Winter in the northeast can be bleak. It’s dark and cold outside, and you can start to get a little stir crazy. Why not create a bright spot to look forward to by planning a winter adventure to Lancaster County, PA.?
Start planning your visit by booking a room at the Fulton Steamboat Inn. Once you arrive at the Inn, you will enjoy a full-service stay in a nautical or Victorian-themed room. Whether it’s a couple’s getaway or a family fun weekend, the Fulton Steamboat Inn offers a variety of sleeping accommodations to suit everyone.
No matter what the weather is like outside, Lancaster County has something to offer everyone. The Fulton Steamboat Inn recommends these guest-approved adventures for the winter season:
Amish Country & Covered Bridges Tour
The best way to experience Amish country in Lancaster County is by taking a scenic drive. The towns we suggest you visit are Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand, Strasburg, and Ronks.
While driving, you will see horse drawn buggies, one-room schoolhouses, windmills, snow covered pastures with grazing cows, and locals performing winter farm work. You can also check out the 29 covered bridges in Lancaster County, which is the most of any county in Pennsylvania! Download this Covered Bridge Map to decide which bridges you want to visit.
Lancaster Science Factory
If it’s really cold outside, check out the Lancaster Science Factory, where kids can experience an interactive, hands-on learning environment! Children from Pre-K through 8th grade and their families can enjoy dancing on a Sustainable Energy Dancefloor, playing in the interactive Water Lab, building bridges in the Engineering Zone, exploring the Outdoor Courtyard, or climbing the expansive SkyBridge. With more than 80 interactive exhibits, the Science Factory is a great place to spend the day!
Ice Skating
If you are feeling nostalgic and want to get some exercise, why not go ice skating? There are a few indoor and outdoor options at some local ice rinks. Or, if you are feeling really adventurous, you can check local weather reports or with the concierge at the Inn to see if any ponds or lakes, like the ones at Speedwell Forge or Marsh Creek, have frozen over and are safe enough for skating.
Lancaster Central Market
Visitors willing to venture into Lancaster City should stop at Lancaster Central Market, the oldest publicly owned continuously running farmer’s market in America! Established in 1730, this historic market offers produce, meat, poultry, seafood, cheese, flowers, baked goods, home and wellness items, and ready-to-eat food.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
If you are a railroad buff, you should check out the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, located in Strasburg. It pays tribute to all the railroads that have served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania while also honoring railroad manufacturers and support industries, workers, and travelers. The museum features some of the most significant collections of historic railroad artifacts in the world and includes 100 locomotives and cars from the mid-19th and 20th centuries. To learn more, visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
Once you are done traversing the beautiful Lancaster County countryside, you can return to the Fulton Steamboat Inn to relax. Partake in high tea, take a relaxing dip in the heated pool or whirlpool, cozy up next to the fireplace with a hot beverage and some pastries, or have a late dinner at Huckleberry’s Restaurant.