Things to Do in Lancaster

Hershey Theatre, conceived in 1933 by noted philanthropist and chocolatier Milton S. Hershey, stands as an opulent tribute to the performing arts. Taking architectural cues from Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the foyer’s towering arches gleam with golden paint and crystal chandeliers. The blue-and-gold mosaic that leads to the main seating area is the masterwork of two German artists who spent two years on its construction. Once inside the theater, audiences might think they’ve stepped onto the streets of Venice thanks to the atmospheric ceiling, stonework facades, and gondoliers paddling them to their seats.

Just Plain Yoga wants its visitors to find the perfect fit when it comes to yoga technique. They offer a questionnaire to identify the right class for each student, based on how rapidly or slowly they want to move, as well as whether they want to achieve relaxation, increase flexibility, or build strength in your third eyelash. The studio offers 11 different styles for intrepid yogis, including gentle hatha sessions that link breath to body, and morning vinyasa flow to jump-start the day. Hesitant first-timers are especially invited to the “yoga for any body” class, a gentle, welcoming class for anyone who thinks they are too inflexible or overweight to do yoga.

American Civil War Wax Museum, tucked in the historical and geographical shadow of the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, immerses visitors in the history of the fledgling Union's internal war with realistic scenes and life-size wax figures dressed in historically accurate attire and equipment. Patrons embark on a self-guided journey through a number of detailed exhibits, such as the Battle Room, which simulates the battlefield experience with a digital audiovisual presentation, or the animatronic Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, just as the first robot Lincoln did nearly 160 years ago. Across the way, Veteran's Park coaxes erstwhile museum-striders to soak in the historic surroundings on a bench or beneath a shade tree while relaxing among chirping birds. Since opening in 1962, the museum has broadened the historical knowledge of more than 8 million visitors and has hosted such notable orators as former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Keenly aware of Lancaster’s need for a space celebrating the city's vibrant art community, a group of determined artists and citizens banded together in 1965 to found the Goethean Hall Gallery of Art, nestled amid Franklin and Marshall College. Though the art gallery has changed venues and names, the original vision of its founders—to provide visitors with the “best available art”—remains unchanged. Rechristened as the Lancaster Museum of Art (LMA), the museum now resides in the historic Grubb mansion, and boasts diverse exhibits and events for the public. The mansion’s 4,000 square feet of galleries and porticos plays host to an ever-changing lineup of awe-inspiring art, as well as a permanent collection composed of paintings from a roster of Lancaster’s homegrown artists, including Hugh Fitzgerald, Abby Rudisill, and Ellen Slupe. LMA also fosters an artistic dialogue with the community through numerous education programs that introduce the next generation to the ins and outs of the creative process.

Cleaved through the waving meadows of Lancaster County farmland, Tree Top Golf Course beckons to golfers of all stripes with a 4,651-yard, par 65 layout. The scaled-down links allow players to squeeze in an expedited round after work, before sunset, or during theater intermissions, and nine par 4s and a 427-yard par 5 channel the feel of a full-length layout. The course hosts night golf, during which clubbers tee up glow-in-the-dark balls and putt across greens illuminated only by the moon. To spread the game of golf to those at the critical age when they have to choose between golf and croquet, the course offers free rounds for children 8 and younger.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 65 course

• Length of 4,651 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 64.2 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 99 from the farthest tees

• Two tee options