Get Out and Explore
There's always something to do in and around Lancaster County. Here are a few of our local favorites.
A U.S. News Best Place to Live Arts, Culture & the Outdoors
The city is a hub for culture, art, and theater. Enjoy arts exhibitions and cultural performances as well as local business in the heart of downtown on First Fridays every month.
- From small local shops to the outlet malls such as Tanger Outlets, there are many places to browse and shop.
- If you live downtown, you are just walking distance from the Fulton Theater, Lancaster Museum of Art and the independent movie theater Zoetropolis.
- If you love sports, Lancaster is home to a professional baseball team, the Lancaster Stormers. The team plays at Penn Medicine Park, just two blocks from Lancaster General Hospital.
- Visit the oldest standing indoor farmers market in the country, Lancaster Central Market, established in 1730.
Want to get outdoors? Our residents and faculty are very active and there is no shortage of outdoor activities in Lancaster.
- Lancaster County has countless outdoor activities to keep you entertained in your free time
- Field of Screams – top rated Halloween Haunt
- Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair
- Cherry Crest Farms
- Hershey Park
- 1 hour away from the Appalachian Trail
- Marsh Lake
- Lancaster County Central Park
- Buchmiller Park – pickleball, disc golf
- Swatara State Park
Quotes from Our Residents
- “Lancaster is a really cool mix of urban and rural! You can go from a rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline to eating ice cream at a creamery watching the sunset in about 20 minutes! Everyone is also incredibly friendly in the city and it feels like a very tight knit community.”
- “I love the diversity of the city, the access to farm fresh foods, and the niche shops and businesses nearby.”
- “I love the amazing fresh food, the affordability, the vast diversity, and the friendliness. Lancaster is a lovely city that somehow has the big-city convenience with the small town charm. What a special place!”
- “I love the food culture, the pro LGBT culture, the easy access to getting out of the city and the ease of finding parking. Lancaster is a city filled with little gems that are only found here, Farbo Co, Central Market, Cherry Hill Orchard, Cabalar, and so many more.”
Our Favorite Eateries The Local Food Scene
Lancaster's historic downtown has many locally owned cafes and restaurants surrounding Penn Square, the center of the city.
- Visit the oldest, continuously running public farmer’s market, Central Market , for fantastic food, local produce, souvenirs, and handmade goods. Open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
- Our favorite coffee shops include Mean Cup Coffee, Passenger Coffee, Square One Coffee Roasters, and Prince Street Café.
- There are also many stores to satisfy your sweet tooth. Definitely check out Lancaster Cupcakes and try some stroopies at The Lancaster Sweet Shoppe .
- There also many amazing creameries in the county that we love to frequent including Pine View Dairy , Strasburg Creamery , Fox Meadows , and the Jigger Shop .
- We are very lucky to have a wide variety of fantastic and diverse restaurants. See some of our favorites listed below:
- Restaurants – Chellas Arepas, Rachel’s Creperie, Tomato Pie Cafe, Eastern Palace, Norbu, Piccolo, Iron Hill Restaurant & Brewing, Cabalar, The Belvedere Inn, Luca, Gracie’s on West Main, Midnight Oil
- Drinks – Decades, Sickman’s Mill, Spring House Brewing Company, Our Town Brewery, The Fridge, 551 West, Tellus 360
- Sweets – Fox Meadows Creamery, Wilbur Chocolates
- Coffee – West Art, Mean Cup, Denim Coffee