The Perfect Lancaster Day
Summer in Lancaster County is a special time of year. Farm markets are bursting with ripe produce, the city is bustling with out-of-town friends, and our farmers are hard at work in the fields! The summertime is one of the best seasons to take a trip to Lancaster County if you’re not a local, and if you are a Lancastrian, it’s still a great time to reap the benefits of being in such a special place!
Ready to get out of the house this summer? We’ve made a day-guide for the perfect Lancaster County summer day!
Breakfast at Gracie’s on West Main
You know what they say. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and what better way to enjoy it than with farm-fresh, local ingredients? One of the biggest benefits of having access to the country’s most productive non-irrigated soil is the fresh food it provides, and Lancaster has numerous farm-to-table eateries to enjoy for every meal! Start your perfect day off with a seasonal meal at Gracie’s on West Main, located at 264 West Main Street Leola, PA! Gracie’s is the perfect place to go for a farm-fresh start for the day, specializing in meals made from scratch with ingredients from local farms. Click here to get a reservation!
Shopping at Farm Stands
It wouldn’t be a proper Lancaster County day trip without some farm stand runs. Farm stands and markets we often recommend to newcomers are Meck’s Produce, Countryside Road-Stand, and Smucker’s Farm Market!
Meck’s Produce is a great stop for proper grocery shopping, offering fresh produce, dairy products, and pantry items. For some of Lancaster’s best soft pretzels and homemade root beer, Countryside Road-Stand is the way to go! Don’t believe us? Check out influencer Dani Ober’s official review in her recent TikTok! Smucker’s Farm Market is the perfect place to shop for fresh produce, beautiful flowers, and adorable house plants! The best part? All of these markets are preserved by LFT!
Meck’s Produce: 1955 Beaver Valley Pike, Strasburg, PA 17579
Countryside Road-Stand: 2966 Stumptown Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
Smucker’s Farm Market: 2110 Rockvale Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Lunch at Central Market
Central Market is a staple Lancaster summer stop, offering Lancastrians farm-fresh goods from produce to smoothies. Lancaster Central Market is the oldest running farm market, beginning operation in 1730. Stop here for a variety of lunch options – enjoy southern soul food, authentic Amish baked goods, Scandinavian food, and everything in between! Plus, grab your groceries for the week from local vendors after lunch!
Greenhouse Browsing
After breakfast, it’s time to get shopping! Checking out local greenhouses is a great way to get some fresh air, grab some greenery for your space, and support local farm families. Some of the greenhouses our staff recommends are Ken’s Greenhouse, Lapp’s Farm Market, and Sunny Spot Nursery.
Ken’s Greenhouse – Ken’s Greenhouse is a woman-owned business and proud partner of LFT! Stop here for all your garden and greenhouse needs.
Hours – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address – Multiple locations
Lapp’s Farm Market – Lapp’s is a small, family-owned greenhouse and farm market located in Lampeter Township. Grab your greens and get some grocery shopping done here!
Hours – 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Address – 1406 Lampeter Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Sunny Spot Nursery – Sunny Spot Nursery is a preserved greenhouse prefect for purchasing houseplants at reasonable prices. Stop here to support a preserved farm!
Hours – 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address – 434 Newport Rd, Ronks, PA 17540
A Peaceful Evening Drive or Bike Ride
Top off the day with a relaxing drive, walk, or bike ride through Lancaster’s peaceful rolling hills. There are many routes you can take to enjoy the most gorgeous farmland views, but this bike route is the one our staff recommends the most! No matter where you decide to go, it’s important to remember that farms are private property, and we ask that visitors not step foot on farms without the owner’s permission. Enjoy the views and photo ops from the road, please!
Our farms make Lancaster County such a special place for locals and visitors alike. Thanks to our farmers, we can enjoy lush greenhouses, farm-fresh food, local produce, and beautiful views. So, the next time you’re enjoying a perfect Lancaster summer day, be sure to thank a farmer.
To learn about ways you can protect the land that makes days like these possible, click here! Plus, stay connected with us on social media for more perfect farm content.
