Car Free Journey— April 2010 by Steve Atlas
By Steve on Apr 5, 2010 in Steve's CARFREE JOURNEY
Car Free Journey— April 2010 by Steve Atlas
We hear a lot about the Pennsylvania Dutch and the Amish countryside near Lancaster. And you don’t need a car to enjoy a visit here.
Amtrak serves Lancaster from Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York City, or (once per day) Pittsburgh. You can also get here by Greyhound bus. The Amtrak/Greyhound Terminal’s address is 53 McGovern Ave. in Lancaster.
Downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a small city with many hidden treasures. Walk and explore this historic city. Discover all it has to offer. Lancaster City, the oldest inland city in the United States, was originally settled in 1718.
Try to visit Monday-Friday when Red Rose Transit’s Historic Downtown Trolley route takes you from the Amtrak/Greyhound Terminal to Downtown Lancaster. An All Day Pass, good on the Trolley and Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) buses is $5. The regular one-way bus fare is $1.50. Senior citizens age 65 and older ride free on all Red Rose trolleys and buses. (The statewide Senior Free Transit Program allows seniors age 65 and older to ride any public transit system in PA FREE.) For bus and trolley schedules, visit www.redrosetransit.com. Or call 717/397-4246 weekdays from 7:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m., or 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekends.
RRTA’s Queen Street Station is in the heart of Downtown Lancaster on the 200 block of North Queen Street. Here, you can catch any of the 17 bus routes traveling through the city and beyond to many of the other towns in Lancaster County.
The Route 13/White Horse bus takes you through the famish Amish Country to Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse.
Do you enjoy factory outlets? Then, use Route 14/Rockvale Square to shop at the many outlets at Rockvale Square and Tanger Outlets.
Lancaster’s Central Market is a popular downtown destination for both visitors and residents. The Market, oldest farmers’ market in the United States, is open Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays and offers a variety of fresh Lancaster County produce and baked goods.
Explore the many shops and art galleries surround the blocks around Central Market. Stroll and enjoy the shops and historic architecture of Lancaster city. Lancaster City is recognized as a vibrant art community. If possible, include a First Friday of a month in your visit. First Fridays include receptions and events where you can enjoy local artists and their work.
Don’t feel like walking around Lancaster City? Take a segway tour instead with Red Rose Seg Tours. For details, visit www.redrosesegtours.com, or call toll-free 877/393-8345.
If you are traveling to Lancaster by car during the week you can park at Clipper Magazine Stadium in RRTA’s Park ‘n Ride lot for FREE and hop on the Historic Downtown Trolley to get you to the center of Downtown Lancaster.
On Saturdays, when the Trolley does not operate, RRTA buses 10 and 11 stop across the street from the
Terminal, at the corner of Duke and McGovern.
On Sundays, walking or taking a taxi are the best choices. Most attractions in Downtown Lancaster are only a 10-20 minute walk from the Amtrak/Greyhound terminal. Two taxi companies: Friendly Taxi (717392-2222) and Yellow Cab (717/392-2222) serve the station.
For a list of places to stay in Downtown Lancaster, visit http://hotelguides.com/pennsylvania/lancaster-pa-downtown-hotels.html.
You can also visit the Amish countryside without driving. Two nearby resorts: the Bird-in-Hand family of lodging properties ( http://www.bird-in-hand.com/index.php/places_to_stay/places_to_stay/, or call toll-free 800/393-8345), and Willow Valley Resort (www.willowvalley.com or call toll-free 800/444-1714) offer free 2-hour tours of the Amish farmland to their guests.
Both resorts are within walking distance of a Red Rose Transit bus stop. Route 13 serves Bird-In-Hand Monday-Saturday, while Route 15 serves Willow Valley. If you call a few days in advance, Willow Valley can arrange to pick you up from either Amtrak or Greyhound.
For more information about visiting Lancaster and the PA Dutch countryside, visit www.padutchcountry.com, or call toll-free 800/PADutch.
