32 Reasons to Drive to Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Amazing shopping, art galleries, and craft breweries galore.

By allie volpe

Published on 12/02/2021 at 09:33 PM

Lancaster-the land of sprawling farms and horse-drawn buggies. Not so fast. While the culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch threads through much of the area, there’s more to the city than meets the eye. Hip shops pepper downtown corridors, fine dining captures the attention of The New York Times, and, of course, the scenery is unparalleled. Just over 90 minutes from Philly, if you’re feeling the itch to get out of town, Lancaster fits the bill for an easy, yet exciting, road trip. Here are all the best reasons to visit.

The killer dining scene

The best part of hanging in a new place is trying all the food you can’t get at home. Make a reservation at Luca, the Italian eatery with wood-fired pizza, seasonal pasta dishes featuring local farm-sourced ingredients, and Italian wines. Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss Gibraltar, with their raw bar, shellfish sampler, and mains ranging from branzino to New York strip. Down an alley and up a flight of stairs is Horse Inn, a one-time speakeasy serving locally-sourced American (the Horse Fries, topped with house-made sausage, parmesan, aged provolone, and garlic heavy cream are a hit).

Named after a tobacco inspector, John J. Jeffries serves farm-to-table fare sourced from Lancaster farms with beef tartare, pheasant, and more on the menu. Utilizing Pennsylvania spirits in their cocktails and lots of vegetarian and vegan options, Shot and Bottle is great for dinner and brunch. Trinidadian spot Callaloo offers crowd pleasers like fried chicken bao buns, buss-up-shut (a flatbread) with curried beef, and doubles (a Trinidadian street food of fried bread, chickpeas, cucumber chutney, tamarind and cilantro sauce).

Local brews galore

You’d be remiss to visit Lancaster without trying beer from its namesake brewing company. Lancaster Brewing is home to the Hop Hog IPA, Lancaster Lager, and seasonal brews like Baked Pumpkin Ale and Blood Orange Tart Ale. Elsewhere in town, Spring House Brewing Company has a mix of three year-rounders, seasonals, and limited releases at their brewery and taproom and Wacker Brewing Company is known for their kolsch and dunkelweizen. Or if mead is more your jam, swing by Meduseld Meadery.

A taste of nature

You didn’t pass through all that farmland without wanting to frolic in nature, did you? For adventurous types, there’s Refreshing Mountain where you can try one of three zipline courses. Get a bird’s eye view of Lancaster County with a hot air balloon ride, boating scenes of Amish farms, small towns, and rolling hills. Or if you’d like to stay on solid ground, there’s Conestoga Greenway Trail, a paved path which runs along the Conestoga River for just over two-and-a-half miles out and back. Lancaster County Central Park has nine trails ranging from just over a quarter mile to nearly four miles. For a shorter jaunt, the Windolph Landing Nature Preserve has a .7-mile loop trail that also features views of the Conestoga River.

Markets and local delicacies to fulfill every need

You can’t come to Lancaster without sampling fare from the Pennsylvania Dutch. Right in downtown Lancaster is the Lancaster Central Market where vendors sell specialty cheeses, homemade jams and sauces, empanadas, quilted home goods, art and much more. While you can get an Amish County whoopie pie at Lancaster Central Market, it’s worth the quick drive out to Shady Maple, a farm market selling locally sourced goods, plus a buffet featuring Pennsylvania Dutch fare. If you’re looking to get your hands dirty, dig into sticky buns at Mr. Sticky’s where you can get your buns in a number of varieties (with walnuts, with cinnamon, with cream cheese icing). For your candy, small-batch local ice cream, and Stroopwafel needs, don’t miss Lancaster Sweet Shoppe.

Prime shopping

In the city’s downtown area are loads of adorable boutiques selling one-of-a-kind goods. Go wild on vintage clothing at Redeux Vintage or quirky, antique home goods at Space. Records, vintage cameras, and knick-knacks galore line the walls of The Scarlet Willow. For unique souvenirs, stop by Madcap & Company for greeting cards, t-shirts, totes, notepads, posters, and more. And while you’re there, explore any of the other neighboring shops on the 300 block of North Queen Street for local shopping.

A can’t-miss arts district

Lancaster’s Gallery Row on Prince Street is home to half a dozen local galleries. From the Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery, featuring work of the namesake artist (a Lancaster native) to Lancaster Galleries, there are plenty of opportunities to check out contemporary art. While temporarily closed for the moment, sister museums The Demuth Museum, housed in painter Charles Demuth’s former home and studio, and the Lancaster Museum of Art, which features local and regional artists, are worth a visit when they reopen their galleries.

Cutesy cafes

Caffeine is a necessity no matter where you go. Fuel up at Prince Street Cafe, where you can get your lattes, coffee beans, smoothies, and delicious breakfast burritos. Start your day at Cafe One Eight with cinnamon French toast, a macchiato, and a smoothie for later. Stock up on specialty coffee and tea to take home from Passenger Coffee (and grab a fresh cup while you’re at it). For crepes for any time of day, stop by Rachel’s Creperie, where you’ll find both sweet and savory crepes and beverages (like Nutella hot chocolate).

Allie Volpe is a writer based in Philadelphia. She hasn’t slept in days. Follow her on Twitter: @allieevolpe.

Philadelphia

Museum Exhibits in Philly to Check Out Before They Disappear

Get in some culture (and selfies) at the best art exhibits in Philadelphia.

By allie volpe

Published on 06/03/2023 at 07:22

From the historical to the artistic, Philadelphia is jam packed with museums. Art aficionados of all ages can get lost inside the likes of tourist-friendly museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of the American Revolution or feast their eyes on unique exhibitions at institutions like the Fabric Workshop and Museum and the Museum for Art In Wood.

Between big-ticket exhibitions honouring the House of Mouse to collections showcasing the legacy of a prominent Black family in early America, there’s plenty of material to dig into. After you’ve planned a date night and rounded up friends to explore the city, here are the most exciting museum exhibits in Philly right now-before they’re gone for good.

The Franklin Institute

Exhibition: Disney 100: The Exhibition
Mickey Mouse, you look good for your age. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Disney is a retrospective exhibition, which got its world premiere right here in Philly. Between rarely-seen artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and interactive installations where you can listen to hit Disney songs, the exhibit is a Disney lover’s wish-upon-a-star-come-true.
Dates: Until August 27, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Monday through Sunday. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Academy of Natural Sciences

Exhibition: Conversations With Birds
No, not an allusion to the Eagles, this exhibition is dedicated to actual birds, their migration patterns, and humans’ relationship with avian creatures. Expect avian photography and video by local birders and wildlife photographers along with an interactive exhibit showing five migratory birds that pass through the Philadelphia region on their seasonal passage between North and South America.
Dates: Until May 21, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets are available online or at the door.

The Barnes Foundation

Exhibition: Sue Williamson & Lebohang Kganye: Tell Me What You Remember
The work of two contemporary South African artists-Sue Williamson and Lebohang Kganye-are shown side by side, offering a cross-generational dialogue. Both artists utilize video installations, photographs, sculptural installations, and textiles “to consider how the stories our elders tell us shape family narratives and personal identities.”
Dates: Until May 21, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Thursday through Monday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Exhibition: The Future Will Follow the Past: An Exhibition by Jonathan Horowitz
Exploring the rapid change of societal issues in America since 2020-antisemitism, racial violence, immigration, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights-Jonathan Horowitz designed installations inspired by recent occurrences. His works explore specific events like the infamous far-right rally from white supremacists in Charlottesville as well as recent themes in American history, like attacks on those within the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Dates: Until July 4, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Friday through Sunday. Admission is available online and at the door.

The Museum for Art In Wood

Exhibition: The Mashrabiya Project
The newly renamed Museum for Art in Wood (formerly The Center for Art In Wood) celebrates the rebrand with a brand new project. Focusing on mashrabiya, the traditional Islamic architectural design, The Mashrabiya Project is a first of its kind effort in the U.S. to examine this aesthetic. As a part of the larger mission, a new exhibition Seeing Through Space features newly-commissioned, never-before-seen works by six female-identifying artists.
Dates: Until July 23, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets are not required.

Fabric Workshop and Museum

Exhibition: Henry Taylor: Nothing Change, Nothing Strange
Combining painting and sculpture, Henry Taylor utilized recycled objects in this exhibition, the product of an 18-month residency. The entire second floor of the museum houses the large scale assemblages, tapestries, and textiles. Think: 30-foot billowing canvases and towering totems created from compressed blocks of paint buckets, vinyl home siding, and black plastic planters.
Dates: Until July 23, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Walk up admission is available but advanced registration is encouraged.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Exhibition: Judith Joy Ross
More than 200 photographs from renowned portrait photographer Judith Joy Ross will be on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, chronicling her career from the 1980s to today. Her black-and-white portraits are intimate reflections of everyday Americans, and this show features work from all her major projects, plus, never-before-seen images.
Dates: April 24 to August 6, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Thursday through Monday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

American Swedish Historical Museum

Exhibition: Radically Marimekko
Famous for their bright and bold fabrics, Finnish textiles, clothing, and home furnishings, the company Marimekko is showcased at this special exhibit. Drawing attention to Finnish design, the collection traces the brand’s path from industrial art house to fashion icon.
Dates: March 30 to September 24, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Walk up admission is available.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and African American Museum in Philadelphia

Exhibition: Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America
A collaboration between the African American Museum in Philadelphia and PAFA, Rising Sun showcases new work from 20 artists examining the question of Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy? With pieces shown in both museums, visitors can reflect on, challenge, and expand their view of democracy through art.
Dates: March 23 to October 8, 2023
How to visit: The African American Museum in Philadelphia is open Thursday through Sunday; admission is available online and at the door. PAFA is open Thursday through Sunday; admission can be purchased in advance or at the door.

Museum of the American Revolution

Exhibition: Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia
James Forten may not be a familiar name within early American history, but this new exhibit at the Museum of the American Revolution is looking to change that. Telling the story of Forten and his family through 100 historical artifacts, Black Founders explores the Forten family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and the abolitionist movement.
Dates: Until November 26, 2023
How to visit: The museum is open daily. Admission is available online and at the door.

National Constitution Center

Exhibition: The 19th Amendment: How Women Won The Vote
That lofty document known as the Constitution and its values, interpretations, and amendments are explored in great detail at the National Constitution Center, naturally. This semi-permanent exhibit examines the 19th Amendment-the one which granted women the right to vote-and the road to its ratification. Out of the near 100 artifacts, expect to see a rare printing of the Declaration of Sentiments from the first women’s convention at Seneca Falls, a ballot box used to collect women’s votes in the late 1800s, Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, and various “Votes for Women” ephemera.
Dates: Semi-permanent, no end date announced
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Advanced tickets are recommended.

Mütter Museum

Exhibition: Spit Spreads Death
Eerily topical, the Mütter’s latest special exhibit, Spit Spreads Death, an exhibit about the 1918 flu pandemic, opened in the fall of 2019, less than six months before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The exhibit traces the disease’s spread throughout Philadelphia neighbourhoods a century ago and how the pandemic impacted the city with artifacts like photos, newspaper clippings, and more.
Dates: Now through 2024
How to visit: The museum is open Wednesday through Monday. Advanced tickets are required.

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Allie Volpe is a writer based in Philadelphia. She hasn’t slept in days. Follow her on Twitter: @allieevolpe.