You can actually walk onto the trains, which makes the experience even more unique! The conductor…read moreshares so much fascinating information about the trains, their history, and what life was like during that time. The entire exhibit is designed to feel like you're stepping into an old train station, complete with the shops and details that would have surrounded travelers back then. It truly feels like stepping back in time. A one-of-a-kind experience and a beautiful walk through history!

Right across the street from the Strasburg Rail Road (literally just a crosswalk away), the…read moreRailroad Museum of PA is a must if you're in the area. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon after a train ride, and wow... this place has more than 100 locomotives and railroad cars inside the building. Not mini replicas. Not models. REAL trains. The sheer size of them up close was mind-blowing! Some cars are open to explore, and even the ones you can't go inside are close enough to touch and grab great photos. Admission was only $10, and we spent a solid 2.5 hours wandering through--even as total non-train buffs. Train lovers could easily make a full day of it. Staff were friendly, and volunteers were spread throughout the museum to answer questions and share fun facts about the trains, which made the visit even better. Just inside the entrance is a well-stocked gift shop with tons of novelty items and unique finds--definitely worth a peek before you head out. Beyond the trains, there are interactive exhibits--Legos, a mini town with history lessons, and even dress-up spots for kids. It's very family-friendly, but smaller kids may lose steam (pun intended ) walking the long rows of cars. Overall? This was a fun, different, history-packed experience that was absolutely worth the ticket price. I don't know that I need to go back, but I'm really glad I went once!

Sometimes an adventure gets added to the list and then patiently waits an entire year for its turn…read more That was the North Museum of Nature and Science for me. I'd passed it during a different Lancaster adventure last summer, made a mental note that I wanted to come back and then...didn't. Fast forward to an early August Thursday afternoon when my adventure schedule finally brought me back to the area with some time to spare. FINALLY! Let's go see what's inside this place! I stopped in around 1:45pm and I'm pretty sure I was the only visitor in the entire museum. Honestly? I didn't hate it! Having the place almost entirely to myself meant I could wander around, open drawers, stare at things for entirely too long and explore everything at my own pace without feeling like I was holding anyone up. The woman at the front desk was super helpful, getting me situated with my ticket and explaining the general lay of the land before sending me off to explore. Parking was easy for me, too. I found plenty of street parking and nearby lots, although I could see availability varying depending on the day, time and whatever else might be happening in the neighborhood. The main level was my first stop and definitely felt geared more toward families with younger children. There were lots of hands-on activity stations, interactive exhibits and live critters to check out. I especially liked seeing some of the artwork kids had created displayed throughout the museum. It's obvious that this isn't supposed to be a "stand quietly and stare at things behind glass" kind of museum for kiddos. They actually get to interact, explore and DO things. Then I headed downstairs to the Cabinet Museum. And THAT'S when things got really interesting for me. I opened the door and actually stopped for a second to take it all in. Floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinets with glass fronts and backs filled the room, displaying hundreds of preserved and taxidermied specimens. It had this wonderfully old-school natural history museum feeling that I absolutely loved. There was SO much to look at! Toward the back were displays filled with rocks, minerals and gems, but my favorite part of the entire museum was the Curiosity Cabinet. This double-sided cabinet has drawer after drawer that you can pull open to discover specimens underneath plexiglass. Bugs, bats, starfish, coral and all kinds of other fascinating little pieces of the natural world were hiding inside. What made it even cooler was the question posed on the cabinet asking visitors to think about what was the SAME about the objects on opposite sides and what was DIFFERENT. Suddenly I wasn't just opening drawers to see what weird little treasure was hiding inside. I was comparing things, looking more closely and thinking about why the specimens had been grouped together. Apparently I am exactly the kind of adult who can be entertained for an unreasonable amount of time by a cabinet full of mysterious drawers. Noted! Before leaving, I headed upstairs to the third floor, which was primarily an art gallery during my visit. There were works displayed along the walls, including pieces available for purchase, along with a large community space that looked like it could accommodate parties, classes and other gatherings. My biggest adventure-planning failure of the day? THE PLANETARIUM. I knew they had one, but because I was working the North Museum into an already-packed Lancaster Adventure Day, my timing didn't line up with the next planetarium show. I peeked inside and immediately wished I'd planned that part better because it looked really cool. PRO TIP: If the planetarium is something you want to experience, don't do what I did. Check the show schedule BEFORE you plan your visit and build your arrival time around it. Future Me will absolutely be doing this because now I have unfinished planetarium business. All in all, the North Museum of Nature and Science was a really enjoyable way to spend part of an afternoon. Is it an enormous museum that's going to take you an entire day to explore? Nope. I spent a relatively short amount of time wandering around and felt like I'd gotten a good look at most of what was there. But that's also part of what makes it such an easy addition to a Lancaster adventure. If you've got kids who love hands-on activities and animals, I could see them having a blast here. If you're an adult wandering around by yourself like me, head downstairs, start opening drawers and prepare to unleash your inner curious 8-year-old. I'm glad I finally made good on the mental note I made last summer and stopped to explore. The North Museum is clearly a place that cares about curiosity, education and giving its community opportunities to experience science in an approachable way. And someday...I'm coming back for that planetarium!

I was disappointed with my first visit to the Museum today. The live animal room was closed, many…read morelights/buttons/hands-on activities were not working, and we could BARELY hear the narration for the planetarium show (even after I asked that the volume be turned up). Overall there was very little to do. It's crazy that I spent $62 dollars for 2 adults and a 4 year old to see what we saw today. There should absolutely be a lower rate for 3-10 year olds!!!

Rose and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Barry's Car Barn. The collection is absolutely…read moremagnificent, and it is evident that each and every car has been lovingly restored, meticulously maintained, and displayed with genuine pride. Barry deserves tremendous credit not only for assembling such an extraordinary collection, but also for sharing it with the public in such a welcoming setting. Although Barry was not there during our visit, he was very well represented by several friendly and extremely knowledgeable gentlemen who made the experience even more enjoyable. From the beautiful automobiles to the vintage signs and memorabilia, there is something fascinating everywhere you look. This is a genuinely worthwhile stop in Lancaster County and absolutely worth the price of admission. Five stars from Rose and me.

Super cute place! We sat at the bar and the bartender was super helpful. Didn't realize they had…read moresuch an extensive menu so sadly we had already had lunch but our order of potato skins was delicious and great presentation. Might suggest better signs downstairs on outside of building of where to enter for the restaurant- maybe some big arrows painted? the downstairs is the car museum and it looked pretty amazing too! It's a great place to visit, don't miss it!

Just went to our grandsons wedding at this venue. It was by far one of, if not the best we have…read moreever been to. It was so organized and the staff was far beyond professional and extremely friendly. Everything and every scenario was covered. Special handicap accommodation's. Wedding site was spectacular.

INCREDIBLE VENUE! My sister just got married here and everything was perfect. This venue is ideal…read morebecause: - It has a house for the bridal party to get ready in (we had 9 bridesmaids and there was plenty of room for hair and makeup) - Picture perfect outdoor ceremony spot (and a backup indoor spot as well) - A patio for cocktail hour with beautiful views of the property - The barn itself is just amazing on its own - Easy accessibility with the option to have a golf cart transport guests if needed, this was very important to us as we wanted all of our guests to be comfortable They have really thought of every single detail with this venue. The day went so smoothly thanks to their on-site coordinator and all of our guests were extremely impressed with the venue. 10/10 would recommend!

The Brandywine Museum has a special place in my heart. Intimate and welcoming, it is set in a…read morebeautiful natural environment, a wall of windows overlooking the river and green foliage. The focus on nature is a fitting homage to the special place the Wyeth family holds for the museum. This family of painters made their home in the area, and Andrew Wyeth - in partnership with his wife Betsy - took the local landscape, architecture and people as his life's work. However, the family produced three generations of artists, and there is usually at least one, carefully curated, Wyeth exhibit on display at the museum at any given time. Each time I come I learn about a different aspect of their art, and fall in love a little bit more. You can also take a tour of the artists' home and studio, as well as the newly installed N.C. Wyeth mural in the Round Barn, constructed just for this purpose. These tours need a reservation and cost extra, but worth it if you are able to splurge.

Visited this museum during their free day (First Sunday of the month) to check out the exhibit for…read moreJerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade. Such a beautiful space ! I can imagine weddings taking place in their courtyard area. The staff was helpful as it was my first time. It's a small but delightful museum, only three floors and the construction of the building itself is very compact and curved. It was great to see the river and the sun shining in through the large windows as you walk up to the top floor. The main exhibit was on the top floor and it was thoughtfully curated with black walls that made the artwork just pop! I was able to pick up a few art prints in their gift shop on the way out. Ample parking but in the free days can fill up fast. Definitely stop in if local or just visiting !

First time to see And There were None, absolutely loved it. We sat in the Mezzanine right with…read moretickets around $80, which felt a bit pricey for Lancaster but the shows quality made up for it. Can't speak for the cheaper gallery tickets but we had a good view. Parking in the area is a bit tricky due to it being downtown Lancaster so plan ahead for that. Highly recommend overall.

Good quality shows, historic venue. Great for an evening out. Parking is rough which is the downsideread more

CityFolk Gallery is one of my favorite stops whenever I am in Lancaster city. Karen has an eye for…read morequality art and her shows reflect that.

Antiques, home and garden accessories and artwork with an urban/folk flair. This shop/gallery is a…read moregem. Stop by on a First Friday -- downtown Lancaster's lively, not-to-be-missed, monthly art extravaganza-- to check it out.

AMT ruined the Terry Fator performance by having the worst loud sound system I've heard in years…read morewith sustained SPLs exceeding 100dbs and extremely distorted bass. Likely broke every OSHA employer sound reg in the book.

This is a small but very nice venue that provides a great experience for live events. We came to…read moresee Alton Brown Live, and the evening did not disappoint. Parking was well organized, and the lines moved quickly, making it easy to get into the venue. Once inside, we were able to find our seats without any hassle. Overall, the venue was efficient, comfortable, and well managed. We would definitely attend another event here.