Holiday Shopping Begins!

It seems like holiday gift shopping starts a little earlier every year.  With Halloween upon us, and Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, Christmas and Chanukah shopping is in full swing in Lancaster County.  Along with local crafts, foods, antiques, and quilts, the two largest outlet areas certainly take center stage.  Tanger Outlets and Rockvale Square will be welcoming hundreds of thousands of shoppers during the next two months... and with good reason!  With over 100 stores at each of these outlet malls, the selection of quality merchandise is amazing, and the deals are even better!  And by staying at the Apple Bin Inn you'll be within 15 minutes of both!  So plan your shopping spree now... you and your loved ones will be glad you did!



  

Free Summer Concerts at Long's Park!

 

The 50th Anniversary of the Long's Park Summer Music Series will be a great season of free music on the lawn!  Covering 13 summer Sundays (plus an extra concert on July 4th), there will be an awesome variety of music at the Long's Park amphitheater... including rock, jazz, soul, blues, classical, Irish, folk, pop, and big band sounds.  The biggest night of all will be the annual appearance of the U.S. Army Band on July 1st, including amazing fireworks and a heart-pounding cannon brigade!  Whichever concert you choose, it's best to arrive early with your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets, and make a whole evening of it!  There'll also be lots of food vendors with delicious ice cream, BBQ, funnel cakes, and other assorted treats.  So click here for the full summer concert schedule, and then plan your visit with a stay at the Apple Bin Inn!  See you soon!!

Shupp's Grove is a Picker's Paradise!

Among the many wonderful antique shops and markets in Adamstown is our favorite... Shupp's Grove.  Being outdoors among the trees and sun, while picking through table after table of interesting finds, is such a great way to spend an afternoon.  Open Saturday & Sunday, from April through October, Shupp's Grove highlights many specialty weekends to attract pickers from across America (click here for their 2012 schedule).  A tradition since 1962 (yes 50 years!), there's always something great to be found, and at very reasonable prices too!  There's even a nice snack shop, called Friar Tuck's Deli, where they serve homemade soups, sandwiches, and pies.  So make sure you leave time among your myriad of Adamstown antique stops for a few hours at this Lancaster County landmark.  See you there!

"Jonah" Was Amazing!

We previously talked about the new Sight & Sound show, "Jonah", in our January 20th blog post. The show premiered on March 10th, and we attended the show yesterday... and it was incredible! The set designs, costumes, music, and actors were all amazing. And the special effects were breathtaking!! We won't reveal the details of how they brought Jonah's famous undersea experience to life, but suffice it to say, it was worth the price of admission. This show definitely rivals their production of "Noah", which was also awesome, and which we hope returns to Lancaster County in the near future. But for all of 2012, and this year only, "Jonah" commands the Sight & Sound stage. Be sure to order your tickets early, because shows are already selling out for prime summer show times.

And don't forget, the Apple Bin Inn is within 10 minutes of the theatre. So book your room now, and come enjoy "Jonah" and all the other sights and attractions that Lancaster County has to offer!  Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Lancaster Tops the Nation in "Well-Being Index"!

Another great reason to visit our beautiful corner of Pennsylvania... Lancaster was determined to be the #1 city in America, as measured by the "Well-Being Index" of the internationally respected Gallup-Healthways report!  Click here to see the whole report.  Our Mid-Size City and Composite rankings are shown on pages 6 & 7 of the report.  Additionally, our 16th U.S. Congressional District, shown on page 12, was ranked #7 in the nation. 

We're proud of our area, and this is just a bit more proof that Lancaster County is a great place to be!  So why not soak up a little of our "well-being" here at the Apple Bin Inn... We promise to send you home feeling good!

Mount Vernon Bread Pudding... Yum!

Winter is such a good time to share recipes... especially ones that are heart-warming and sweet!  So we'd like to share a recipe that we obtained while enjoying lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn several years ago.  It's appropriately named Mount Vernon Bread Pudding, and with the original GW's birthday just behind us, it seems fitting to share it with you now.  As lovers of bread pudding, we've eaten them at many fine restaurants and tried many recipes, but this one is by far the most delicious one we've found.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do here at the Apple Bin Inn! 

Ingredients:

4 cups French bread cubes

½ cup raisins (optional)

3 tbsp melted butter

8 eggs 

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp salt

⅔ cup sugar

3 cups Half & Half

1½ tsp vanilla

whipped cream (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange bread cubes and raisins in buttered 3 qt. baking dish, and drizzle with butter.

Combine eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and beat slightly.

Dissolve sugar in Half & Half, and add to eggs in a fine stream, stirring constantly.

Stir in vanilla.

Pour mixture evenly over bread cubes, and bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes,

or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

May be served warm or chilled... plain or with whipped cream.  Enjoy!

"Jonah" Is Coming To Sight & Sound's Millennium Theatre!

One of Lancaster County's most popular attractions is the world renowned "Sight & Sound" Millennium Theatre, located just 10 minutes from the Apple Bin Inn.  We like to call it "Bible Meets Broadway", as the stories of the Bible come alive with original musical scores, inspiring actors, amazing sets and special effects, and even live animals... all presented on a breathtaking 180-degree stage that puts the audience in the heart of the action.  This year's show promises to be one of their best ever, as the story of "Jonah" is brought to life.  It's sure to be an amazing experience, and it's only playing for one season!  Shows take place from March 10 through December 29, 2012.  Full details are available on the Sight & Sound website, including videos, photos, show times, and online ticket sales.  Shows are selling out fast, so don't delay! 

And while you're making your show plans, why not plan your stay at the Apple Bin Inn.  With 5 delightful guest rooms, including suites and a private cottage, plus delicious country breakfasts and the warmest hospitality, we promise to add lasting memories of your visit to beautiful Lancaster County.  We look forward to seeing you soon!