Hotel at a Glance: Boxwood Inn Bed & Breakfast

Greg and Betsy, the innkeepers at the Boxwood Inn Bed & Breakfast, have worked to keep their circa-1768 B&B as hospitable and comfortable as its Amish setting. Mornings here begin with big homemade breakfasts, and Greg and Betsy are happy to help guests plan the perfect itinerary. The historical inn sits on three acres of landscaped grounds, and you’ll be close to quaint farms, plus shops and restaurants in nearby Ephrata, Intercourse, and Lititz. 

• Dig in to the morning feast prepared by Betsy—menu items include waffles and Devonshire cream, homemade scones, fresh fruit, and breakfast meats
• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms feature Amish-made quilts, simple furnishings, and private bathrooms
• Stroll the grounds and sip coffee out on the back patio
• Relax in the sunny common areas with a good book
• Visit an Amish farm for a small-group tour and meet Amish craftsmen and families. 

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Crossroads of Amish Culture and German Heritage

Lancaster County sits in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. A number of Amish families—many of them descendants of the German immigrants who settled in the region in the 18th and 19th centuries—still farm the land here, living and working by the same timeless principles and unadorned methods they’ve been using for generations. On a drive through the area, you’ll see covered bridges spanning the Conestoga River and probably share the road with a horse-drawn buggy or two. At stops such as Kitchen Kettle Village, you can watch experts canning jellies, jams, and relishes and sample homemade baked goods.

To tour the countryside in style, take a ride aboard a coal-burning steam locomotive on the Strasburg Rail Road. As the train chugs past farmers tending fields and cattle grazing on hay and strudel, parlor-car attendants serve cocktails and snacks to passengers in the dining car or in first class. Across the street from the station in Strasburg, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania chronicles the history of the track via rotating exhibits and more than 100 locomotives and railcars.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.