This post is sponsored by the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn. All opinions are 100% my own. Please see my disclosure policy.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania is one of the most treasured places to visit in the northeastern United States.
I love the vast farmland, the homey Amish farmhouses, and the quaintness of the area.
I was introduced to Lancaster years ago when my husband and I started dating. Growing up, he spent many special times with his family vacationing in the area, and Lancaster has become a favorite place to this “southern” girl and also our children!
Sight & Sound Theatres is one of our “special treat” activities when in Lancaster. We have seen the biblical true stories of Noah and Jesus come to life on stage in life-changing and unforgettable performances.
We also like walking around Kitchen Kettle Village and shopping at the Rockvale outlets. There are numerous shops that sell beautiful Amish furniture and farmhouse home décor such as King’s Homestead plus many, many more!
With so many wonderful restaurants in the area, we still have our favorites! DJ’s was a new experience for us this time. We liked the 50’s atmosphere, and the vegetable beef soup was definitely homemade!
We love Isaac’s Restaurant in Strasburg (deli sandwiches, salads, soups, pretzel rolls, and more), ice cream at The Strasburg Creamery, and a little bit of every kind of food imaginable at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord. Whether eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner, farm-fresh goodness and home cooked meals made from scratch are sure to satisfy family members of all ages. Our family especially enjoys breakfast and the soup/salad bar!
The Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord is just one of the numerous attractions operated by the historic Smucker family, whose roots date all the way back to the 1700’s in Lancaster County. The family also owns a bakery and café, the Bird-in-Hand Stage (Broadway-style and magic shows), and four lodging facilities plus a campground.
My family was recently blessed by the opportunity to visit and review one of the Smucker family’s hotels, the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn. This country-living resort is SO much more than just a hotel!
I couldn’t believe all the amazing recreational possibilities! A family could spend a couple days simply participating in all there is to do on the premises!
Check-in at The Bird-in-Hand Family Inn | Hotel Review | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
When my family drove onto the property, we were greeted with sheer beauty. The grounds are immaculately kept, and the fall décor is over-the-top stunning. I just couldn’t get enough of all the colorful pumpkins and mums plus all the other lovely flowers!
When I walked into the check-in entrance at The Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, I was immediately impressed with the attention to detail, the cleanliness, and the wonderful smell.
The area includes a small gift shop with lovely items that I admired while a group of ladies checked in ahead of me. They were obviously thrilled to be checking in, and their enthusiasm was contagious!
The check-in attendant was THE friendliest attendant I have ever met. She was knowledgeable about the properties and took time to explain all the details I needed to know. She also gave me the most amazing pumpkin bread from the Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Café. My mother-in-law joined us from her hotel the next morning, and we all enjoyed the bread while my husband golfed nine holes with his dad at a nearby golf course. We saved the men some pumpkin bread of course!
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn Recreation | Hotel Review | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Check-in was at 3:00 p.m., so my mother-in-law and I did a little pumpkin shopping while the rest of the family played mini golf at Waters Edge (located on-site, fees apply to play).
Thirty-six holes of mini golf was a great way to get rid of stored-up kid energy after a long car ride, and we found a big orange pumpkin and two smaller white pumpkins for me to take home.
I love pumpkins with long stems, and I found just what I was hoping for at the home of a local Lancaster Amish family selling pumpkins in their front yard.
After mini golf, my babies enjoyed the amazing outdoor playground that is located next to the tennis/basketball courts. Nearby is a beautiful pond, a covered picnic area with tables, and a walking path. Wow! There was so much to do, and so little time with just an overnight visit!
My children also loved the free petting zoo with all kinds of farm animals! They didn’t feed the animals, but feed is available for purchase at Waters Edge Mini Golf.
A fire pit is also offered for guests during the spring, summer, and fall for an additional fee, and oh how I wish we could have taken advantage of that opportunity! What a perfect fall activity, and the weather was perfect for s’mores!
Two indoor pools, a hot tub, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and game room are all accessible in a localized area. My husband and son had a blast during their late-night swim while my little girl and I enjoyed the comforts of our room.
My family did not take time to participate in the complimentary two-hour bus tour of the Amish country due to lots of previous travel; however, I would love to do this tour in the future! What an amazing opportunity, and it’s included with the cost of the hotel stay and is exclusively for guests (reservations required)!
The Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Stage are located on-site at additional cost; however, discounts and coupons were given to my family at check-in.
The shows are wholesome family entertainment and appear to be exceptionally well-done, so I hope to see a show in the future. Tickets can be purchased as breakfast, lunch, or dinner/show tickets or show only.
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn Amenities and Hotel Services | Hotel Review | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
My family was comfortable in a moderate-sized room with two queen beds and a sitting area furnished with a comfy leather chair and desk/chair combo. I have young children, and the hotel graciously provided bed rails to keep my little ones from falling out of the bed. What a thoughtful convenience for families with young children!
READ MY REVIEW OF THIS AMAZING MATTRESS AND CHECK OUT THE AWESOME SALES!!! (Sponsored) Best Bed-in-a-Box: Idle Sleep™ Mattress Review of Talalay Latex, Double-sided, Medium Firmness
Our room amenities also included a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker (stocked with coffee and tea), iron and ironing board, hair dryer, and clock radio.
The bathroom was fresh and clean and was supplied with soft towels and special soaps, shampoos, and lotions. The lighting was especially pleasant and bright in the shower and vanity/sink areas, and the showerhead had terrific water pressure! One feature I really appreciated in the entry/bathroom area was the extra wall hooks, perfect for hanging clothes, towels, or even a purse.
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn Room Styles | Hotel Review | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The Bird-in-Hand Family Inn offers rooms and suites in a variety of different room styles. Our deluxe queen room was in the Pool Building. The rooms in this three-story building offer resort-style comfort with a variety of options including queen or king rooms and junior and family suites.
The Front Building is a one-level building that faces the beautiful Amish farmland. Options include standard and king rooms or an efficiency suite. The Village Rooms are more upscale rooms and suites with deluxe options. One suite is even decorated like a traditional Amish schoolhouse!
Complimentary WIFI, numerous TV channels, wake-up service, ice/vending, and a coin-operated laundry are all available for guests at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn. Cribs, recliners, and cots are available to guests for a fee. Be sure to leave your fur babies at home since pets are not permitted in rooms or on-site.
Bird-in-Hand Family Inn Check-out | Hotel Review | Lancaster, Pennsylvania
After a pleasant night’s rest, and a leisurely morning in the room, we checked out (check-out, 11:00 a.m.). It was time for house-keeping to “red up” the room for the next guests! That’s Pennsylvania Dutch for clean-up time!
We enjoyed a couple laps around the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn walking path, and the children fed the ducks and carp in the pond until some yellow jackets threatened us away! It was fun while it lasted, and the fish were literally begging us to feed them, but the ducks were stealing all the food!
We took a quick trip to the Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market before lunch, so I bought a couple Pennsylvanian-grown tomatoes and a garden flag. That market has so many wonderful treats to try that I had to get out of there before I gave in and bought too many snacks! Fudge, caramel apples, homemade candies, and all sorts of things!
We were treated by grandparents to the soup and salad bar at the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant and Smorgasbord before leaving the area, and it is always so fresh and tasty! My in-laws bought me an Amish-made shelf for Christmas from Peaceful Valley Amish Furniture, and we stopped by Kauffman’s Market before leaving town. The grandparents loaded us up with treats for our trip home, and I can’t wait to try the cherry jam and raspberry yogurt covered pretzels!
Thank you to the Smucker Family and Bird-in-Hand Family Inn for a fabulous stay, and we hope to return in the future! There is still so much we would like to do at this Lancaster country-living resort!
Related Travel Posts:
Ark Encounter Family Adventure and Hotel Review of Country Inn and Suites® Georgetown, Kentucky
A Day at the Creation Museum and Hotel Review of Country Inn and Suites® Hebron, Kentucky
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum ~ Day Out With Thomas™ Big Adventures Tour 2018 ~ Calera, Alabama
