Day Trip in Lancaster County, PA

A Perfect Family Day in Lancaster County: Pretzels, Chocolate & Ice Cream

Last weekend, our family set out on a classic Lancaster County adventure. While we did stay over and make a weekend out of it (scroll down to the end for where we stayed), you could choose a couple things a make this a nice day trip. Here’s how you could pack so much into a single, awesome outing filled with small-town charm, good food and sweet treats.

Morning in Lititz, PA: Pretzels, Chocolate and Park Time

Our first stop was the historic Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, America’s first commercial pretzel bakery, founded in 1861. We made reservations for the tour of the bakery and the kids loved the interactive experience. We each got to twist our very own pretzel and the kids were able to help demonstrate how the pretzels go in the oven. The tour was about 25 minutes long, so the perfect amount of time to keep their attention, but it’s important to note it does get warm in the bakery since they are actually baking pretzels in there!

Next, a 5 minute drive across town took us to the Wilbur Chocolate Company Store. The store sells all types of chocolate bars, truffles, and souvenir boxes. We picked up a box of Wilbur Buds and a chocolate bar or two to enjoy later. Of course since we were visiting in the heat, and the kids can’t wait to eat their chocolate, it did cause some messy, but delicious fingers for licking!

Right across from the Wilbur Chocolate Store is Lititz Springs Park, a peaceful space centered around a stream and pond. The ducks and geese hang out there and there are some duck food feeders there, so don’t forget to bring your quarters so the kids can feed the ducks, or you won’t hear the last of it! Luckily I had 2 quarters in the bag, so the kids were able to feed the ducks and watched as they bobbed their heads and splashed playfully. A short walk along the shady path was a nice playground for them to get their energy out, and if you wanted to, have a picnic lunch.

Lunchtime in Town

We opted to sit down to eat at one of the couple lunch spots in the small, charming town. We decided on a casual family‑friendly spot—CAVOLO! Pizzeria Bar. The kids enjoyed their traditional cheese pizza, and my husband and I got a delicious specialty pizza.

Turkey Hill Experience: The Grand Finale

After lunch, we hopped into the van and drove about 30 minutes to the Turkey Hill Experience. We purchased the Double Scoop ticket which includes general admission to their interactive exhibits where they got to create their own virtual ice cream flavor. From the moment you walk in, it’s a hands-on, self-paced experience—the kids milked a mechanical cow, created their own Turkey Hill commercial, and learned fun facts about ice cream production. Not to mention the unlimited ice cream, lemonade and ice tea samples! They had about 6 different ice cream flavors to choose from, and the sample size was very generous!

But the highlight of the Double Scoop ticket is, of course, creating your own ice cream! When it was our time, we were led into a classroom, washed our hands, and had a seat at the long table. Our instructor gave an overview of the ice cream making process while cups of vanilla ice cream were brought out. We were then led through the process of mixing in different flavors, toppings and syrups, which we obviously got to eat as we played a little ice cream trivia!

The whole experience, including the exhibits and making our own ice cream, was about 2 hours total. This was definitely a great find, and while we got little messy with the ice cream making, the kids had a blast and I felt it was a great value for the ticket!

Want to make Lancaster and Overnight Trip?

We spent the weekend at Eden Resort & Suites, and it exceeded our expectations. Although I was a little nervous when we first pulled in, since it’s right off the highway, the moment you step onto the property, it truly feels like a getaway. Our room was spacious, spotless, and well-appointed—perfect for relaxing after a day of activities.

The highlight of our stay was definitely the two outdoor pools and the large splash pad, which was a huge hit with our youngest. The poolside food truck offered all the classic favorites at reasonable prices, making it easy to grab lunch and dinner without leaving the fun. The kids also loved the variety of outdoor games and activities, including ping pong, shuffleboard, lawn games, and a playground. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and entertainment for the whole family.

Packing Food for the Overnight Stay

One thing that made our overnight in Lancaster so much easier was packing a larger cooler for the hotel. Even though our room had a mini fridge and microwave, having the cooler gave us some extra space, and we just refilled it with ice from the ice maker. This worked out perfectly for bringing milk for the little one and cereal for an easy breakfast in the morning. We also packed extra fruit, which kept my middle child happy throughout the trip, along with our usual go-to snacks. Of course, we couldn’t forget popcorn—my oldest loves microwave popcorn as a bedtime treat! While we still ate out for our main meals, having snacks and simple breakfast options on hand helped cut down on costs and kept everyone happy between adventures. Plus, it made those little before-bedtime treats easy and stress-free.