1. Pennsylvania Arts Experience
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 299-9496
Address: 114 N. Prince St.
Description: The small towns in and around Lancaster County are home to a wealth of talented painters, weavers, quilters, printmakers, potters, glassblowers, woodworkers, and other artists, many of whom are nationally and even internationally known and exhibited. This nonprofit organization will help you to find and set up visits with many of these artists at their private studios along the area’s extensive “art trail.” (The service is free.) You can also download maps from the website.
2. Groff’s Lancaster Candy Store
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 872-2845
Address: 3587 Blue Rock Rd. (Route 999)
Description: Founded in 1969, this family-owned and operated, made-from-scratch-at-home candy company is renowned for its fudge, chocolates, brittles, and “sugar-free” treats. The Groffs also have a stand at the Bird-in-Hand Farmers’ Market.
3. Pine View Acres Dairy
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 872-5486
Address: 2225 New Danville Pike
Description: You can choose from 25 varieties made from cream from the dairy’s own herd. Nothing envelope-pushing flavor-wise here, just good ice cream. Open year-round.
4. Lancaster Central Market
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 291-4723
Address: 23 N. Market St. (northwest corner of Pe
Description: There has been a farmers’ market on this site since the 1730s, making it America’s oldest. The current Romanesque Revival building with its 72-foot-high, Spanish tile–covered towers dates back to 1889. Every Tues, Fri, and Sat close to 60 vendors (some whose family businesses have been “on market” since the early 1900s) sell food, crafts, and other products that reflect both local and international cultures.
5. The Clay Distelfink
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 399-1994
Address: 2246 Old Philadelphia Pike
Description: The distelfink, the Pennsylvania Dutch name for the goldfinch, is considered to be a symbol of good luck. Artist Marilyn Stoltzfus incorporates the distelfink as well as many other images that the Pennsylvania Dutch relate to good fortune into designs for her handcrafted redware plates, made in the style of German pottery of the 1600s to 1800s. Open by appointment.
6. Hammond Pretzel Bakery
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 392-7532
Address: 716 S. West End Ave.
Description: In operation since 1931, Hammond is the nation’s oldest continuously family-operated, handmade pretzel bakery. (The recipe dates back to the 1800s).
7. j a sharp Custom Jeweler
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (215) 295-9661
Address: 322 N. Queen St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Jude Sharp designs extraordinary custom gold, silver, and platinum jewelry. She offers a wide collection of original designs, or she’ll sit down with you to sketch out something completely different. If you want stones in your piece, Sharp can get them, or she can use stones from jewelry that you already own.
8. Tanger Outlets
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 392-7260
Address: 311 Stanley K. Tanger Blvd.
Description: Tanger rhymes with hanger, and you’ll find plenty of them in the many designer outlets that are among the 60 name-brand outlet stores here. You can expect to save between 20 and 40 percent below retail. AAA members can get an exclusive savings book with an additional 15 to 20 percent discount from participating merchants by coming to the Tanger Outlet Center Management Office. The outlets are open year-round (holiday hours may vary) Mon to Sat from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
9. Park City Center
City: Lancaster, PA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (717) 393-3851
Address: 142 Park City Center (Route 30)
Description: Over 170 stores and restaurants are here. The mall is anchored by retail giants Sears, JCPenney, Bon Ton, Boscov’s, and Kohl’s.