center that tells the story
of Ephrata’s founding and
demise – if the narrator’s
tone and rather somber
mise-en-scène are any
indication, not to mention
the extremely spartan
sleeping quarters, it was
a demanding existence.
No doubt Beissel
would disapprove of
today’s Ephrata, whose
commercial Main Street is
anchored by a Walmart.
If you’re around on a
Friday, be sure to check
out the Green Dragon
Farmers Market (www.
greendragonmarket.com; 955 N
State St; h9am-9pm Fri).
The Drive » This is a simple
8.5 mile drive; for the most part,
Rte 772/Rothsville Rd between
Ephrata and Lititz is an ordinary
commercial strip.
8 Lititz
Like other towns in
Pennsylvania Dutch
Country, Lititz was
founded by a religious
community from Europe,
in this case Moravians
who settled here in the
1740s. But unlike Ephrata,
Lititz was more outward
looking and integrated
with the world beyond
its historic center. Many
of its original handsome
stone and wood buildings
still line its streets. Take
a stroll down E Main
from the Sturgis Pretzel
House (%717-626-4354; http://www.
juliussturgis.com; 219 E Main
St; admission $3; h9am-5pm
Mon-Sat; c), the first pretzel
factory in the country –
you can try rolling and
twisting the dough. Across
the street is the Moravian
Church (c 1787); then head
to the intersection with S
Broad. Rather than feeling
sealed in amber, the small
shops, which do seem to
relish their small-town
quality, are the type that
sophisticated urbanites
cherish. There’s an un-
usual effortlessness to this
vibe, from the Bulls Head
Public House, an English-
style pub with an expertly
curated beer menu, to
Greco’s Italian Ices, a little
ground-floor hole-in-the-
wall where local teens and
families head on weekend
nights for delicious
homemade ice cream.54 p155
The Drive » It’s an easy 27
miles on Rte 501 to US 322. Both
pass through a combination of
farmland and suburban areas.9 Hershey
Hershey is home to a
collection of attractions
that detail, hype and, of
course, hawk the many
trappings of MiltonHershey’s chocolate
empire. The pièce de
résistance is Hersheypark
(%800-437-7439; http://www.
hersheypark.com; 100 W
Hersheypark Dr; adult/child
$52/31; h10am-10pm Jun-Aug,
9am-6pm or 8pm Sep-May),
an amusement park with
more than 60 thrill rides,
a zoo and a water park
plus various performances
and frequent fireworks
displays. Don a hairnet
and apron, punch in a few
choices on a computer
screen and voilà, watch
your very own chocolate
bar roll down a conveyor
belt at the Create Your
Own Candy Bar ($15)
attraction. This forms part
of Hershey’s Chocolate
World, a mock factory and
massive candy store with
over-stimulating features
like singing characters and
free chocolate galore. For
a more informative visit,
try the Hershey Story, The
Museum on Chocolate
Avenue, which explores
the life and fascinating
legacy of Mr Hershey
through interactive history
exhibits; try molding your
own candy in the hands-on
Chocolate Lab.TRIP HIGHLIGHT
If you like your vacations to be working ones, check
out A Farm Stay (www.afarmstay.com; r from $60-180)
which represents several dozen farm stays that range
from stereotypical B&Bs to Amish farms. Most include
breakfast, private bathrooms and some activity like
milking cows or gathering eggs or simply petting a goat.FARM STAY
TOP TIP:
NEW.JERSEY.&.PENNSYLVANIA.TRIPS.12
.PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY