I just returned from a visit to Lancaster County with my wife. The last time I visited was decades ago. The area has changed quite a bit. I wanted a different experiece this time and really wanted to experience more of the Amish culture. I came across "The Amish Experience" while researching things to do in the area. My wife and I ended up staying almost the entire day just doing the different tours they had to offer. You can do single tours but the packages seemed best for the money. I agree that the charge for these tours are a bit on the high side. I have nothing bad to say about the tours themselves but the charge for the the amount of time spent on the each tour should have been lower by about $10 I would say. We started with the Amish Homeland tour which I would suggest to everyone. It really is the best way to see the countryside and farms that you would probably miss otherwise. Yes, you can drive these routes in your own vehicle with a good map or GPS but you'll miss the narration and having someone else do the driving. You'll stop at what the tourguide called an "Amish Walmart" in the middle of nowhere. Interesting to just see the items sold there.. You'll also stop at a Roadside stand where you can buy Amish baked goods, soft pretzels (highly recommended), and homemade root beer. In the back is a very nice animal exhibit. You can't pet the animals but just watching them was fun. You'll see alpacas, mules, rams, chickens, peacocks, sheep, and so much more all roaming freely about. Next, we went on the buggy ride which was free since we purchased 3 tours. If you haven't been on one, try it just for the experience. Lastly, we went on the "Witness" tour. I have mixed feelings about this one. I did enjoy the tour but mostly for being driven around a large and different part of the countryside which included going through a few covered bridges. The actual stop at the farm where the movie Witness was filmed was nice but not overly exciting. It did make me want to rewatch the movie again to spot some of the places I visited such as the kitchen, pond, and barn. You'll learn a lot about the movie and what it took to make it but it felt like there just wasn't enough to see on this tour for $49. Overall, my wife and I agreed that we walked away with a memory full of the Amish lifestyle and was glad we went on the tours.
Response from Host
Aug 2013
Dear Marty R, It’s been too long! We’re so glad you stopped in. Things might look different around here, but one thing hasn’t changed – our up close and personal opportunities to visit with and talk to the Amish. We’re glad you were “full up” on memories and trust that you’ll be back … sooner, rather than later.