Every once in a while you drive past a place so many times that it almost becomes part of the…read morescenery. That was the Turkey Hill Experience for me. I'd driven past it countless times over the last few years but either didn't have enough time to stop or couldn't convince anyone else to stop with me. During my Lancaster Adventure Day, though, all of that changed. I purchased a Single Scoop ticket online ahead of time for $16.75 and reserved the very first time slot of the day at 10am. I figured a late-summer Thursday morning would be the sweet spot, and it turned out to be a great decision. It was busy enough that the place felt lively but not so crowded that I had to wait for every exhibit. Parking was plentiful, and I somehow managed to snag a spot right in front of the GIANT cow out front. Honestly, my day was already off to a fantastic start! The only hiccup of the visit came during check-in. Even though I'd already purchased my ticket online, I still had to wait in the same line as everyone buying gift shop items, purchasing admission and asking questions. Since there were only a two employees working both the registers and admissions, the line moved a little slower than I expected. If I could change one thing, it would be creating a separate express check-in line for folks who already have tickets. Once I finally made it inside, though, everything became easy peasy! The exhibits are completely self-guided, so you can wander at your own pace learning how Turkey Hill makes its ice cream and iced tea while playing with interactive displays along the way. One of my favorite parts was creating my own virtual ice cream flavor, complete with custom packaging. I also wanted to film my own Turkey Hill commercial, but those stations stayed busy the entire time I was there, so that'll have to wait until another visit. Naturally, I made a beeline for the tea sampling station. As someone who appreciates sugar-free options, I was thrilled to find both Zero Sugar Sweet Tea and Zero Sugar Fruit Punch available to sample. Both were fantastic! Then it was time for the part we'd all been waiting for...unlimited ice cream samples. One thing I really appreciated is that they weren't tiny little "blink and it's gone" samples. You picked two flavors, and they served actual scoops in a bowl. For an attraction centered around ice cream, that felt exactly right. My only tiny complaint? Wooden popsicle sticks instead of spoons. They definitely got the job done, but they made eating melting ice cream a little more awkward than it needed to be. Still...free and unlimited ice cream? I'm not about to complain too loudly! I spent about an hour wandering through the exhibits, playing with the interactive displays and enjoying the air conditioning on a hot August morning before making one final stop in the gift shop. Prices there were about what you'd expect for a tourist attraction, but there were plenty of fun souvenirs if you're looking to bring a little Turkey Hill home with you. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend visiting the Turkey Hill Experience at least once. I don't know that it's somewhere I'd return over and over again, but it was a fun, interactive way to spend an hour learning something new, eating entirely acceptable quantities of free ice cream and escaping the August heat. That sounds like a pretty successful adventure day to me!

Turkey Hill Experience was a fun stop for our family! We visited with three kids, and everyone…read morefound something to enjoy. The interactive exhibits were engaging, and the kids loved learning how ice cream is made and creating their own virtual flavors. The highlight was definitely sampling the different ice cream flavors and making our own ice cream creations.

Visiting many small towns across the country, I'm always impressed with a committed group of people…read morewho proudly preserve and tell their town's history. The people behind the Lititz Historical Foundation do both masterfully. They maintain a free museum about the history of Lititz. Like many museums, it comes with signs, but the artifacts outnumber the plaques. There are some real gems like a fancy fan once owned by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. You can even look down through a plastic panel on the ground into an old cistern. It really is a great museum. They also have a well-stocked gift shop.

This is a wonderful museum that introduces visitors to the rich history of the town. The museum…read moreshould be your first stop before exploring all that Lititz has to offer.

Last summer, while exploring Lititz, I walked past the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery and…read moreimmediately wanted to go inside. There was only one small problem...they were closed. Fine, Universe. NOTED. I'll come back. Fast forward to an early August Thursday when my Lancaster Adventure Day brought me back within striking distance of Lititz. I remembered my unfinished pretzel business from the year before and worked a visit into my afternoon. This time, I did my homework first! The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is more than just a place to buy pretzels. Founded in 1861, it's America's first commercial pretzel bakery, and the Sturgis family is the oldest pretzel-baking family in America. The historic building itself dates all the way back to 1784, so you're walking into a legitimate piece of Pennsylvania history. Even better? They offer interactive tours! I was able to reserve my tour online ahead of time, selected the 3pm time slot and received a confirmation letting me know I'd pay when I arrived. For only $6 for an adult tour, this felt like a ridiculously inexpensive addition to my adventure day. Supposedly, I was also going to learn how to twist a pretzel. An interactive food experience AND some Pennsylvania history for $6?! Heck yes! Let the countdown begin! Traffic getting into Lititz was a bit challenging that afternoon, but I pulled in right on time for my 3pm tour. I found metered street parking within a short walk of the bakery and paid about $3 for an hour and a half, which gave me plenty of time for the tour and some shopping afterward. I checked in at the desk just inside the door, paid my $6 and headed directly into the tour. Our guide was energetic, engaging and really good at keeping both the adults and the little kids interested. The tour lasted about 25 to 30 minutes and covered the history of Julius Sturgis, America's pretzel-baking history, the original ovens and how pretzel making has changed since the bakery opened in 1861. Then came my favorite part...WE GOT TO TWIST PRETZELS! Everyone received a piece of practice dough and our guide walked us through how to roll and properly twist it into that iconic pretzel shape. Learning the history and meaning behind the different steps of twisting the pretzel was probably my favorite part of the entire tour. One important thing to know ahead of time: you aren't actually making an edible pretzel during the tour. The dough is strictly for practicing the twisting technique and gets discarded afterward due to food safety regulations. I was a tiny bit disappointed because I had visions of proudly eating my handcrafted masterpiece, but once I understood why, it made sense. But what DID I get to keep?! My OFFICIAL PRETZEL TWISTER CERTIFICATE! Listen, I'm a kid at heart. You give me a certificate announcing that I have successfully learned how to twist a pretzel and I am going to treasure that thing like I just completed an advanced degree in carbohydrates. I'm absolutely framing it. And I'm absolutely hanging it somewhere among my legitimate professional certificates. After the tour, everyone received a small bag of Julius Sturgis hard pretzels and was encouraged to explore the bakery store. They had all kinds of pretzel goodies and souvenirs, including pretzels, shirts, aprons, magnets and other fun little mementos. I found the prices surprisingly reasonable for a tourist attraction. Since I couldn't eat the pretzel I twisted, there was really only one responsible course of action...buy a soft pretzel. And it was fantastic! Their soft pretzels are baked fresh on-site using Julius Sturgis' original recipe, and mine was fluffy, warm and generously covered in salt. It was my first Julius Sturgis soft pretzel and a pretty fantastic way to finish the experience. For $6, I thought the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery tour was an awesome little experience. It's interactive, educational, inexpensive and extremely family-friendly. There were some very young kiddos in my group, and our guide did a great job keeping them involved and entertained. Would I take the tour again? Probably not, simply because I feel like I got the full experience the first time. But should you do it once? Absolutely! It's Pennsylvania history you can touch, twist and then celebrate afterward by eating a completely different pretzel someone else professionally made for you. And you'll have the certificate to prove it!

Looking for fun things to do on a trip to Amish Country with my girlfriend, I stumbled across the…read moreJulius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. We decided to take advantage of the 25-minute pretzel bakery tour. At $6, it was a great deal. I love history, I love pretzels, and the bakery tour was a great way to merge my love of both. Our knowledgeable tour guide told us of the history of the building, what drove Julius Sturgis to become a pretzel baker, and the history of pretzel baking in the Sturgis family and how the family has adapted to changing times (they're still making pretzels although not in the original Lititz location). We even got to practice twisting a pretzel of our own (I was far from a natural). Everybody got a little bag of pretzels for our pretzel twisting efforts. The gift shop has plenty of great pretzel treats, pretzel magnets, pretzel ornaments, and such along with very tasty soft pretzels for purchase. The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is a great place for a fun little visit.

We had the privilege of joining Bill and Bonnie on one of their horse-drawn carriage rides around…read morethe farm. Their hospitality leading up to the ride was fantastic, the weather was a bit 'iffy' so we ended up pushing back to later in the afternoon. It was still a bit cold and overcast when we arrived and we ended up being the only couple to join them. Blankets were in the carriage waiting for us and we were greeted as soon as we pulled up, the ride was enjoyable and informative... we learned about the farm and a bit about the battle, both Bill and Bonnie were super friendly and it was a pleasure to meet them! After the ride was over we had the opportunity to go back to the barn and meet all the horses. We learned more about each of them and got to feed them carrots, absolutely worth the price and a ride we would definitely do again, hopefully under better weather next time!

From the owner: Come enjoy a one-hour horse-drawn carriage tour at Silvershire Farm just a 15 minute drive north of…read moredowntown Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Ride with us through the picturesque countryside landscapes and orchards of Adams County. In the spring witness the beauty of the orchards as the trees begin to blossom. In the fall view the majestic colors of the mountains and surrounding hills as the trees change to yellows, ambers, and scarlets of the fall. The rest of the year enjoy the beauty of the rolling hills, countryside fields, and orchards as they begin to fill up with various fruits and crops in preparation for harvest. Enjoy the leisurely and relaxing pace of your carriage as it is pulled by two gentle giants, our Shire draft horses. Along the way you will also see an Elk herd as well as a variety of other animals. We will narrate your journey with a history of the area during the Civil War Battle at Gettysburg, as well as that of the orchards and the history of the Shire horse. At the end of your one-hour ride, you can meet and take pictures with your team and feed them treats. *Kids and adults like this part of the tour.* Click the “Book Now” button on our website to view available tour dates. Costs for one hour rides are as follows: Adults $32 (13 y/o and older) Children $16 (6-12 y/o) Youngsters 5 and under free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Rides can be booked 24 hours a day on our website.

Awesome experience with Becka our very knowledgeable and fun guide! I learned so much and I'm a…read morenative of Lancaster!!!

I was fortunate enough to find Kendra's tour company. I cannot recommend Kendra's tours highly…read moreenough! (If I used all the superlatives in my mind, my review would sound unreal.) I have never had a better city tour experience, or a more attentive, sensitive, personable, professional guide. I felt like I was visiting a friend, and getting to share her day as she visited with her friends. If you're looking for an amazing experience with absolutely scrumptious food, history told with heart, and a chance to meet some of the most welcoming people in one city, Kendra's tours are for you.

Wings of War (WoW) is just starting out as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We have…read moreacquired a 1941 WWII Cessna T-50 Bobcat that was a Crane MK1 during WWII with the RCAF. The aircraft is currently portrayed as a U.S. UC-78 and will remain in U.S. colors. We believe this aircraft is the oldest, flying Bamboo Bomber in the world. We are actively pursuing nose art for this plane that will link it back to its Canadian lineage. Please go to our FB PAGE and add your ideas there. Call if you want to schedule an appointment to tour the aircraft.

From the owner: Wings of War (WoW) is just starting out as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We have…read moreacquired a 1941 WWII Cessna T-50 Bobcat that was a Crane MK1 during WWII with the RCAF. The aircraft is currently portrayed as a U.S. UC-78 and will remain in U.S. colors. We believe this aircraft is the oldest, flying Bamboo Bomber in the world. We are actively pursuing nose art for this plane that will link it back to its Canadian lineage. Please go to our FB PAGE and add your ideas there. Call if you want to schedule an appointment to tour the aircraft.

We highly enjoyed our trip in and around the Chesapeake Bay. It's a little disorganized regarding…read morefinding the entrance/dock if you want to jump on the boat last minute. It's to the (R) of Schaefer's restaurant. When we finally found someone they were helpful. We went on the Sunday 4pm (2 hr cruise). We ended up getting one of the booths at the back of the boat and sat by the bar area. You can bring any food and/or drinks you want onto the boat which is great. Otherwise they have a fully stocked bar in the back and prices aren't too bad. They inform you of all of the birds and anything if significance you pass. Tom & Steve are the owners. They are very nice. The cost was $19 per adult and $10 per kiddo. I did appreciate that they didn't play any music so we could converse.

Another perfect cruise. Always a great time aboard the Summer Breeze. The owners, the captain and…read morethe bartender were all very professional and made sure that everyone had a great time.

What a gorgeous day for the Massive Barn Market. Apparently tripled in size this year! Parking was…read morebedlam, food trucks ran out of food and not enough port-a-potties (25 min. + Lines)..Do not think I'll be back. One plus hours to get .3 miles up hill from Baltimore Pike to parking entrance - one police officer until PA State trooper showed up with no where to turn around and high tail it out, basically trapped:( Please organize better & get the word out that you have! For over 7,000 people attending ~ yikes.

Came here for Chadds Ford Day as a day trip for my job and had an overall unpleasant experience…read more Enjoyed the food trucks and the different venders selling art, jewelry, and such but getting in was a hassle. Didn't get handicap parking when we needed it. So we had to walk a good distance while pushing a wheel chair to get to the entrance. I didn't know they only accepted cash and not card so once I arrived to the ticket stand the lady sitting at the stand told me they had a ATM machine and where to find it but refused to let me use it, which I couldn't understand. When I asked if I could use it to pay for my ticket she literally laughed at me and told me no I could not use their ATM machine and would not tell me why, she then assisted the person behind me in line. Another lady approached me and ended up having a free voucher ticket and gave it to me. I don't have any plans on ever coming back here for any event that is held.

You will see that I wrote a review re: Westlake Tours last year. I would like to update that…read morereview. First, my husband's arm has completely healed. I spoke with Mr. Westlake a few times last year regarding a refund. In the middle of August, he said he would send me a partial refund because we did not get to go on the trip. I e-mailed him again on September 12. Nothing. On 1/16, I called again and he said that he found the info in my file and the check had never been sent. I want to report that I did get a check, so he did follow through with his promise.

Friendly, personal service, an assortment of trips, and clean buses. Bill and Shirley (the owners)…read moretravel on each trip and personally handle every detail and never forget a face. A + service!