill in their crafts. It was truly amazing to talk to people like this. *One of the better gift shops we've encountered, as it has wares produced by the craftspeople, as well as locally-made Amish wares and even packets of heritage seeds. *Great historic antique-filled buildings to wander around at your leisure. *Be sure to watch the short film about the history of this place at the Visitor Center. *We were here for almost four hours and still didn't see everything! The Meh: *Some of the trails are a bit suspect, so keep an eye on any old folks you bring along. The Ugly: *The farm part of this place could use a little love, but I'm just being nitpicky. TLDR: Great place for lovers of history, but definitely make sure you take full advantage of the craftspeople that are there that day. They're def the heart and soul of this museum. Without them, this would be a 3.5* experience.

Friendly staff and volunteers!! Lots of beautiful outdoor spaces and free parking. History is on…read moredisplay here

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Brecknock Orchard

"He's washing dishes and baby clothes He's so ambitious, he…read moreeven sews But don't forget, folks That's what you get, folks, for makin' whoopee" (Ella Fitzgerald) You had me at "Create Your Own Whoopie Pie". The veritable cherry on top of their cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, jarred foods, baked goodies, pretzels, popcorn, candies, and frozen foods is their Whoopie Pie Festival, which we attended today. The Festival runs on Feb. 26-28 & March 5-7 between 9am - 4pm. Essentially, you can create Your Own Whoopie Pie for $4 each, 4 or more at $3.50 each, and 12 or more $3 each. Here's how it works - make your customized selections of one of 12 cookies, one of 11 frostings, and one of 7 toppings, and Brecknock will build your pie. I went full Elvis mode and selected banana cookies, peanut butter frosting, and chocolate chip toppings around the circumference. We had a great time at Brecknock -making our Whoopie pies, playing a whoopie pie trivia game, and picking up a few odds and ends for us and friends. PRO TIP Hats off to Brecknock for their generosity and hospitality. They had free samples everywhere- whoopie pie wedges, pretzels, popcorn, and all sorts of goodies. It worked on us, because after sampling some honey mustard pretzels, we couldn't grab a bag fast enough.

Great food products and the most amazing friendly helpful staff I have ever dealt with. We bring…read moreour family and friends here all season long. Three stars!

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Conway Social Club

(56 reviews)

Great place to visit. Located in the city so parking could be a challenge. There are some spots…read morealong the street and also a garage nearby. Check the on street parking kiosk for prices/hours. There is a huge staircase to get up to the speakeasy once you find the red door. The website says there is an elevator if needed. Once inside, you will immediately get the speakeasy vibe with the moody and dark decor, as well as the period appropriate lighting and seating options. There's some small intimate areas, as well as a main bar, a side seating bar area, and a back area with tables and chairs. I would recommend reservations. You can pick the bar or lounge when making reservations on their website. From the moment you enter, you will get terrific service. The host was great and we were early for our reservation, but we were seated at the bar as requested. As soon as we sat down, the bartender greeted us with waters and a sample of a bourbon punch. The entire visit was filled with very attentive staff who were always friendly and knowledgeable about the offerings on the menu. The drinks are well thought out and very good. The quality of the ingredients, as well as the flavor profiles work well. It is very difficult to pick from their crafty menu. We tried a total of 4 drinks and all were delicious. Highly recommend the Papucho - such an excellent mix of flavors that are well balanced and a very unique flavor. Honestly, not sure you will find one drink on this menu that isn't delicious. They do offer a menu of various foods. We ordered the octopus and the roasted monk fish. Both were fantastic. The servings are not big so be prepared to order dental dishes or just come with the intention of not getting a massive meal. They are good portions for a small dinner or think tapas. Overall, they have a fabulous experience with some super delicious drinks. Well done!

Returned either a group of friends, for their first time! So glad this place continues to impress…read moregoing forward. Our server was amazing (I wish I remembered his name!), the food was delicious, and the drinks never fail to impress. The only issue we have every time we go is that they unfortunately always run out of a few dishes on the menu (and always seems to be the ones we want)! In addition, calling the restaurant has been difficult, it has often gone straight to voicemail for me. For that reason make sure to make reservations ONLINE (that has never failed). Come EARLY if you want to ensure you'll get a menu item (we often get there around 8 pm or later, some menu items always run out for us). Regardless, this doesn't stop us from coming!

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Lititz Fire & Ice Festival

(6 reviews)

4.5 mi

"You come on like a flame Then you turn a cold shoulder…read moreFire and ice" (Pat Benatar) Lititz is one cool little town with a vibrant downtown of 60 shops, 20 restaurants and a pretty little park. To promote winter tourism, in February they host an annual 10-day bash known as the "Fire & Ice Festival". Local businesses sponsor the creation of an ice sculpture for public display, and we saw dozens of them on Main Street, Broad Street, Juniper Lane and at the entry to Lititz Springs Park. Some of the sculptures we saw were fire trucks, tow trucks, a snowman, Mr. Moneybags from Monopoly, an angel, a unicorn, the Liberty Bell, Mr. Potato Head, a bird, a dog and various other animals, a train, a bicycle, praying hands, and a palm tree. The Fire and Ice Festival also has food trucks, music, kid-centric activities, a photography exhibit and a Lititz pub crawl. We enjoyed looking at the ice sculptures, fed the ducks in the park, shopped at Wilbur Chocolate and the Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, and visited the town's Visitor Center to chat with Earl - one of the coolest ambassadors any town can possibly dream of having. Well done Lititz!!

Fun to see. Lititz has lots of interesting events through all the seasons and I live close enough…read moreto walk there.

Things to do in Lancaster

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

2 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Lexy M.

0

8

0

15 years ago

My kids had a blast!!! The lady at the counter was so friendly and welcoming. There is quite a bit to do for kids of all ages. They even have an outdoor area with sandbox and a vegetable garden to explore. The only thing I could suggest is attending to the restrooms more often. It was a busy day when we were there, but the trash had overflown and the floor was quite wet from little ones washing their hands. Otherwise, it was great and we will be back often!!! read more

J B.

0

58

0

14 years ago

Great kids museum!

Hands-on House - museums - Updated August 2026

Best of Lancaster

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Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

(145 reviews)

This spot is kids paradise. I planned most of our day here and my kids still didn't want to leave…read more I typically saw this spot whenever I rode the Strasburg Railroad. We typically would do their Christmas Train, and rarely got back to Lancaster in the warmer months. As soon as I planned my latest summer trip, I knew it had to be on the itinerary. This place has it all from gigantic slides to gold mining sluice areas to a mini kids village that mine couldn't get enough of from the mini vet office to the drive in theater. It was really impressive. From here, you can make your way up the hill where there is a restaurant, a coffee kiosk with a delicious coconut water cold brew (wild!), and plenty of shaded sections with swinging chairs. You'll find paintball, basketball, skee ball, a pedal cart for the family, launching devices. I mean, there is a lot! The place is large so it never felt overly crowded. Come with water bottles. Even with the shaded sections it gets hot. They have water fountains by the bathrooms.

Such a fun farm to take your family. I've been coming here…read moresince my daughter was about 4 years old- she's 14 now. Everyone we come, it does not disappoint. It's such a great time. Buy tickets online- tickets are cheaper. If you go during the week- it's cheaper too! They also have 50% off for active military and veterans, which is a great deal! They have all kinds of games, tug of war ropes, a play area/little town for younger kids, pig races. Some nights they have fireworks or bands. If you come- the corn maze is a must! All types of food vendors like burgers, fries, chicken fingers, ice cream and apple cider donuts. You can spend hours here and not get bored. They also have for pit and picnic table areas you can rent out and they provide logs and sticks so you can roast marshmallows or hotdogs. Definitely recommend this farm.

North Museum of Natural History

This place is nice, but too small! You only have three rooms, so it can get boring. Also, the…read moreastronaut's left arm is coming off.

We were looking for something to do with our two five year olds and this museum came up in our…read moresearch. Even better is that it has reciprocal membership with the Carnegie museums so we were able to get in for free! First, I was impressed with their covid precautions. They temp check you before you enter. Each child is given a bag with legos, crayons, pencils and other miscellaneous items to be able to safely enjoy the various exhibits. We spent our time on the first floor. There were dinosaurs, a beehive, lizards and snakes (a python named Monty) and even a slime making. It was a great way to spend some time while the kids had some opportunities for hands on learning. The staff were all very friendly and great with the kids. There is nothing earth shattering or ground breaking at the museum. But if you have kids ten or under, it is definitely worth visiting.

Lancaster Marionette Theatre

4.9

(19 reviews)

On a small, side street stands a brick building. Black shutters hug the windows while the flower…read morewindow boxes above loom over the sidewalk below, waiting for an audience. A Historic Marker proclaims that a famous puppeteer was born nearby. The white door left slightly ajar wears a sign, "Sold Out." Some places might feel forlorn wearing those words, but not here--this is the home of Lancaster Marionette Theater. From the moment you walk into Lancaster Marionette Theater, the magic surrounds you, and what Robert Brock has created on Water Street in historic downtown Lancaster is something out of a storybook. From the John Durang Puppet Museum, to the Backstage Tour, and most of all to the delightful marionette performance itself--everything about this charming building is full of Brock's heart and soul. When I first heard about this small but quaint theater, it gave me visions of memories growing up watching The Sound of Music. We all remember the famous scene of Maria and the children performing their marionettes while singing "The Lonely Goatherd." When I ordered tickets to see Peter Pan, I did not know what to expect but I was looking forward to sharing this experience with my twelve-year-old son. Brock, a native of Lancaster, fell in love with theater and puppets as a little boy when his dad made a puppet play theater for his sister one Christmas. As an adult, he went to Boston Conservatory and majored in Music Theater. In 1990, Brock's Hole in the Wall Theater opened with hand puppets, but when his shoulders gave out, he switched to all marionettes ten years later. January of this year, the name was changed to Lancaster Marionette Theater, and with it came renovations including a new "green" updated lighting system. There are so many parts of creating each show. Making wooden carved puppets, creating patterns for costumes, cutting out the material, sewing clothes, sculpting clay for the heads, painting the marionette, writing the script--these are just a few of the steps Brocks takes. Perhaps that is what makes this small theater so unique. The audience gets the chance to meet the founder and artistic director, Robert Brock, during the Backstage Tour. While learning that it takes him 50-60 hours to build each marionette, audience members feel Brock's charisma and passion for the theater. During the tour that day, Brock told the crowd about a project he is currently working on about dinosaurs. While he still performs some of the same shows each year, he continues to create new ideas. My son and I arrived that Saturday in October for the last performance of the year for Peter Pan. There was a large group of young children attending, and the theater has a policy about children being quiet during the performance. This policy was explained and delivered from one of the staff before the show, standing right in front of the stage, and it was aimed at the children so they could understand. Somehow--it worked. I did not hear a peep from the children throughout the 35-minute show. Brock explains on his website, "Shari Lewis used to say, 'Never write down to children.'" Perhaps that is the key. We left that day with a new appreciation for puppets. It was amazing how Peter Pan was brought to life with just one man--with music, strings and some pixie dust.

This place is great! Go see a show! Then see another one! We have taken our nieces and nephews…read moreseveral times to the kid-oriented puppet shows. They are between the ages of 6-11. All enjoyed themselves. The pre-show backstage tour is fascinating to them because it also includes jnfo on how the artist makes the puppets so don't miss out on that. We recently attended one of the more adult oriented shows. It was over the top awesome. We would definitely do this again for date night! It was funny, minimally baudy.... Great costumes and singing. It is a very small theatre which means every seat is a good one.

LancasterHistory

(3 reviews)

The "gardens" are dismal and look like overgrown grass. Apparently it's time specific. The house is…read morebeautiful and our tour guide was wonderful! I took my young son and carried him because it's not stroller friendly. I was fine with this! He started to get upset so we stepped into the main hallway for a minute. At the time another tour guide walked by and said we must leave or rejoin the group because we could not be unsupervised. It was fine and we left. This is not a child friendly place at all!! While it is informative i would say it is better suited for adults.

I like this place. Ive never not been able to find what Im looking for. From geneaology to general…read morehistory, theyve got it all. They also have some historical displays, camp reenactments like the civil war and WWII, a nature trail and next to it all is President Buchanans mansion. All these things may or may not be part of the historical society, but they are all in the same spot. Historical buffs should check it out! Mmm, history.

National Toy Train Museum

4.1

An absolutely fantastic collection of toy trains spanning the very beggining of the hobby to modern…read moreday. Various interactive layouts allow visitors to activate the trains and animate the scenery. Truly an incredible experience for any train lover, hobbyist, or anyone interested in miniatures! My family and I had such a fun time visiting this wonderful museum!!

Everyone in our group enjoyed themselves ... this little museum offers a wide variety of toy trains…read moreand other toys. One part of the room is interactive and the kids loved it. We were there for about an hour and for $25 (our group of 5) - it was worth it.

The Amish Farm and House

4.4

(206 reviews)

Incredible experience! From the moment we arrived, the staff thought of absolutely everything. They…read moreexplained the process clearly, made everyone feel comfortable, and genuinely wanted to ensure that every participant had the best possible experience. The yoga session itself was fantastic, and the baby goats were the stars of the show! I smiled more in that hour than I have in a long time. It's impossible to be stressed, unhappy, or take yourself too seriously when baby goats are climbing on you and demanding attention. If you're even remotely considering goat yoga, stop thinking about it and sign up. Seriously. It was one of the most fun and joyful experiences I've ever had, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I'm so happy we got to visit this farmhouse and take the tour. It was very entertaining and…read moreeducational. If you're visiting the area, this is a must do. We got to learn a lot about the Amish community, how they live and how they farm. The tour of the land was beautiful and we really enjoyed getting to see the animals.

Barry's Car Barn

(14 reviews)

Super cute place! We sat at the bar and the bartender was super helpful. Didn't realize they had…read moresuch an extensive menu so sadly we had already had lunch but our order of potato skins was delicious and great presentation. Might suggest better signs downstairs on outside of building of where to enter for the restaurant- maybe some big arrows painted? the downstairs is the car museum and it looked pretty amazing too! It's a great place to visit, don't miss it!

It was okay. The atmosphere is super cool but food wise it's not that great. There is much better…read moreplaces in Lancaster.

Decades