A Fun (and Educational!) Lancaster County Day Trip for Summer

If you’re looking for ways to entertain the kids, there’s great news – a day in Strasburg, PA can fight the summer slide and give your family a fun day out, with just a few short drives between stops.

Start with hands-on Amish culture, then add a model train wonderland, a working farm creamery, and a ride on an authentic steam train.

Finish the day with dinner at a local favorite, and some night-time mini golf!

Morning: The Amish Village

Kick things off at The Amish Village. Our 25-minute guided tour of an authentic 1840s farmhouse gives kids an up-close look at Amish daily life.

Afterward, explore the 12-acre grounds on your own.

Be sure to say hi to our farm animals, including:

• Dolly the micro mini Highland cow
• Molly the mule
• Mr. Ed the horse
• Jakey the potbellied pig

Plan on spending 1 to 1 ½ hours for the farmhouse tour and grounds.

If your family wants to explore even more Amish life, add the 90-minute Backroads Bus Tour. This excursion winds through the Lancaster County countryside and stops at a local Amish business (available every day except Sunday).

Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the open-air pavilion, or pick up a few Amish-made snacks and treats at our Marketplace.

Afternoon: Trains, Ice Cream, and a Real Steam Engine

The Choo Choo Barn is just a 5-minute drive from The Amish Village and one of the largest model railroad layouts in Pennsylvania.

The 1,700 sq. ft. display features 17 operating trains and over 180 hand-built animated figures, all set in a miniature version of Lancaster County.

Watch a firetruck put out a blaze, skiers glide down a snowy mountain, and a circus perform under the big top.

And every few minutes, the room dims and the display turns into a nighttime scene, with tiny flickering streetlights and car lights.

Right next door, cool off at Down on the Farm Creamery. This family-run Amish creamery churns its own ice cream from milk sourced right on the farm.

If you want to enjoy a play area and see baby farm animals, visit their original location on May Post Office Road, just 2 miles away.

Next, head to the nearby Strasburg Rail Road, America’s oldest continuously operating railroad.

Their 45-minute ride covers a 9-mile round trip through 2,500 acres of Amish farmland, pulled by a real steam locomotive.

After your train ride, visit the general store and toy store for keepsakes, railroad gifts, and train-themed merch.

Evening: Dinner and Mini Golf

Finish the day with dinner at Hershey Farm Restaurant, a local favorite known for their PA Dutch fare. There’s also a bakery and large gift shop on the premises, and a hotel.

If the kids still have energy to burn after dinner, check out Village Greens Mini Golf Course.

The business has been a beloved local attraction since 1972 and it just expanded under new ownership. Visitors can enjoy an interactive play village for toddlers, and lattes and ice cream at the Birdies & Bogies snack bar.

Plan Your Strasburg Day Trip

This one-day adventure covers Amish culture, history, a working farm, a ride on a real steam train, and more – all within a few miles of each other! It’s an easy way to make a summer day fun, educational, and memorable.

Ready to plan your visit? Start by booking your Amish Village tour today.