Some of the details are lacking in this tour description, so let me try to fill in some gaps:
This is a long day - departing at 7am and returning about 12-13hours later. The check in process is basically non existent, and then they call people out by the language spoken so that they can sit together on the bus for ease of interpreting. Whilst this makes more sense as the day goes on, it does seem strange and a bit disorganised at the start.
Get past this chaotic start though and the tour starts properly. It’s a two hour drive to Philadelphia, where you first visit the Liberty Bell (although you enter the museum it’s a photo op only, but the guide gives you the history on the bus). Then a 20 minute tour of Congress Hall (inside) and seeing Independence Hall from the outside only. Finally you get a break - by this time it is about 11am and you have done a bit of walking, so you’ll want to have had a good breakfast or brought snacks. Anyway, here you can try the Philly Cheese Steak or a range of other menu items.
Then onto the Betty Ross house - again just a quick stop for a photo. Final stop in Philadelphia is the Rocky Steps with plenty of time to go up and back.
Then a one hour drive to Lancaster and the buggy ride. This is something a bit unique. Yes the children will try to sell you cookies or homemade lemonade - but at $2 it’s not a big ask, and the products are actually quite good!
You then go to the Amish Village which really is a shopping area, but with lots of arts and crafts, and different food options. It is very commercialised and probably the most disappointing part of the day but If nothing else, the scenery here is nice.
Finally it’s a three hour trip back to New York. All in all, I thought the sites visited were good and I enjoyed the look at “old” and “new” Philadelphia as well as a taste of Amish life. For me there was just the right amount of time at each stop to get a feel for it, but don’t expect to do anything in great detail. If you want a thorough look at Philadelphia or Amish country, this probably isn’t for you.
Finally I was disappointed by the guide and staff overall - I felt commentary was lacking and sometimes unclear. Compared to other tours I’ve taken we seemed to just be going through the motions, rather than hearing any great insight or passion for what we were seeing and doing. The bus was also pulled over by the police on the way to Philadelphia and the driver argued with the officer which was pretty unprofessional with a bus load of tourists on board!