Lancaster Amish Countryside: Home Meal & Culture Tour

Summary

Lunch in an Amish home stories from Lancaster’s quiet roads

You’ll join a small group for a narrated drive through Lancaster’s Amish countryside before sitting down for a full lunch inside an Amish family’s home. Expect simple flavors straight from their kitchen, quiet moments around the table, and stories you won’t find online. If you’re curious about real Amish life beyond shopfronts or museums, this is where it starts to feel real.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I almost missed the van because I was standing on the wrong corner in Lancaster, staring at a bakery window. Luckily, our guide (her name was Sarah) spotted me waving like an idiot and just grinned. She said it happens all the time. Once we got going, the roads out of town turned soft and green, with horse-drawn buggies passing by so close you could see the wood grain on the wheels. Sarah kept pointing out little things — the hand-stitched laundry flapping on lines, a kid barefoot in April, how you can tell which farms are “Old Order” by their mailbox shape. I’d read about this stuff but seeing it was different.

We pulled up to a plain white farmhouse that smelled faintly of wood smoke and something baking — cinnamon maybe? The family greeted us quietly but with these warm nods. Lunch was served at a long table (the benches creaked when we sat down) and there were big bowls of chicken, potatoes, some kind of sweet slaw, and homemade bread that steamed when you tore it open. I tried to thank our host in Pennsylvania Dutch — Li laughed when I tried to say it and I probably butchered it, but she seemed pleased anyway. There was no electricity humming, just forks clinking and someone’s baby giggling under the table.

Sarah explained that not every tour gets confirmed right away since they have to check with each Amish family first — something about respect and privacy. It made sense once we were there; you really felt like a guest instead of just another tourist group rolling through. We talked about weather (apparently last winter froze the pump solid), farming routines, even why they don’t want their faces photographed — which honestly felt fair after sharing their lunch table. The whole thing lasted a few hours but felt slower somehow, like time stretched out between bites and stories.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Amish countryside tour and cultural insights

• Meet in Lancaster
• Drive through Amish countryside
• Learn about Amish culture
• Narrated tour with multiple stops

Top questions

Is lunch included on this Amish tour?

Yes, a full cooked lunch is served in an Amish home as part of the tour.

How do I know if my tour is confirmed?

The tour is only confirmed once an Amish family host is secured by the organizers.

Can vegetarians be accommodated?

Yes, vegetarian meals are available if requested in advance.

Are photos allowed during the meal?

No photographs of Amish faces are permitted; please respect their preferences.

Is transportation included from Lancaster?

Yes, pickup in Lancaster and countryside transport are included in the day trip.

Are infants or strollers allowed?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers during the tour.

Is this suitable for travelers with mobility issues?

The tour may not be suitable for those who have difficulty getting on/off a van with two steps up.

What’s included

Your day includes narrated transport from Lancaster through the Amish countryside with your guide, several stops along the way to learn about local culture, and finally a full cooked lunch served at an Amish family’s private home before returning back to town together.