Someone’s coming to visit.
Now comes the question every Lancaster County local eventually has to answer: Where are we taking them?
You want to show off a little of what makes the area special without spending half the day driving from one end of the county to the other. A little history would be nice. Something outdoors. A few places they probably don’t have back home. And, obviously, you’re going to need somewhere good to eat.
Luckily, you can fit quite a bit into one day without venturing far from Lititz.
Whether your visitors are seeing Lancaster County for the first time or have been here enough times to know their way around, here are a few ideas for building a day that feels distinctly local.
Start With Breakfast at Brickerville House
If you’re going to play tour guide all day, you might as well start with breakfast.
Brickerville House Restaurant is located north of downtown Lititz at the intersection of Routes 501 and 322, putting you within easy reach of several stops on this list.
More importantly, there’s enough variety to handle a group with very different ideas about what breakfast should look like.
Someone craving a Lancaster County classic can start with Creamed Chipped Beef or Fresh Corned Beef Hash, while the new breakfast menu brings choices like the Cornbread Cowboy Benedict or Birria Breakfast Bowl into the mix. There are plenty of familiar morning favorites for everyone in between, too.
Then you’re fed, caffeinated, and ready to show your visitors around.
Introduce Them to the Wolves of Speedwell
Here’s one your out-of-town visitors probably aren’t expecting.
The Wolf Sanctuary of PA sits on more than 80 wooded acres near Lititz and provides a home for wolves and wolf-dogs. Tours offer the opportunity to learn about the animals, their individual stories, and wolf conservation while seeing the sanctuary’s residents in their wooded enclosures.
Some experiences require advance booking, so this is one stop you’ll want to plan before everyone arrives.
And really, how often do you get to casually tell someone, “We’re going to see the wolves after breakfast?”
Show Them Around Downtown Lititz
From there, head into downtown Lititz and let your visitors see why the town deserves more than a quick drive through.
Start with Lititz Springs Park, a seven-acre park in the center of town. It’s an easy place for a walk before heading onto Broad or Main Street to explore downtown.
History lovers can visit the Lititz Historical Foundation, where the Lititz Museum, historic Johannes Mueller House, and other programs explore the town’s Moravian roots and development over the centuries.
And because Lancaster County sightseeing should probably involve a pretzel at some point, there’s Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. The historic bakery offers visitors a chance to learn about pretzel baking right in downtown Lititz and is another of the attractions highlighted by the town’s tourism organization.
You don’t have to do all three. Pick whatever fits your visitors best or simply walk around downtown and see where everyone ends up.
Make Lunch Part of the Day
If you skipped Brickerville House at breakfast, lunch gives you another opportunity to work it into the itinerary.
For out-of-town visitors, it can also be a chance to try some of the Pennsylvania Dutch flavors Lancaster County is known for. Homestyle favorites like Baked Chicken Pie and Wenger’s Hamloaf offer a taste of the region, while the menu has plenty of choices for anyone in the group who wants to go in a different direction.
And because Brickerville House sits right in Bricker Village, lunch can easily lead into the next part of the day without another drive.
Give Them a Taste of Local Shopping
You don’t need another major attraction to fill every hour.
Bricker Village surrounds Brickerville House with specialty shops where you can browse antiques, locally made goods, consignment clothing and accessories, handmade chocolates, gifts, and more. There’s even a tasting room at Cullari Vineyards and Winery right here in the Village.
It’s an easy addition when everyone wants to keep the day going without getting back in the car for another big excursion.
And if you’re showing someone around Lancaster County, sending them home with handmade chocolates or something from a local artisan seems appropriate.
Or Spend Some Time Outside
If your visitors would rather trade shopping for some fresh air, you have options nearby for that, too.
The Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail-Trail begins in Lititz and works well for a walk or bike ride. You can make your outing as short or ambitious as everyone feels like making it.
Families with younger kids could head to The Tree House Playground, an inclusive community playground designed for children of different ages and abilities.
This is also where the day can become your own. Your visitors don’t need to see every attraction in Lancaster County before they leave. Pick a few things they’ll actually enjoy and leave yourself enough time to experience them.
End Up Back Around the Table
After a day of playing Lancaster County tour guide, you may be ready to hand over the decision-making to someone else.
If Brickerville House is your final stop, settle in for dinner, compare everyone’s favorite part of the day, and decide whether there’s room for dessert.
Or maybe you started the morning here and dinner takes you somewhere else entirely. That’s the nice thing about building your own itinerary. Brickerville House can be the starting point, the midday break, or the place you end up after a full day around Lititz.
There’s no single correct way to do it.
Show Them Your Lancaster County
When people come from out of town, it’s tempting to try to show them everything.
Lancaster County makes that nearly impossible.
Instead, show them a corner of it you know well. Take them somewhere with a story. Let them see a wolf, twist a pretzel, wander through downtown Lititz, hunt for an antique, or bring home something made locally.
However you build the day, make sure good food is part of it.
If Brickerville House makes the itinerary, we’ll take care of that part.
