Lancaster County is in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country and along with that comes a wealth of heritage and local attractions. But if historical sites and rich landscapes are not for you, there are also some great shopping and entertainment options throughout the community. If you're a Toronto caterer you might be interested in visiting some of the area's local wineries to sample some new vintages or if you're just looking for a relaxing vacation you could visit one of the area's spas or golf courses. Here is a guide to all of the different things that you can do with your stay in Lancaster.

Lancaster County is the home of the largest and oldest Amish settlement in America. These people know more about living off the land than the best greenhouse supplier. Thousands of people still live a lifestyle where horse and buggy are their main form of transportation and they work mostly in agriculture and cottage industries. If you're visiting the area and want to know a little more about Amish life you can take a buggy ride, watch a farm in operation, or visit the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society's museum. If you're currently living a fast-paced city life doing something like food publicity than maybe it's time to take a step back and return to something much more simple for the day.

For those that are looking for something free to do in the city, there are many options available. A number of the museums, including the Lancaster Newspaper Museum, the Conestoga Area Historical Society, and Demuth's Tobacco Shop & Museum are all free of charge. You could also visit some of the area's food factories for a tour and some samples, including Herr's Snack Factory Tour, the Intercourse Pretzel Factory, and Hershey's Chocolate World Visitors Center. A gift from one of these locations might be much better than any Valentines gift certificate you could find back home.

There are also plenty of things to keep you busy for the day in Lancaster's downtown area. You could bring the kids to the Lancaster Science Factory, attend one of the town's ghost tours, or create your own piece of art to bring home at Bead and Pottery Works. There are also many festivals and events that come to the area each year where you could enter a car sweepstakes contest or attend a music performance. Some of the most popular events are the Spring Gulch Folk Festival in New Holland, the Car Show, Drive-In Diner and Sock Hop, and the Harvest Fair. The area also goes all out in the holiday season, with events like the Miracle of Christmas, Winterfest in Mount Joy, and Santa's Paradise Express.