Amish Country, PA

Museums of the People

Before starting your tour, know this: Most Amish attractions are located along Route 340 (in the towns of Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand), not in Lancaster proper.

Hit the museums first, while the kids still have attention spans. Among the must-see exhibits:

Lancaster County, PA
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• The People's Place. For an authentic portrayal of Amish life, make this your first stop. Here, kids can sit in a buggy, try on Amish clothes, play with a wooden barn and animals, and take quizzes set up throughout the museum. The Quilt Museum next door displays some of the best samples of that art form anywhere.
• Plain & Fancy Farm. Don't be fooled by the tacky signs and tour buses parked out front of this Bird-in-Hand attraction. Plain & Fancy is not your typical tourist trap. Most come for the special-effects film about an Amish boy who contemplates leaving the fold. But don't zip to the next attraction without seeing the lesser-trafficked Amish Country Homestead, a building recognized by Lancaster County for its genuine portrayal of Amish family life.